David is a director at Family Law in Partnership who has specialised in family law for over 25 years. David's clients include business owners, entrepreneurs, bankers, other lawyers and their partners. The focus of David's practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those with an international dimension, and the legal issues affecting cohabitants, same sex couples and civil partners. David settles the vast majority of his cases outside the court process but where cases have to go to court he is a determined and effective litigator. His goal is to achieve the best outcome for his client and to do so in a way that produces an efficient, fair and positive result. David is a trained mediator and has FMA senior mediator status. He is an experienced collaborative lawyer and is a Resolution collaborative specialist. David lectures, writes and broadcasts extensively on a wide range of family law matters including on issues affecting cohabitants and same sex couples.
England - London • Private client
Family Law in Partnership Ltd
Family Law in Partnership Ltd has a ‘great team with a stellar reputation’ and is praised by one client for its ’great mediation offering and support for ADR’ which ‘marks them out against their competitors’. Many of its clients are high profile figures, including royalty, those in the public eye, and ultra-high-net-worth businesspeople. The ’fantastic family law firm’, while ‘focused on settling cases’ also has ’outstanding litigators’. The focus of David Allison’s practice continues to be on complex and high-value financial claims regarding divorce proceedings, particularly those with an international dimension. Daniel Coombes regularly advises clients on children cases, including those involving children born into same-sex families and international relocation cases. Elizabeth Fletcher predominately handles cases involving both financial remedy and children proceedings. Helen Greenfield has a particular specialism in assisting clients who have been affected by domestic abuse or coercive and controlling behaviour. James Pirrie specialises in complicated financial remedy cases and private children law matters. Other ‘intelligent, empathic and highly-skilled lawyers’ include Pamela Collis , Bradley Williams, Charlotte Symes, and Elizabeth Hicks.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘James Pirrie is the Duracell bunny of the legal world. He effectively brings energy to managing his case load, has an open approach, and he gets a lot of referrals based on word of mouth. He wears his encyclopaedic legal knowledge lightly. Hugely impressive.'
‘Elizabeth Fletcher is a standout lawyer here. She is extremely sharp and knows the law inside out. Hugely responsive and extremely tenacious on behalf of her clients. She has great empathy and always does a first-class job.'
‘Bradley Williams is a superb solicitor. A comprehensively talented team of family lawyers who are at the top of their game. Pamela Collis is a great leader and a very accommodating person who balances her professional service with a unique personal touch.'
‘Helen Greenfield displays a calm attitude that belies her fiercely analytical mind and her wealth of experience. Helen is brilliant with lay clients and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of family law and her cases. This combination of skills makes her an exceptional family law solicitor and an opponent to be reckoned with.'
'Elizabeth Hicks: she is at the top of her game. Fiercely loyal to, and protective of, her clients, they feel supported and extremely well represented as a result. She is not afraid to stand her ground and delivers results time after time.'
'Daniel Coombes is the most deep-thinking and strategic family law solicitor I know. He is exceptional and incredibly hard working. Nicole Phillips is client focused and has an empathetic demeanour, but she is also incisive and analytical when it counts.'
'I would describe FLIP as a Magic Circle firm with a difference. They are settlement and ADR focussed with an eye on the emotional welfare of the client. They litigate well when necessary, but only when necessary.'
'Mariko Wilson is outstanding, clever, gentle, thoughtful, and conscientious. Excellent client manner, great on detail, but sees the overall picture. Grace Lawrence is fiercely intelligent, forthright, conscientious. Selena Arbe-Barnes is clever, committed, interested, and supportive. She absorbs every detail of the client's case.'
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Elizabeth is a director at Family Law in Partnership. She specialises in all areas of family law and has a particular focus in advising HNW and UHNW clients on complex cross jurisdictional issues of family, matrimonial and trusts law. Elizabeth’s work includes divorce, contested financial remedy cases and asset protection, often involving international aspects. Elizabeth also advises on complicated private Children Act cases and Pre and Post Marital Agreements with both domestic and international aspects. Elizabeth’s clients include husbands and wives, cohabitants and sometimes children. They come from a range of backgrounds and include entrepreneurs, City professionals and various high profile individuals and their spouses and partners. As a trained collaborative lawyer, Elizabeth is experienced in using the collaborative process to resolve family law matters. She often prepares Pre and Post Marital Agreements using the collaborative process including those agreements which have an international aspect.
