With an abundance of ‘high-quality and highly respected lawyers’ in its ranks, the three-partner team at family boutique Grant Stephens Family Law has the strength-in-depth to handle a tremendous range and volume of family law matters, combining a ‘tireless work ethic with real empathy’ to good effect for a client base that includes many high-net-worth clients. ‘Enormously experienced’ managing partner Grant Stephens ‘always offers clients reassurance and gets to the nub of the case straight away’, including a significant number of high-value and complex matrimonial cases for clients in the media world. Drawing upon a breath of experience in court work and mediation, Lisa Evans ‘brings a calm and measured approach to each of her cases’, including on matrimonial finance and civil cohabitee disputes. The ‘very sensible and down-to-earth’ Matthew Wells is also a key member of the team and favours a conciliatory approach, if possible.

Since it was established six years ago by Charlotte Leyshon, Lux Family Law has gone from strength-to-strength, providing a ‘high end niche family law offering’ for an almost exclusively a high-net-worth client base made up of professionals and their ex-spouses. The tone of the practice is set by the ‘personable, empathetic and technically excellent’ Leyshon, who is ‘incredibly experienced in financial remedy work’, and this permeates through the rest of the team with a degree of consistency which ensures that ‘whichever lawyer you get is committed, knowledgeable and well supported’. At an associate level, the ‘enormously practical and sensible’ Emily Borghese  continues to impress and has ‘an exceptional understanding of family law, far beyond her years’. 

Appreciated for its ‘laser sharp and analytical approach to the issues in hand’, Cardiff-based boutique Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice has built up a very strong following throughout South Wales and provides ‘constructive and sensible advice’ to individuals across the gamut of family law issues. Founding partner Melanie Hamer has a ‘calm and understanding nature’ which is well-suited to handling complex and often highly charged matrimonial finance matters, including for high-net-worth individuals, who she also often advises on pre-nuptial agreements. Thea Hughes has ‘excellent negotiation skills’, which she imparts to very good effect on often challenging divorces involving myriad assets, including multiple properties and companies. Sarah Wyburn , who has a ‘knack of being empathetic with her clients whilst being fierce in her negotiations on their behalf’, is another popular member of the team, including in relation to handling same sex marriages and civil partnerships. Rebecca Knight is a ‘fearless fighter who works incredibly hard for her clients’, and alongside the ‘very empathetic’ David James  excels at handling Schedule 1 Children Act matters. Recently promoted to partner, Sam John  goes ‘above and beyond for his clients’, while at associate level, Fay Jones  ‘assimilates information quickly and gets to the heart of a case’. Lucy Morris joined the practice in August 2024.

Led from Bridgend by the ‘fantastic’ Katie McColgan, but by no means limited to handling work in the immediate geographical vicinity,  the ’very accessible’ team at Berry Smith provides an ‘exceptional service’ to clients throughout South Wales. The scope of the work is wide-ranging, spanning financial settlements and children matters, with the team also able to access lawyers within property, litigation and corporate teams, if necessary. At associate level,  the 'very supportive and empathetic' Benjamin Delve  adds value to clients by virtue of his higher rights of audience, while more junior member Conor Lynn  is gaining good traction in the market as a result of his ‘tireless work ethic’ and ‘exceptional legal expertise’. 

With a greater profile in the local market as a result of some notable hires in 2023, Geldards LLP is much better positioned to handle a larger volume and range of family work. The ‘highly respected and well regarded’ Adrienne Donneky now heads the team following the retirement of Gaynor Dickens and her arrival in November 2023, followed shortly thereafter by the ‘empathetic’ Belinda Moseley (who excels at handling Children Act cases) from Hugh James, was a major coup for the firm, particularly in light of her skill at advising high-net-worth business clients and those with independent wealth such as family trusts. ‘Compassionate and approachable’ senior associate Aysha Chouhdary  is also a key member of the team, and following her arrival in March 2023 from Irwin Mitchell adds further bandwidth to the practice by dint of her ability to handle Islamic divorce and family matters.

‘Outstanding’ Newport-based firm Harding Evans LLP provides an ‘excellent all-round service’ for a diverse range of standalone clients, and existing private and commercial clients at the firm who may require ad-hoc family law advice. ‘Cool, calm and collected’ team head Kate Thomas is very adept at handling complex divorces and private children contact matters, and has gained particular expertise guiding clients who have been in abusive relationships. A ‘tower of strength’ in often very fraught circumstances, Leah Thomas  ensures that ‘no stone is left unturned’ in the pursuit of the optimal settlement for a client in relation to financial remedy matters.

In somewhat of a rebuilding phase following the departure of former team head Adrienne Donneky  and Belinda Moseley  to Geldards LLP at the end of 2023, Hugh James is now headed by the 'very experienced' Victoria Cannon, who joined the firm in November 2023 from Stowe Family Law LLP. Cannon is 'compassionate, incredibly supportive and sensitive', ensuring that she is not only very adept at advising on high value matrimonial finance cases but also complex private children matters, as well as cases from the LGBT community.

Drawing upon deep ties with the local community, the 'customer-focused, friendly and professional' team at Neath-based firm Hutchinson Thomas has an excellent track record delivering 'pragmatic and solutions-driven' advice, tailored to each individual client's circumstance. Key to the firm's success and standing is the work provided by senior partner and team head Robert Williams, who is 'absolutely exceptional' at handling divorce and associated financial remedy issues, putting clients at ease 'with a personal, sympathetic supportive approach'. Debbie Richards  leads the firm's childcare department, which has earned a strong reputation for handling public law cases involving children, frequently representing guardians, relatives, and local authorities.

