Goodman Ray boasts an ‘outstanding’ family law team with lawyers that ’are well respected and incredibly knowledgeable’. It has a solid reputation for its work in financial matters, private children mandates, and international issues that span adoption and fertility. It also garners praise for its extensive experience in modern family structures, public law matters, and domestic abuse cases. Peggy Ray specialises in complex cases concerning children, while Trudi Featherstone leads the divorce and matrimonial finance team. Jemma Dally is a partner in the adoption, surrogacy, and international child care department, and Tom Brownrigg is another key contact in the department. Kevin Skinner has substantial expertise in international custody disputes, child abduction cases, matrimonial proceedings, and care proceedings. Other names to note include Catriona Allan, Emma Sherrington, and Janet Broadley.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Emma Sherrington is extremely experienced and able. She can, and does, turn her hand to the whole range of children work, achieving outstanding outcomes for a variety of clients. Very highly recommended.'
‘What stands out is the strong leadership of Peggy Ray and the coherence of the family team. It always feels that behind the instruction of each solicitor, you are getting the Rolls-Royce service of the whole team. Their breadth of practice is second-to-none.'
‘Peggy Ray really is a pioneer when it comes to justice in family law. I am always utterly impressed by the kind of actions she is taking, not just on a case-by-case basis, but on matters of policy and trying to change the way the family legal system works at a government level.'
'Janet Broadley is quite exceptional as a solicitor. Her dedication to her clients is second-to-none. She often represents children in international cases and consistently achieves fabulous outcomes for them.'
'Jemma Dally is a no-nonsense force to be reckoned with. Jemma was unflappable and sensitive, but firm throughout. She is always completely on top of the case, and totally dedicated. She makes each client feel like they are her only one.'
'They are a match for any of the magic circle firms. They have expertise in both children and finance cases and have a significant number of outstanding lawyers.'
'Thomas Brownrigg is one of the most impressive lawyers I have worked with. He is equally talented at both children and finance work and this means clients facing both issues have continuity with their representation. He has fantastic knowledge of the law and is a master strategist.'
'Kevin Skinner is genuinely interested in his cases and has a reputation for being involved in the very biggest cases. Kevin also has a particular expertise in cross-border work.'

Key clients

Reunite
Southall Black Sisters
Family Rights Group

Work highlights

Represented a respondent mother in child abduction proceedings.

Lawyers

Rising stars

Leading individuals

Partner specialising in all areas of adoption, with a particular interest in international adoption with complex immigration/legal difficulties and in co-parenting, surrogacy and parental orders. Jemma Dally represented the adopters in the leading case in respect of recognition of a foreign adoption order (D v D (foreign adoption) [2008] 1 FLR 1475), also Re Z + Z (recognition of a Brazilian adoption order) [2013] EWHC 747 (Fam); Re R (recognition of Indian adoption) [2012] EWHC 2956 (Fam).