James is a director at Family Law in Partnership. He specialises in complex financial issues arising from divorce and separation and non-adversarial and cost effective approaches to divorce including mediation, arbitration and collaborative law. James also has a strong track record of helping clients to achieve excellent outcomes in the Court system. James led Resolution's “Parenting after Parting” inititative to heighten lawyers' awareness of positive co-parenting. James is also the founder of Divorce Diaries, a collection of insights and experiences of former clients going through divorce or separation. He was one of the first lawyers to train as both a collaborative lawyer and a family arbitrator and James is qualified to arbitrate both financial disputes and children matters. As a trained mediator he is also qualified in the commercial model of mediation and direct child consultation.
Rising stars
Selena is an associate at Family Law in Partnership. She advises on a wide range of issues associated with the breakdown of marriage and relationships, including complex children and financial matters. Selena’s children cases often involve multi-layered child arrangement issues, including those where the most serious allegations have been made against parents. On financial matters, she assists clients at all stages of their divorce or separation with an approach tailored to their needs and circumstances – be it engaging in negotiation, alternative dispute resolution or court proceedings. In her work, Selena is regarded for her client care and emotional intelligence, as well as for her sharp technical skills. She is committed to resolving matters in a proactive and sensitive manner, considering all options to achieve a solution that is both sensible and fair. When this is not possible and court proceedings become unavoidable, Selena will take a robust approach to protect her clients’ interests. Selena is ranked as a Rising Star by Legal 500 2023, and was named as a Rising Star by Legal 500 UK 2022 and 2021. The 2023 and 2024 editions of the UK Best Lawyers guide have also named Selena as ‘One to Watch’. Selena is a fluent Spanish and French speaker. She uses her language skills to assist clients going through court proceedings abroad by working closely with local lawyers and liaising with third parties.
Grace is an associate at Family Law in Partnership. Grace advises on international and high-value family law cases, often involving complex business and trust interests and issues of pre and post-marital wealth. Grace combines an empathetic and diligent approach, with a strong technical ability. Grace seeks to resolve matters outside of court where possible – employing solicitor-led negotiation or alternative processes such as mediation or arbitration. Where court proceedings become necessary, Grace is a confident and strategic litigator and hugely protective of her clients’ interests. Grace was named as a Rising Star and recommended for family law in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Legal 500 directory, which comments that she is “extremely competent, knowledgeable and empathetic." Grace has been involved in supporting guests of the Restored Lives project on a pro bono basis.
Nicole is an associate and mediator at Family Law in Partnership. She combines a warm, sympathetic manner with tactical nous and incisive judgment. Nicole handles all aspects of private family law, assisting and supporting clients who are navigating divorce or separation to resolve any financial or children issues that may arise. Nicole’s cases have involved a wide range of issues, and regardless of the subject matter, one constant feature across all of Nicole’s cases is how much better clients feel for having her at their side, with one remarking: “Your advice and counsel has been nothing short of excellent.” Nicole was shortlisted for the award Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year in the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards 2018 and for Family Law Associate of the year in 2023. She was also named as a Rising Star by The Legal 500 UK 2020 and recommended for family law with the editorial noting: “Nicole Phillips is a real rising star. Nicole is commercially savvy and completely at home with complex business cases. She reads accounts and can manage the most complicated figures with aplomb. Don’t be misled by her youth and charm: she knows what she is doing”. Nicole has a strong interest in alternative dispute resolution and in working closely with other professionals such as family consultants and therapists to achieve a successful outcome for her clients. Her interest in holistic support is just one reason why she was elected to Resolution’s Innovation Committee (a national organisation of family lawyers with over 6,000 members), developing tools and business methods to benefit the whole membership and, by extension, the family law industry as a whole.
