Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40

Amanda Phillips-Wylds set up the Family Law Partners offering in Ascot in September 2024, with comprehensive family law experience and specialist knowledge of nuptial agreements.

Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 in South East

Blandy & Blandy LLP

Praised for its ‘unrivalled talent at all levels of seniority’, the family team at Blandy & Blandy LLP in Reading handles the full range of matrimonial, financial, and children matters, including those complicated by trusts, tax issues, and jurisdictional questions. Practice head Claire Dyer ‘has an amazing ability to make the most complex case look simple’, advising married and unmarried couples as well as grandparents and families in complex children cases. Dyer has growing experience in surrogacy matters, also an area of expertise for Gemma Kemp. Tasha Bevan-Stewart is a go-to for non-court dispute resolution methods and constructive separation, using mediation or collaborative practice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Claire Dyer


Autres avocats clés:

Gemma Kemp; Tasha Bevan-Stewart; Claire Clarke; Shashi Sachdeva; Rebecca Ledgerwood; Peter Hilton; Elizabeth Owen


Les références

‘Tasha Bevan-Stewart’s prowess in settling cases (advantageously and reasonably) for her clients is well-known. Everything that is capable of settlement is (and anything left to the courts usually leaves Tasha’s clients very successful indeed). She is a pleasure to work with and wholly committed to achieving the best outcomes for her clients.’

‘Without a doubt the leading firm in the Thames Valley. Unrivalled talent at all levels of seniority. From the more basic family finance/children matter, to the most complex of UHNW matter, Blandy & Blandy are the best.’

‘Gemma Kemp is an outstanding lawyer with a huge following. If you want the best outcome, you go to Gemma. As simple as that.’

Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne

‘Well-respected within the local legal profession’, Abingdon-based Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne is noted for its wide-ranging, deep expertise in public children law, including high complexity care proceedings. Emily Boardman is a go-to for adoption work, with ‘considerable experience’ acting for prospective adopters and agencies, and handling post-adoption contact applications. Ruth Hawkins is known for her complex children work and mediation: Carrie Rudge also offers mediation. Irena Osborne often takes on cases involving international relocation, and has expertise regarding domestic abuse. The private matrimonial team is headed by Helen Bishop, who has deep experience in cases involving children with complex needs, and business assets.

Responsables de la pratique:

Emily Boardman; Ruth Hawkins; Irena Osborne; Helen Bishop


Autres avocats clés:

Carrie Rudge


Les références

‘There is a real focus on client care from the entire team – they each take time with their clients in a way that other firms don’t. There is an individualised focus to that which is personal to each client.’

‘Emily Boardman is a stand-out partner. Anything she doesn’t know about adoption proceedings is not worth knowing. She is a leader in the field in that area. Likewise her work in non-accidental injury cases. She has a no-nonsense, but empathetic approach.’

‘Client care is excellent and it is obvious that clients are well prepared and properly advised before court hearings. The team is well-respected within the local legal profession having good working relations with other solicitors and the judiciary, vital for the amount of work now done outside of court hearings.’

Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP‘s Oxford offering is noted for its range of expertise, ‘from tough litigators, to mediators and to children specialists’. Expertise spans finances and children work, including farming cases, those with an international element, and highly conflicted children cases. Tim Whitney co-heads the team: noted for his strength as a mediator, Whitney regularly takes on high-value, complex, or urgent mediations. Matthew Heyworth, co-head, specialises in complex financial remedy proceedings including those where there are failures in disclosure. For children matters, Claire Burton is the go-to, often sought out for children work where there are allegations of domestic abuse and those arising as a result of substance abuse issues.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tim Whitney; Matthew Heyworth


Autres avocats clés:

Claire Burton; Kerry Haugh; Eliza Bruton


Les références

‘The team has a good balance. They have all different types of lawyers, from tough litigators, to mediators and to children specialists with the gentle approach.’

‘Matthew Heyworth is comfortable in litigation. I understand that many of his clients come to him after they have exhausted options available to them with court now being their last resort and they want someone to fight their corner. He is detailed and thinks carefully about his client’s position.’

‘Tim Whitney is a go to mediator. He is a real problem solver and tackles tricky cases head on. His experience in litigation really helps his mediation practice as it enables him to be more direct and clear.’

