Sarah Thompson

Family and matrimonial law.

Principal lawyer, specialising in family and matrimonial law. Extensive caseload of mid-range to high-net-worth clients. Dealing almost exclusively with sorting out the finances for divorcing and unmarried couples. Recent and current cases include: advising CEO of multinational airline company in relation to jurisdictional issues, child maintenance when CMS does not have jurisdiction and overall financial settlement, advising client on application to set aside due to ex-spouse’s non-disclosure and application to vary maintenance in case where asset base in excess of £35m, advising client who has several foreign properties, a family business and complex pension issues, advising client in relation to unmarried property where ex-partner seeking to rely on purported variation of declaration of trust.

 As a former expat herself, Sarah has particular interest in acting for clients who live abroad. She currently handles a variety of such cases, and also deals with jurisdictional issues in cases where there is a dispute as to which country should deal with the divorce. In 2011, Sarah set up Slater and Gordon family mediation. She receives referrals from Manchester solicitors such as Mills & Reeve, JMW and Elizabeth Hassall Family Law as well as individuals referring themselves to mediation. As a trained collaborative lawyer, Sarah regularly conducts four way meetings on behalf of clients. Sarah is the vice chair of the Manchester DR Group.

Bolton School Girls Division; Manchester Metropolitan University (1993 BSc Hons); Staffordshire University (1995 CPE and LPC, commendation).