Led from Caerphilly by the 'approachable and supportive' Jill Bulteel and supported by experts in key offices in Swansea and Carmarthen, JCP Solicitors has excellent coverage across South east and South west Wales, regularly receiving direct client instructions, as well as referral work, across a myriad family work, including specialised areas including family trust disputes and Surrogacy Parental Orders. Carmarthen based Angela Killa excels in handling complex Children Law matters, a fact that is recognised not only in her fee-earning work (which includes cases involving serious and significant allegations of domestic abuse and alienating behaviour) but also by her selection to be an Advisor to the Commissioner for Children in Wales as part of the Commissioner’s Adult Panel. In Swansea, associate Claire Davies regularly advises high-net-worth-individuals on matrimonial finance matters, and excels in resolving issues involving substantial pensions.

The 'focused and conscientious' team at Robertson Solicitors continues to gain traction in the South Wales market, where its client base includes an increasing number of high-net-worth clients. Recognised as 'an excellent analytical thinker' Hannah Magee has 'a lot of experience in high value financial remedies work', including matters involving businesses and cross-jurisdictional elements. Lisa Shrimpton provides 'down-to-earth, high quality advice' on matrimonial finance and also has niche expertise advising on domestic violence matters. Chris Barber , who is 'very good at putting his clients at ease and guiding them through the process', heads the team alongside Magee.

The 'sensible and efficient team' at Watkins & Gunn Limited provides 'a cost-effective service' to clients throughout South Wales across both matrimonial finance and Children Act matters. 'Extremely experienced and able' Newport-based team head Sophie Hughes is 'perceptive and shrewd in dealing with matrimonial finance', and regularly handles complex high-net-worth cases including those involving overseas assets and companies. In Pontypool, Kate Roberts heads up the care team sub-group that also includes 'hardworking and dedicated' senior associate Natalie Corten, with both practitioners excelling in public and private Children Act proceedings.

Boutique Cardiff-based firm First Line Family Law has, since it was established five years ago, gained a significant foothold in the local market, gaining market traction and visibility through fee-earning work, as well as pro bono advice, as well as significant exposure on social media outlets. Richard Davies  and Ceri Boland  co-head the team and are both well-versed in handling financial remedy and complex Children Act cases.

The 'friendly and approachable' team at Llanelli-based firm Gomer Williams & Co provides a 'client-focused' and 'results-oriented' service to clients in the local vicinity across a range of matrimonial finance and children law matters. Under the leadership of the 'extremely efficient, hardworking and attentive' Lucy Williams , the team is, however, best known for acting in public law child care work, as well as matters involving allegations of domestic violence and is appreciated for the 'compassion and real care' it shows for instructing clients.

Although it remains in its infancy, the ‘friendly, approachable and results-oriented’ team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys has, since its establishment in July 2021, quickly attained popularity among clients throughout South East Wales as a result of being a ‘safe pair of hands’ across a broad range family law matters. ‘Commercial, pragmatic and astute’ team head Richard Scott is ‘very experienced in dealing with both financial and children disputes’, and is particularly noted for his expertise at handling matters involving public sector pensions.

 

Displaying 'a personal touch and always having the clients' best interests at the forefront of their work', Howells Solicitors has developed a strong reputation throughout South Wales across a myriad financial remedy cases (including those with a cross-over to trusts), as well as Children Act proceedings. Team head Gerard Griffiths  'has a calm, considered approach to work in the space' and is noted for his 'non-confrontational ethos' which relies on a highly collaborative approach to settle issues.

Led out of Bridgend by the 'thoughtful, caring and tenacious' Victoria Jones , RLE Law has cultivated a strong reputation in the local vicinity among publicly and privately funded clients as a result of its 'exceptional client care' and 'measured and sensible' advice across a range of family matters. Jones is particularly skilled at advising on very sensitive cases involving vulnerable clients who have suffered domestic abuse, as well as in children cases where social services are involved, types of matters where she excels as a result of her 'gentle yet firm persona'. 

With a strong following stretching from Pembrokeshire through to Cardiff, Red Kite Law LLP has the strength-in-depth to handle a range of family issues from the South east to South west of the country. The arrival in October 2023 of the 'exceptional' Susan Williams  from Ince & Co further strengthens the team's capability, in light of her expertise at handing complex matrimonial finance matters and her skill at handling the 'nuances of care proceedings'. Welsh speaking Carmarthen-based team head Catrin Griffiths is 'extremely well-versed in financial remedy matters, particularly in cases involving agricultural land and intervenor issues'.

Now headed out of Cardiff by Marjha Golding-Evans, who joined in November 2023 from RDP Law following Victoria Cannon‘s departure the previous month to head up Hugh James‘ team, Stowe Family Law LLP‘s ‘exceptional’ team, which also recently opened up a second office in Swansea, is well-versed at handling a myriad family law matters, including high-net-worth divorces, and complex children work. Golding-Evans is ‘truly brilliant’ and excels at handling financial remedy cases, including those involving complex farming assets. The ‘exceptional’ Zoe Carter, who was recently promoted to partner, is also a key resource on matrimonial finance matters, as well as being skilled at handling complex Children Act cases, often involving allegations of abuse.