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Praised as ‘the standout team for high-net-worth financial remedy cases in Oxford and the Thames Valley’, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has notable strength in cases with an international element: Jane Mitchell, co-heading the team, is a fellow of the International Family Law Association. Co-head Ruth James regularly handles the most complex financial work, involving trusts, offshore estates, and businesses, children matters impacted by substance abuse and mental health issues. Jolene Hutchison has extensive experience in wealth preservation, advising on pre- and post-nuptial agreements, while Matilda Kingham is noted for her work as a mediator, and is the key name in Reading.

Responsables de la pratique:

Jane Mitchell; Ruth James


Autres avocats clés:

Eleanor Moodey; Jolene Hutchison; Matilda Kingham; Adam Paterson


Les références

‘Eleanor Moodey is an exceptional solicitor who is an expert in her field. She has excellent client care coupled with thinking strategically about the case to achieve the best outcome for the client.’

‘Adam Paterson has a calm and considered approach, is able to look after vulnerable clients well and provide pragmatic solutions. He is a very safe pair of hands.’

‘Matilda Kingham is the full package: keen intellect, great strategist but also settlement focused – shown by her strong mediation following which supplements her traditional practice.’

Barrett & Thomson

Based in Slough, Barrett & Thomson is a ‘deeply professional firm’ with longstanding experience of public children law, including matters involving domestic abuse. Claire Fitzgerald heads up the team, a particular expert in domestic abuse matters, also an area of expertise for Tracey Haynes. Sue Scott has experience handling both privately and publicly funded work, including separation agreements, contact disputes, and child abduction issues, and Rizwana Khan has expertise in complex non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, and trafficking related cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Claire Fitzgerald


Autres avocats clés:

Tracey Haynes; Sue Scott; Rizwana Khan; Charan Jutla


Les références

‘This practice is an old school deeply professional firm. There is quality throughout the firm and the advice given is always focused on achieving the best outcome for the client. The solicitors are experienced and pragmatic. Apart from being excellent – they are all highly sympathetic and will always walk the extra mile to ensure that the client is supported.’

‘Claire Fitzgerald is the best of the best. Deeply experienced, highly knowledgeable and encyclopaedic knowledge of law and above all impeccable judgment.’

‘Tracey Haynes is supportive, competent and creative at finding solutions for clients.’

Blake Morgan LLP

The team at Blake Morgan LLP is made up of ‘true experts in the field of matrimonial finance’, regularly handling complex, high-value financial disputes following divorce and separation as well as nuptial agreements, cohabitation disputes, and private children law work. James Davies heads the team, ‘a jurisprudential force’ whose cases are often inter-jurisdictional or involving business assets; Cohabitation disputes are a particular area of expertise for Davies. Laura Bennett is recommended as a mediator, as well as handling high-value financial disputes, and Amy Maher is a qualified collaborative lawyer. Catherine Morgan departed the team in March 2025.

Responsables de la pratique:

James Davies


Autres avocats clés:

Laura Bennett; Amy Maher; Rachel Knight


Les références

‘The family team at Blake Morgan is one of the best in the area. They are all good lawyers, and a pleasure to have on the other side of a case.’

‘Amy Maher works tirelessly for her clients.’

‘James Davies has been especially supportive and has offered exceptional advice, often in difficult circumstances. He has made me feel supported and has not let any details that would work against me go unquestioned. He is able to explain issues thoughtfully, in an understandable way, and the letters that he has written on my behalf have been excellent.’

Field Seymour Parkes LLP

Field Seymour Parkes LLP‘s Reading family practice fields ‘an excellent team with expertise across the full range of family disputes’, with a deep bench including collaboratively trained lawyers and trained mediators. Bethan Thomas, practice head, is noted for her expertise advising intervenors, and has experience with complex private law children work. Sue Baker has a particular specialism in the treatment of Armed Forces pensions in divorce, and Lindsay Davies is additionally a go-to in this area. Madeleine Young, a mediator, is trained to offer the Resolution Together one lawyer two clients model.

Responsables de la pratique:

Bethan Thomas


Autres avocats clés:

Sue Baker; Lindsay Davies; Hannah Sims; Madeleine Young; Duncan Lomax


Les références

‘Stand out team, who provide flawless legal advice, great team work and an empathetic approach.’

‘Hannah Sims is a stand out star, thinks strategically and tactically. Gives excellent and realistic advice, and is not afraid to make difficult decisions.’

‘The family team is an extremely cohesive group of stellar lawyers, led by the first-class Bethan Thomas.’