Kara is a Senior associate and collaborative practioner at Family Law in Partnership. She advises on all aspects of private family law for a wide range of clients. Kara is a qualified collaborative lawyer. Kara was named Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year 2019 in the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards, having been shortlisted for the award the previous year too. Kara was named winner in the Lawyer Monthly Magazine Women in Law Awards 2019. The 2023 and 2024 editions of UK Best Lawyers have also named Kara as ‘One to Watch’.
Leading individuals
Pamela is a consultant at Family Law in Partnership. She is a very senior and highly regarded family lawyer having specialised in family law for over 35 years. Pamela is known for her pragmatic and constructive style and her strategic vision. Pamela’s primary focus is international and domestic family law matters particularly the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, private law children matters (including international relocation) and pre and post nuptial agreements. Pamela regularly deals with jurisdiction issues, cross border tax issues and cases involving complex business valuations. Pamela’s clients include senior lawyers and financial advisers, private equity and hedge fund professionals, business owners and their partners. Many of her clients are international, including foreign trustees and trust companies. Pamela has a litigation background and experience of a broad range of areas of the law including trusts, corporate and employment law. She is known for her financial numeracy and is regularly referred work by senior judges and members of the family law bar because of her depth and breadth of experience and her innovative and insightful approach to finding solutions to complex and challenging issues. Pamela is a qualified collaborative lawyer.
Daniel is a director at Family Law in Partnership. He handles a wide variety of family law issues, with particular emphasis on resolving financial matters following divorce, and applications concerning children. He has particular experience of high net worth and international finance cases and complicated children cases, including those involving children born into same-sex families, parents with mental health issues and international relocation cases. Daniel's clients include senior businessmen and women, professional sportsmen and women, medical professionals, actors and those in the film industry, and their partners. Daniel is a trained mediator and collaborative family lawyer, as well as a determined litigator when required.
Bradley is a director at Family Law in Partnership. He has a comprehensive family law practice specialising in complex financial remedy proceedings, applications regarding the property of non-married couples and private children law issues, often with an international element. Bradley’s clients include City professionals, business owners and executives. Many of Bradley’s clients are international and most have substantial assets. Bradley has extensive experience of international family law cases. His work regularly involves: jurisdiction issues international relocation of children financial provision following an overseas divorce enforcement of foreign judgments; and pre and post nuptial agreements across jurisdictions, including the application of foreign matrimonial property regimes. Bradley has a reputation as a highly skilled negotiator and litigator, with finely tuned judgment and wide ranging technical expertise. He is adept at evaluating cases at an early stage helping clients to make informed choices to achieve effective long term solutions. Whilst Bradley strives to settle his cases out of court, he recognises that this will not always be possible or in the best interests of every client. He has acted on several landmark cases which have developed legal precedent. Bradley is a qualified mediator and family arbitrator (financial matters) and a collaborative lawyer.
Next Generation Partners
Elizabeth is a director at Family Law in Partnership. She focuses on all aspects of family breakdown but has a particular interest in managing arrangements for children both in and out of the court arena as well as resolving financial disputes arising from the breakdown of a marriage or relationship. Elizabeth’s clients include professionals and business owners & executives, as well as stay at home parents, including those who have an international background. As the mother of two young children herself, Elizabeth understands all the practical aspects that need to be addressed by parents dealing with a separation and the different anxieties which parents may have in managing those issues. Elizabeth is committed to resolving issues constructively both in and out of court. She is a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. Elizabeth is a member of The Law Society's Family Law Committee.
Helen is a director at Family Law in Partnership who advises on all matters relating to family breakdown, divorce and cohabitation. Helen has a particular interest in helping those who have been affected by domestic abuse. This can include anything from isolating a person from their friends and family, monitoring their time, taking control over aspects of their everyday life such as where they can go, who they can see, what to wear, their finances or when they can sleep to threats to hurt to kill or even physical assault. Helen recognises that the legal implications of this are accompanied by a plethora of emotional and other issues. She aims to ensure that clients are able to work through these issues with the right advice and support. Helen is a qualified collaborative lawyer and a trained mediator. Helen is based in both Brighton & London and can see clients wherever is most convenient.
