England - London • Private client
Osbornes
‘Osbornes has incredible strength in depth across every area of family law, from public law children and child abduction proceedings, through to adoption and surrogacy, and private client work’. Areas of expertise for the group span from unravelling complicated trusts and handling pre-acquired wealth, to Children Act proceedings and advising on the financial provision for children. Mark Freedman, Lisa Pepper, newly promoted partner Maria Kitsiou, and Lauren Hall, who joined the firm from Russell-Cooke LLP in April 2023, all jointly head the department. The practice has considerable strength in adoption and fertility matters through the highly regarded Naomi Angell. Joanne Wescott frequently handles complex and high-profile cases, while associate Diana Bastow has a broad range of experience in financial disputes.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Maria Kitsiou is an excellent solicitor; she is extremely bright, but also kind and diligent to clients with vulnerabilities.'
‘Osbornes has one of the strongest family law teams in the business with a very wide range of experience and seniority, from some of the biggest names in family law like Naomi Angell, to the some very talented newly qualified members of the team. They are uniquely placed to cater for every avenue of family legal difficulty, whether financial or children.'
'Mark Freedman is something of a visionary when it comes to his experiences with high-net-worth divorces; a strategist who considers case theory from the beginning and maps the path to settlement. He is the perfect cocktail of wit, experience and intelligence'.'
'In financial work, Andrew Watson is astonishing. He does not give up and has an uncanny ability to be correct in his advice. Clients love the fact that he advises at the outset. I would want Andy to be fighting my corner in any contested case.'
'Simone McGrath is incredible in complex cross-border cases and has been involved in many of the leading cases. Lauren Hall has a wonderfully empathetic manner with her clients and never posts a foot wrong. Finally, Naomi Angell is the fount of all knowledge on adoption and surrogacy cases. She is a lawyer to whom judges defer.'
‘Lisa Pepper is a great go-to solicitor for anyone wanting quick and appropriate advice. As a qualified mediator, Lisa will consider all types of ADR and will adopt these unless court proceedings is the only realistic option. Lisa is well-known amongst family lawyers and so she is able to access a large network of ADR resources.'
‘Bridget Thompson and Mark Freedman are big hitters with a huge amount of experience, realism, and exceptional client management skills. Tom Trim is brilliant; he reads absolutely everything, is wonderfully down to earth with clients and always available.'
‘Joanne Wescott is a class act who is loved by clients, and respected by opponents and colleagues alike. Just who you want on your side if you need a family lawyer. I have recommended her personally to friends and loved ones. A formidable intellect, fantastic judgement, and a genuine care for her clients.'
Work highlights
- Acted for a client in a case regarding covid-19 vaccinations in private law proceedings.
- Acting for a client in a long running child abduction case involving the return of a child to Ukraine.
Lawyers
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Leading individuals
Osbornes
Consultant solicitor specialising in domestic and international adoption, surrogacy, fertility law and childrens law. Naomi was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2020 Family Law Awards. She also is a previous recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award at the Family Law Awards. Osbornes is an approved legal partner of the leading surrogacy organisation, My Surrogacy Journey, which helps couples and individuals exploring international surrogacy. Naomi also appears in the Tatler Advisory Address Book as a recommended lawyer.
Osbornes
Mark is a partner in the family department and has been the managing partner at Osbornes since 2001. He joined the family department on qualification in 1994 quickly progressing to partner. Mark specialises in all areas of family law with a specific focus on high-profile and high-net-worth divorce and finance cases, as well as complex cases involving overseas assets and trusts. He has acted for celebrities and high-net-worth individuals before the Central Family Court and the High Court with excellent results. Mark sets out to achieve the very best for his clients and has earned himself a reputation as a tough negotiator both in and out the court forum. He regularly conducts round table meetings bringing finance cases to a swift and cost-effective conclusion as an alternative to court hearings. His work involves multi-jurisdictional divorce and children cases, with particular emphasis on Europe and the Middle East. He has successfully represented clients in all areas including under the new child arrangements programme. Mark is a well-known and highly regarded family and divorce lawyer often receiving referrals from existing and former clients as well as other family lawyers. Mark has run a number of cases in the Court of Appeal and is a well-respected family law practitioner. He regularly appears on TV and radio commenting on issues and changes surrounding family law. He is accredited by Resolution and is a trained mediator.
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Mark Freedman, Lisa Pepper, Maria Kitsiou, Lauren Hall