Freeths LLP

The Oxford family team at Freeths LLP advises on a wide range of issues, including complex financial disputes involving pension issues and cross-jurisdictional assets, and children matters such as child abduction issues. Gavin Scott heads up the team, ‘a fearless, driven and dedicated practitioner’ with notable expertise regarding cases with international elements. Scott is additionally recommended in cases involving domestic abuse, parental alienation, and coercive control. The ‘highly recommended’ Joanne Thomas has experience handling surrogacy and fertility work, and Gemma Nicholls-Webber has a particular focus on farming matters. For mediation, Tom Burgess is the go-to.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gavin Scott


Autres avocats clés:

Joanne Thomas; Gemma Nicholls-Webber; Tom Burgess


Les références

‘Freeths is an exceptional firm with a well deserved national reputation. They work well together and draw on their internal expertise across the regions.’

‘Gavin Scott has made a reputation for himself as a fearless, driven and dedicated practitioner who clearly enjoys the job. He is consistent with everyone he meets, kind and courteous, and is devoted to the client and their case.’

‘Joanne Thomas is highly recommended. She has a calm, reassuring presence with clients, a wise head and a meticulous attention to detail. She tackles children and financial work with equal sensitivity and clarity.’

Hedges Law

‘A very sound choice for the discerning family law client’, Hedges Law has bases across Oxford, Chipping Norton, and Wallingford, and is experienced across complex finance and children matters. Zoe Rose heads up the team, ‘an outstanding family law solicitor’ regularly sought out for her expertise in handling pension assets. Nicola Poole focuses on high-net-worth financial disputes, often involving overseas assets, business valuations, and farming assets. Complex finances are also an area of expertise for Alexandra Baggallay, who in addition handles private law children work such as relocation disputes. Ian Davies is trained in the Resolution Together one lawyer two clients model.

Responsables de la pratique:

Zoe Rose


Autres avocats clés:

Nicola Poole; Ian Davies; Alexandra Baggallay; Lauren Pilcher


Les références

‘Hedges Law are a very professional, efficient and personal firm. They are exceptional in navigating clients through the maze of family law. They explain and guide comprehensively, and are very much the wise tortoise rather than a gung ho hare. I highly recommend them and genuinely believe that you could not have anyone better in your corner.’

‘Zoe Rose is truly great! Always there and comprehensively explaining all options before guiding one to the best route. She gave such very wise counsel and best advice throughout all our dealings, and is an outstanding family law solicitor.’

‘I found the team to be very profession and thorough throughout. They have helped me immensely to understand the process and work through everything I need.’

RWK Goodman

The ‘fantastically strong family law team’ at RWK Goodman in Oxford has a particular emphasis on work for high-net-worth individuals, including financial remedy matters with overseas assets and jurisdiction issues. Simon Bassett is ‘sought after’ for his understanding of business assets, and Vanessa Gardiner regularly prepares high-value nuptial agreements. The team has a growing non-court dispute resolution practice, and works with a divorce coach. Catherine Morgan joined the firm in March 2025 from Blake Morgan LLP.

Responsables de la pratique:

Simon Bassett


Autres avocats clés:

Vanessa Gardiner; Catherine Morgan


Les références

‘RWK Goodman have a fantastically strong family law team with individual and combined expertise in family law. This means that cases are well managed – strengths and weaknesses identified, clients feel listened to, and the cases are well placed to achieve the best possible outcomes.’

‘A professional and robust approach is matched with empathy and understanding how difficult the client may find the situation.’

‘Vanessa Gardiner is very thorough and has a great attention to detail that inspires confidence in clients which is important in the collaborative law process.’

SE-Solicitors

‘A standout practice that combines City-level expertise with a client-focused approach’, SE-Solicitors handles the full spectrum of family law matters including divorce, finances, child arrangements, and cohabitation agreements. Its clients often include agricultural business owners. Practice head Patrick Mulcare is an ‘exceptional practitioner’, advising on financial remedy cases involving landed estates. Deborah Davies heads up the team’s private children law offering, qualified as a collaborative lawyer, and often handles matters with vulnerable clients and allegations of domestic abuse.

Responsables de la pratique:

Patrick Mulcare


Autres avocats clés:

Deborah Davies; Monicka Rai; Irrum Shah; Sigourney Lee-Smith


Les références

‘SE-Solicitors’ Family Team is a standout practice that combines City-level expertise with a client-focused approach. The team is highly regarded for its ability to handle complex and high-value family law matters with the same skill, precision, and strategic insight as the leading London firms.’

‘Patrick Mulcare is an exceptional practitioner whose legal expertise, strategic mindset, and unwavering dedication set him apart from his peers. He is highly regarded for his ability to navigate complex and high-stakes matters with precision, combining sharp analytical skills with a pragmatic, results-driven approach.’

