Contact
Huggins & Lewis Foskett
South Woodford, London
Tel: 020 8989 3000
Email: salam@huggins-law.co.uk
Admitted as a Partner at Huggins & Lewis Foskett in 2003 Saika specialises in Family Law and general litigation. Her practice covers the whole range of family matters for both married and unmarried couples. She has experience in resolving property and financial disputes upon relationship breakdown both through the court process and by negotiation. She deals with the majority of the “high end” family work in her practice.
Saika is a member of Resolution and the Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Membership of Resolution commits family lawyers to resolving disputes in a non-confrontational and constructive way and Resolution members adhere to a code of practice.
She also undertakes Collaborative Family Law which is a new way of making a break and surviving the aftermath of divorce.
Wiseman Lee LLP
East Ham, London
Tel: 020 8215 1000
Email: jdiamond@wiseman.co.uk
Jonathan Diamond joined Wiseman Lee in 1987 after having qualified as a solicitor in 1986. He is the solicitor in charge of the family law department at Wiseman Lee LLP. He specialises in all areas of separation and divorce and can advise and deal with disputes concerning children, money and property.
Jonathan is a registered expert with Resolution and also an advanced member of the Family Law Panel. Even though Jonathan acts for private paying clients, he still has a legal aid case load, bearing in mind the firm's ongoing commitment to publicly funded services. He has a detailed knowledge of the workings of legal aid and sits on both the public funding review panel and the costs appeals committee. Furthermore, Jonathan also sits as an adjudicator in relation to legal aid appeals.
Jonathan is also a resolution trained collaborative lawyer. His training is able to assist the client in resolving issues without going to court for a number of four way meetings with another trained collaborative lawyer who would act for the client's ex partner. He would work in such a way as part of a team so as to achieve a settlement.
David Emmerson
Family Law Consulting
Tel: 020 7790 7000
Email: david.emmerson@famlawconsulting.co.uk
David is an expert in Family Law. He is now a Consultant with two top London firms, TV Edwards LLP and Milner Elledge Solicitors. He was previously Head of Family at Edwards Duthie Solicitors. David is a member of the prestigious Resolution Accreditation Panel of expert family lawyers. He qualified as a Collaborative Family Lawyer in 2007 and has conducted many collaborative cases since then. David believes that the most difficult cases can be resolved through the Collaborative Law process.
When instructed in non-Collaborative cases, David conducts the advocacy in the majority of the cases and is a Higher Court Solicitor-Advocate (Civil Proceedings). He has particular expertise in resolving complex financial and children cases.
David is also a National Committee member of the Resolution, the association that represents over 5000 family lawyers throughout the country and is Chair of their Legal Aid Committee. David has been involved with the development of Collaborative law with Resolution. He is a former member of the Law Society Child Care Panel.
David has been appointed a Deputy District judge and sits on the South East judicial circuit. In June 2004, he was awarded an O.B.E. for his work in publicly funded legal services nationally and particularly in London and Essex.
David has given lectures and chaired conferences on legal services, family law, legal aid and Collaborative law. He has written many articles for periodicals and journals on Collaborative law, family law and legal aid issues. He is a co-author of Resolution’s Family Law Handbook.
Tom Farrell
Merlin Financial Consultants Ltd
High Holborn
Tel: 020 7404 4711
Email: mailto:help@tomfarrell.co.uk/
Tom is an Independent Financial Planner and an Affiliate member of Resolution. He is accredited through them to work as a Financial Neutral in Collaborative Law.
He is also a Family Mediator and member of the Family Mediators Association.
His objective is to help you understand your financial makeup and the options open to you. To help you arrive at a settlement that makes sense to you, both now and for the future.
Teresa Foss
Taylor Haldane Barlex LLP
Chelmsford
Tel: 01245 349696
Email: TFoss@THBLegal.com
Teresa is a solicitor with Taylor Haldane Barlex LLP in Chelmsford. She is a member of Resolution and is actively involved as a committee member with the Essex regional Resolution group. She is an accredited specialist with Resolution in financial provision and private children law and is also a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Teresa is a trained Collaborative Family lawyer.
Teresa qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has worked exclusively in Family Law since then. She mainly deals with cases involving financial settlement, including pension provision and family businesses for all levels of income and assets, and also all private law children matters, domestic violence, and cohabittee property issues.
Catherine Polli
Pinney Talfourd LLP
Upminster
Tel: 01708 229444
Email: catherine.polli@pinneytalfourd.co.uk
Catherine is a Partner of Pinney Talfourd LLP Solicitors, a Solicitor and the head of the Family Law Department.
She specialises in divorce, complex financial settlements for high-worth clients, prenuptial and separation agreements and Children Act proceedings, as well as cohabitation issues.
Catherine qualified as a Barrister in 1997 and practised as a family specialist until 2003, when she took on the role as Head of Family in another Essex-based firm of solicitors. She joined Pinney Talfourds in 2004, and after months of further studying, converted to a Solicitor in 2005. She became a Partner on 1 May 2006.
Catherine is a member of the Family Law Bar Association, the Association of Lawyers for Children and Resolution, as well as being a trained Collaborative Lawyer.
She undertakes presentations with local groups and has been quoted in the national press, as well as finding time to be a member of the Havering Solicitors Group Committee and West Essex Law Society.
