the family law company

Finalists at The Family Law Company

Family law specialists shortlisted for five awards

The Family Law Company has been shortlisted in five awards categories in Devon and Somerset Law Society (DASLS) Legal Awards 2019.

The specialist law firm with offices in Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton has been shortlisted for Law Firm of the Year (1-10 partners) with four individuals also reaching the finals.

They are Kirsty Thyer, Leader of the Year; Imran Khodabocus, Solicitor of the Year; Carrie Laws, Chartered Legal Executive and Hannah Porter, Rising Star.

The Family Law Company Director, Rachel Buckley said: “I am delighted that so many of our talented lawyers...

The Family Law Company welcomes new paralegal to specialist cohabitation team

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 06/15/2018 - 10:06am

Extra help is at hand for unmarried couples needing legal advice with the appointment of a paralegal to the specialist cohabitation and unmarried finance team at The Family Law Company.

Dominika Windak, who is studying to become a Chartered Legal Executive, joined the company in May. After completing her BA (Hons) in International Business,

Dominika gained legal experience at a boutique law firm specialising in business and financial law. Working at The Family Law Company means she can now concentrate on the family side of law, which is her main interest, and develop skills...

Promotion to Senior Associate for Helen

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Mon, 04/02/2018 - 6:27pm

The Family Law Company has announced the promotion of Helen Trott to Senior Associate Solicitor.

Helen joined the company in 2012 to specialise in care work and the law relating to children, after studying law at the University of Warwick and then working in a general family law role.

She said: “I knew I wanted to specialise in child law and the best route would be working for a specialist; The Family Law Company has a strong reputation for care work.”

Helen’s work is in a particularly stressful area of family law and she predominantly handles legal aid cases, which...

Trio of new starters for The Family Law Company

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 08/04/2017 - 10:03am

With the company expanding to meet growing demands for a specialist family law service, The Family Law Company has taken on three new support staff for its Exeter team.

Two legal secretaries have also been appointed. Lisa Combrink, who has experience as an events manager, had previously temped at the company. She says she enjoyed working with the team so much that she asked to be put forward for a permanent role.

Catherine Ankers comes to The Family Law Company after a stint at a car hire company. She said:

“I was looking for a position that offered a good work/life...

The Family Law Company appoints specialist solicitor

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Fri, 03/24/2017 - 7:37am

Unmarried couples can now avail themselves of expert help, with the appointment of a specialist solicitor to support The Family Law Company’s unmarried finance team.

Experienced civil litigator Jane Swannell joins the company to provide advice in the resolution of property disputes. In addition, she will be concentrating on cases involving mental health law and Court of Protection work.

Originally from the Midlands, Jane first came to the region when her family moved to Exeter where she was educated at The Maynard School. After taking her law degree in Bristol and attending...

Hat trick for The Family Law Company at DASLS Awards

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 03/08/2017 - 8:12am

Three family law specialists from The Family Law Company are celebrating after winning awards in the 2017 Devon and Somerset Law Society (DASLS) Awards. With the marking of International Women’s Day this week, it is particularly apt that all three are women.

The trio, Business Development Director and Director of Legal Services, Rachel Buckley, Senior Associate Solicitor Grace Bradley and Associate Chartered Legal Executive Gemma Sparks collected their awards during a glittering event at Sandy Park.

Rachel said: “The company was shortlisted in four categories and we were...

Court says no to Civil Partnership for heterosexual couples

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 02/22/2017 - 12:15pm

The Court has ruled against a heterosexual couple seeking to enter into a Civil Partnership instead of a marriage. Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, appealed the decision of Mrs Justice Andrews DBE in the High Court, who held that the restrictions under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, preventing opposite-sex couples from entering into a civil partnership, were lawful.

The Family Law Company solicitor Sasha Walton, explained: “The parties argued that, as a heterosexual couple, they did not have the same choice as a same-sex couple when choosing the route of legal recognition for...

Talking about mental health

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Mon, 01/30/2017 - 1:15pm

‘Time to Talk Day’ on Feb 2 aims to encourage around the clock conversations about mental health issues, says a family law specialist who is committed to encouraging more openness about anxiety and stress-related difficulties.

Donna Hart from The Family Law Company, which helps many to deal with difficult and often mentally challenging family issues, explained: “At the moment, too many of those with mental health problems are made to feel isolated, ashamed and worthless by the way they are treated by others. This is something we can all help to change.

“Talking about mental...

Trust in the Trustees

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 11/09/2016 - 10:01am

With Trustees’ Week running from November 7 to 13, three experts from The Family Law Company are keen to explain why they became trustees with local charities.

There are currently around 194,000 charities in the UK with just over 1 million trustees; just under half are women, and the average age of a trustee is 59 in England and Wales, although 86,000 are aged 16-34.

Donna Hart and Stephen Sowden, who are based in Exeter, and Ann Shears who works at the Plymouth office, have taken on the role of trustee with three very different charities.

Donna became a trustee at...

25 years and counting for family law specialists

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Tue, 10/18/2016 - 9:54am

The South West’s largest specialist family law firm, The Family Law Company by Hartnell Chanot, is celebrating 25 years as a specialist legal firm.

The company was set up as Hartnell & Co in 1991 by Norman Hartnell, after he realised there was a need for specialist family lawyers.

He was joined by Jane Chanot in 1997 when the company became Hartnell Chanot, and in 2013 a significant rebrand to The Family Law Company by Hartnell Chanot, meant the company’s specialism became clear to all.

Norman Hartnell said: “I felt strongly then, as I do now, that family law is...

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