Charlotte is an experienced family solicitor, accredited mediator and collaborative practitioner. She deals with complex financial issues arising from divorce and separation and supports parents in relation to arrangements for their children. Her work has a strong international dimension. She speaks French and has particular expertise in advising on matters with a French element. As a director, Charlotte is part of the leadership team at FLiP. She enjoys the variety that being both a family solicitor and mediator brings to her practice and strongly believes these skillsets complement each other. As a family solicitor she advises clients in contested court proceedings as well as through amicable negotiations (see below for examples). As a family mediator she works with couples to reach agreements with mediation sessions taking place either alongside or outside of the court process. Charlotte’s qualifications as a family solicitor, accredited family mediator and collaborative practitioner enable her to genuinely offer the process that is most appropriate for each individual. Charlotte advises on all family law matters including: jurisdiction disputes where individuals may be able to start proceedings in more than one country financial issues arising from divorce, often involving foreign lawyers, dealing with valuations of businesses, properties, pensions and investments, tax issues, and the treatment of trusts property issues arising from the separation of a cohabiting couple financial issues between separating unmarried parents freezing injunctions to protect assets worldwide variation of spousal maintenance orders pre- and post-nuptial agreements cohabitation agreements separation agreements parenting issues involving child arrangements relocation of children within England & Wales or abroad abduction of children to/from England & Wales. Many of Charlotte’s clients are international. She has an appreciation of the legal and practical requirements in different jurisdictions, and a strong network of contacts worldwide to bring into matters, as required. Charlotte speaks French and has lived and worked in law firms in Paris. She is therefore regularly instructed by clients with links to France. She is familiar with the matrimonial property regimes in France and other European countries and is instructed to advise on pre- and post-nuptial agreements for clients needing to meet the legal requirements of both England and another country with a system of matrimonial property regimes. Charlotte is often instructed by owners (or their partners) of businesses and property portfolios with assets in the UK and abroad, within complex corporate or trust structures. Having previously worked as a corporate lawyer, Charlotte draws on her knowledge of company and property structures when reviewing disclosure documents within the divorce context. She also supports separating parents in relation to child arrangements and requests for permission to relocate with children, both within England & Wales and abroad. Charlotte is ranked as a Next Generation Partner in the Legal 500 directory. Feedback includes: ‘I chose Charlotte from personal recommendations and was not disappointed‘ and ‘Charlotte gives great technical advice. Despite it being a very technically challenging matter, Charlotte always remained available to talk to the client and provided clear and pragmatic advice throughout with a reassuring manner for the client in what could otherwise have been an extremely stressful situation‘. Charlotte is also ranked as a Recommended Lawyer in Spear’s exclusive directory for HNW and UHNW clients. The directory notes her ‘diverse and international’ practice and describes Charlotte as a solicitor who goes ‘out of her way to make what can be a painful process as stress free as possible.’
Mariko handles all aspects of private family law and has a broad range of experience, frequently acting for high net worth individuals in financial relief and divorce proceedings as well as acting in children matters. She has particular expertise in cases involving complex pensions issues, and in cases in which mental health issues are a feature. Mariko has acted on a number of complex cross border financial matters, often advising non tax resident and non tax domiciled individuals, entrepreneurs and individuals from the financial sector. She also has experience in dealing with property claims brought by third parties and unmarried cohabitants under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. Mariko is experienced in dealing with cross border private children law matters particularly proceedings where one parent seeks to remove a child from the jurisdiction contrary to the wishes of the other. She also advises on financial claims on behalf of the children of unmarried parents under Schedule 1 of the Children Act, including in a cross border context. Mariko was named as a Rising Star in both The Spear’s 500 2019 Index of leading family lawyers and in The Legal 500 UK 2020, where she was also recommended for her family law expertise – “Mariko Wilson is exceptionally able. She is bright, organised, and forthright but charming”. The Legal 500 UK 2017 describes Mariko as “extremely numerate and a joy to work with.” The Citywealth Leaders List 2017 also ranks Mariko as a leading family lawyer noting that “She works tirelessly for her clients, going above and beyond at all times to act in their best interests.” Mariko was shortlisted in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2018. Mariko is a trained family mediator,