Branch Austin McCormick LLP

Family Law

Partner

From 1983 to 1999 and prior to working in the field of law I worked in the glamorous world of the casino industry in London. I also spent two years working in Baghdad Iraq and three years in Nassau Bahamas.

In 2000 I worked as a legal assistant at Caines Solicitors, Enfield doing all aspects of residential conveyancing. In 2001, I moved across the road to Barnes and Partners in Enfield where I did my training contract. I was admitted to the Roll in February 2003 and specialised in Family Law. In 2007 I moved up the hill from Barnes and Partners and joined Vanderpump and Sykes as an associate solicitor in the Family Law department. In 2011 I moved to the City of London joining PCM Solicitors as the Family Law Partner.  I joined Fletcher Day in 2020 as a salaried Partner in the Family Team and then moved to my present position as Partner in the Family Team at the lovely Branch Austin McCormick in February 2023.

Member of Resolution

I undertook my law degree on a part time basis while working full time. Simultaneously I successfully studied for my Green Licence (gaming), following which I joined the management team of a London Casino and was jointly responsible for well over 200 staff and a cash flow of many millions. This gave me a very good grounding in people management skills.

As a child I was appalled that Sue on the Sooty and Sweep show was always being beaten up. It infuriated me so much that unbeknown to my parents I wrote to Sooty to tell him not to do so. I got a nice reply form Harry Corbett! In the very early part of my legal career, I dealt with many applications under the Family Law Act dealing with domestic violence.

My own parents divorced and divorced well, so I am well aware of how things should be done by separating parents. When separating couples are in the throes of the breakdown their relationship, I very much understand the hurt and upheaval each party may be going through and appreciate that it is a very difficult period of their lives where emotions can run high, especially when there are children concerned and/or the parties are in dispute over the finances. I like to think that I deal with such matters with a high degree of sensitivity and understanding as well as being informative and in circumstances where the advice I give is not what the client wants to hear, deliver that advice in a palatable manner.

My husband and I share a love of hiking in the Canadian Rockies (bears permitting) and supporting Arsenal football club.