‘Deborah Davies is a highly competent practitioner. She is well known and respected by the local judiciary and family bar.’

Blanchards Law

The ‘highly collaborative’ team at boutique firm Blanchards Law handles the full range of family matters from relationship breakdown and divorce issues through to private family law matters; it has extensive experience handling international matters. Founder Punam Denley is key to this international offering and is a trained mediator, as is Christine Plews, who joined the team in June 2024. Helen Habershon has experience in child abduction and leave to remove matters, and Susan Andrews, who also joined in June 2024, is ‘a highly sought after leading matrimonial solicitor’.

Responsables de la pratique:

Punam Denley; Helen Habershon; Susan Andrews; Christine Plews


Autres avocats clés:

Juliet Gordon


Les références

‘Blanchards are an excellent firm in the area offering a service to a range of clients. The firm moved quickly to secure local star solicitor Susan Andrews recently, an excellent move for a highly sought after leading matrimonial solicitor.’

‘The team are without a fault approachable. They are all highly collaborative and ensure that there is always capacity for clients.’

‘They have the culture of a boutique firm, but the ability to deal with value high value matters of a big London firm.’

Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors

The ‘dynamic team’ at Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors has expertise across child arrangements, often including allegations of abuse and vulnerable clients, and financial settlements on divorce, along with experience handling TOLATA cases for unmarried couples. Anne Deller and Rekha Joshi co-head the team: Deller, in Reading, is a go-to for children work, while in Wokingham, Joshi often takes on financial disputes, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements.

Responsables de la pratique:

Anne Deller; Rekha Joshi


Autres avocats clés:

Lisa Lee; Laura Inskip; Rashi Dawson


Les références

‘Anne Deller is a good communicator and always well prepared. Instills confidence in her clients.’

‘Dynamic team who are all very approachable and support their clients throughout their case. The engagement with the proceedings and all that needs to be done to ensure that the client’s case is thoroughly prepared is done to an incredible standard.’

‘Rekha Joshi gives her clients a very warm and supportive space to explain their current position and what they are seeking from the court proceedings.’

Gardner Leader LLP

The family team at ‘client focused firm’ Gardner Leader LLP takes on the full spectrum of family law matters, with experience across divorces, financial arrangements, private children disputes and cohabitation or nuptial agreements. Simon Fisher heads the team from Maidenhead, an arbitrator and collaboratively trained lawyer, while in Newbury Suzy Hamshaw is a trained mediator. Elizabeth Saunders is a go-to for financial disputes involving business and farming assets.

Responsables de la pratique:

Simon Fisher


Autres avocats clés:

Suzy Hamshaw; Elizabeth Saunders; Stephanie Buckeridge; Amy Wilson Weymouth; Stephanie Newton; Rosie Deller


Les références

‘A great team who take real pride in being as helpful as possible to their clients. Their advice is always spot on.’

‘Amy Wilson Weymouth gives solid advice which is always spot on.’

‘Rosie Deller is an excellent lawyer. She is dedicated to achieving the very best outcomes for her clients. She does this by having excellent client care, sound judgment and an outstanding knowledge of the law.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for a wife in a £15m – £20m financial remedy matter in the High Court involving trusts in the Cook Islands, assets in New Zealand and a company in England.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys

Harrison Clark Rickerbys‘ family practice ‘provides a personal service within a large multi-disciplinary practice’, with notable experience handling complex private children law cases involving relocation, parental alienation, domestic abuse, and disputed paternity, alongside taking on the full range of financial remedy matters. Kate Grant heads the team, trained to offer the one couple one lawyer model, and the team grew in June 2024 with the addition of Danielle Bentley, formerly of Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, a mediator with experience handling cases with an international element.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kate Grant


Autres avocats clés:

Danielle Bentley


Les références

‘Kate Grant and Danielle Bentley are outstanding.’

‘Strong team with good legal knowledge. Safe pair of hands.’

‘The family department are one of the leading teams in the Thames Valley area. Both Kate Grant and Dannielle Bentley are technically brilliant whilst all the time delivering sensible and pragmatic advice for their clients.’

Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers Ltd (LGFL Ltd)

Characterised by ‘its client-focused approach and exceptional expertise’, boutique firm Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers Ltd (LGFL Ltd) is co-led by Anne Leiper and Rita Gupta. Noted for her ‘professionalism and attention to detail’, Leiper is a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. A standout element of the practice is Gupta’s expertise regarding cases involving SEN children: ‘an innovative, hugely experienced and professional lawyer’, she is additionally experienced in post-separation abuse cases.

