FAMILY

• Divorce
• Separation
• Civil Partnerships
• Pension and property
• Asset entitlements
• Co-habitation disputes
• Children
• Domestic violence

The team is recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers’ Directory.

If you are involved in a relationship break up and the resultant emotional turmoil, you may not have fully considered your legal position. The stress can often result in making poor decisions.

We are able to offer clients a complete family service and undertake all aspects of family law, including divorce, high finance divorce (assets over £3 million), divorce with commercial issues, pre-nuptial agreements, co-habitation, public and private children’s matters, adoption, fostering, international family work including child abduction, maintenance and domestic violence injunctions. As a result of our wide range of expertise, we receive referrals from other reputable firms who do not offer a service in respect of key aspects of family law.

The firm is hugely recognised for its experience in dealing with many high value and complex financial disputes, especially involving business interests.  Jennifer Goldstein and Elizabeth Gallagher have a particular interest in pension rights on divorce.

Jennifer Goldstein, Barry Speker, Robert Gibson and Claire Hunter are accredited members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Children Panel. They have vast experience in dealing with this complex area of law including care proceedings, disputes over residence, contact and related difficulties, adoption and fostering. Both Jennifer Goldstein and Barry Speker advise local private adoption and fostering agencies.

The firm is the designated solicitors’ practice for Newcastle upon Tyne for Reunite, the organisation assisting parents with cases where they have been separated from children abroad and have disputes in other countries. Jennifer Goldstein is nationally recognised for her expertise in these cases (see the Parvin Case). We also deal with inter-country adoptions.

Jennifer Goldstein and Elizabeth Gallagher are accredited members of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s Family Law Panel. All of our solicitors are experienced family law specialists. Claire Hunter and Caroline Lewis have developed a reputation for work with clients with learning disabilities through close contacts with MENCAP and other similar organisations.

All of the department’s lawyers are members of Resolution and follow its Code of Practice for the constructive resolution of disputes.

Elizabeth Gallagher is trained as a collaborative lawyer. Collaborative law is a process where separating spouses work together with their respective legal advisers to reach a dignified and fair settlement without going to court. It is a different process to mediation.

Robert Gibson also sits as a Deputy District Judge on the North East Circuit which gives additional expertise in resolving family disputes.

The firm holds a Legal Aid Franchise in relation to family work.

Family Law Blog
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