Margaret Ridley
Beecham Fisher Ridley
Southend on Sea
Tel: 01702 348384/331225
Email: mhr@beechamfisherridley.co.uk
Margaret Ridley LLB, MCFM Margaret joined Beecham Fisher Ridley in 1999 having previously built up and headed the Family Law Department in her firm where she had worked for over twenty years. She is a member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association).
Margaret deals with all aspects of Family Law i.e. divorce, separation, cohabitation, children, wardship and adoption matters and disputes over family property. She specialises in high value asset case and has a particular interest in Child Support Law.
She is a part-time Chairman of Social Security and Child Support Appeal Tribunals.
In 1992 she trained as a Mediator with the Family Mediators Association and is an accredited member and a Professional Practice Consultant of same as well as a member of the UK College of Family Mediators. She is a practitioner member of the Law Society’s Family Mediation Panel and Resolution Mediation Panel.
Colin Smith
Leonard Gray LLP
Chelmsford
Tel: 01245 504904
Email: csmith@leonardgray.co.uk
Colin is the Senior Solicitor who leads the Leonard Gray Family Law Team. He is a Partner with 20 years qualified experience in Family Law.
Colin is a Member of the Law Society Family Panel , a Member of Resolution, a Member of the Association of Lawyers for Children.
He broadcasts and lectures on Family Law matters and Family mediation.
Colin specialises:
- Law Society Family Law Panel Member
- "Collaborative Lawyer" accredited by "Resolution" previously the Solicitors Family Law Association
- Advises in high net worth divorcing and separating clients and is much in demand
- Advises directors of public and private companies in divorce and separation
- Helps resolve Family Trusts in divorce and separation
- Advises on agricultural companies and partnerships in divorce and separation
- High worth pensions and investments in divorce and separation
- Principal Practice Consultant and Mediator
- National Family Mediators Association Committee Member
- All aspects of Civil Partnerships including set up and separation.
Jennifer Taylor
Palmers Solicitors
South Woodham Ferrers
Tel: 01245 322111
Email: JTaylor@palmerslaw.co.uk
Jennifer is a solicitor at Palmers South Woodham Ferrers office with 8 years' family experience. She has extensive experience in advising upon divorce, separation and children issues. Jennifer is a member of The Law Society Family Law Panel as well as Resolution.
Jennifer is a member of various breakfast and lunch clubs. She is a mentor for a law student at Anglia Ruskin University and also works with 2 local Sixth Form schools assisting students with careers advice and in their preparation for employment.
Karen Taylor
PDJ Law
Great Dunmow
Tel: 01371 871600
Email: karen.taylor@essexfamilylaw.co.uk
Website: http://www.essexfamilylaw.co.k/
Karen Taylor is a senior solicitor at the Great Dunmow office of PDJ Law. Karen is committed to working with clients in a non-confrontational and constructive manner although this does not prevent her from taking a firm line with people (whether they are clients or those representing the other party) when necessary. Karen prides herself on providing clear, practical, client centred advice and support.
Karen deals with a wide range of family matters, from straight forward divorces to complex financial matters; disputes concerning children and issues for cohabitees both before and after living together.
Karen is a Resolution accredited specialist in the fields of domestic violence and cohabitation.
Karen has chaired Resolution’s Essex region since 2004, and has been a member of Resolution since 1995.
In her spare time Karen ice skates with other members of her family, taking national level tests and competing at home and abroad.
Gail Thompson
Budd Martin Burrett Solicitors
Chelmsford
Tel: 01245 490123
Email: gail.thompson@bmblaw.co.uk
Gail Thompson is the head of the Family Law Department at Budd Martin Burrett Solicitors. She qualified as a solicitor with the firm in 2002 and has specialised in Family Law since then. She advises in most areas of family law, mainly dealing with divorce, separation and associated financial matters, all private law children matters and cohabitatee disputes.
The firm itself offers Legal Aid to those clients that qualify.
Gail is a Member of Resolution, and is involved with the local Essex group. She is also a Member of the Family Law Panel of the Law Society.
In addition she is involved as a committee Member of the Local Law Society, Mid Essex Law Society, previously being the Vice President to the organisation.
She has also given several radio interviews for BBC Radio Essex on Family Related matters and is involved with the local university, Anglia Ruskin University, attending several events over the years, including being a judge for the National Interviewing Competition at the University for several years.
Ben Twitchen
Taylor Walton
St Albans and Harpenden
see map & directions
Tel: 01727 845245
Email: ben.twitchen@taylorwalton.co.uk
Ben is from Taylor Walton and offers appointments at both St Albans and Harpenden. Ben would be happy to give a free initial consultation over the phone or by meeting.
Ben specialises in matrimonial law and finances. He is an accredited member of the Law Society Family Panel, and formerly on the Essex committee of Resolution, the professional body responsible for bringing Collaborative Law to these shores from America. Ben is enthusiastic about the freedom the Collaborative Law process offers, and is committed to encouraging this alternative to traditional Court proceedings.
Although Collaborative Law is a relatively new technique, Ben has been involved in a high number of Collaborative cases and is able to draw from those experiences with each new case. He is a member of three pods of collaborative lawyers, sharing techniques, training and developing skills. Ben is also a member of two international Collaborative law newsgroups.
In his spare time Ben writes articles for newspapers, Twitter and Linkedin and plays golf.