Responsables de la pratique:

Rita Gupta; Anne Leiper


Les références

‘Rita Gupta is an innovative, hugely experienced and professional lawyer, who goes the extra mile for her clients.’

‘Leiper Gupta Family Lawyers are true professionals in every sense of the word. They show empathy, strong communication skills, and have a thorough understanding of family law, while also exhibiting patience, analytical abilities, and the capacity to navigate complex and often emotional situations.’

‘This practice stands out for its client-focused approach and exceptional expertise. Advice given is honest, clear, and realistic. The firm’s small size fosters close collaboration and personalised attention, setting it apart from larger competitors.’

Stowe Family Law LLP

Combining ‘breadth of expertise’ and ‘excellent client care’, Stowe Family Law LLP‘s Oxford and Reading based teams practice across the full range of family law. Liza Gatrell, managing partner, heads the team. Gemma Davison, in Oxford, is an accredited mediator and collaborative lawyer with experience in modern families work. In Reading, Sarah Scriven is recommended for challenging child law matters, and Jo Backwith is also a key name.

Responsables de la pratique:

Liza Gatrell


Autres avocats clés:

Gemma Davison; Jo Backwith; Sarah Scriven; Emily Bevan


Les références

‘Stowe Family Law is rapidly expanding. What makes them stand out in the industry is that they specialise exclusively in Family Law, which brings with it many advantages.’

‘I work with Emily Bevan. She is a no nonsense solicitor who gives robust and sound advice. She leaves no stone unturned.’

‘The team’s key strengths are the breadth of experience whilst maintaining excellent client care.’

Boyes Turner

Boyes Turner has a growing family practice in Reading, headed by ‘inspirational’ Paul Linsell, a mediator with experience handling complex financial and children matters and a particular focus on assisting families with children who have special needs. Nicola Weeks is praised for her ‘friendly and direct manner’, and Lizzie Dravnieks is also recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Paul Linsell


Autres avocats clés:

Nicola Weeks; Lizzie Dravnieks; Jess O’Shea White


Les références

‘Boyes Turner has been exemplary, not only in terms of the service it has provided but also the support, guidance and genuine care extended to me and my family.’

‘Nicola Weeks provided excellent and clear advice in a friendly and direct manner, which was crucial in enabling a vulnerable client to fully understand and engage with each stage of the process.’

‘From the very first engagement with the Family Law Team at Boyes Turner, they have been balanced in their advice with a shared focus on prioritising us. Paul Linsell has nurtured a great team and I am truly grateful for the compassionate and collaborative approach from Lizzie Dravnieks and Jess O’Shea White.’ 

K J Smith Solicitors

K J Smith Solicitors has a ‘strong regional presence’: Kulbir Rahi heads the Ascot team, Beth Pettifer takes the lead in Woodley, Edward Morton leads the Newbury office and Sofie Corbin established the team in Oxford. The firm handles the full range of financial and children disputes.

Responsables de la pratique:

Kulbir Rahi; Beth Pettifer; Edward Morton; Sofie Corbin


Les références

‘The team have been very helpful. Everyone I have had contact with has been kind and supportive with helping me.’

‘Sofie Corbin is really understanding, helpful and kind. There have been areas of my divorce that have brought complexity and difficulties. She has listened and given her expertise and guidance.’

‘The Family Team at KJ Smith offer a very strong regional presence for a full Matrimonial service in Private Law and financial proceedings.’

Lightfoots Solicitors

The ‘incredibly compassionate’ team at Lightfoots Solicitors works out of Thame, handling divorce issues, child arrangements, nuptial agreements and cohabitation matters. Team head Petrova Caldecourt is a mediator and ‘handles extremely challenging cases with skill and great determination’, while Adam Ball is the go-to for Inheritance Act-related work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Petrova Caldecourt


Autres avocats clés:

Adam Ball; Rebecca Pykett


Les références

‘Petrova Caldecourt stands out as an incredibly hard working and warm hearted solicitor who inspires confidence in her clients and achieves wonderful results.’

‘The team at Lightfoots are incredibly compassionate and supportive towards their clients. They are very pro-active at reaching out to ensure that their clients feel heard at every stage of the process.’

‘Petrova Caldecourt is a stand out partner in the Thames Valley area. She handles extremely challenging cases with skill and great determination.’