England - North West • Private client

Mills & Reeve LLP

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A key point of differentiation for Mills & Reeve LLP is its expertise in alternative dispute resolution, with clients praising its proficiency in ‘mediation (including lawyer assisted mediation), collaborative law, arbitration and other out-of-court options.’ ’Exceptional’ practice head Alison Bull is highly revered for her capabilities in One Lawyer Two Clients work, helping individuals settle disputes amicably and competently with flexibility that the court system rarely provides. An accredited family and civil mediator, Bull capably handles financial remedy proceeding involving complicated business, trust and overseas assets, as well as being well-versed in the drafting of nuptial agreements. Consultant Nigel Shepherd acts as an evaluator in private FDR proceedings, and his experience and reputation in the legal sphere continues to generate a high volume of activity for the firm. Andrew Moore is integral to the practice due to his broad expertise encompassing both matrimonial finance and children work, while Sue Brookes has been the main driver behind the group’s impressive cohabitation work, as well as routinely advising on post-separation disputes. Rose-Marie Drury has a strong understanding of surrogacy and fertility issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Excellent communication between team members, lawyers and support staff. The team is clearly very used to working together. Nothing fell through the gaps. I felt reassured that the team had my back. The new premises at Circle Square are fantastic - spacious, welcoming, friendly. The reception staff are wonderful. The tech is great - enabling remote conferences, hearings, lengthy meetings in comfort.’
  • ‘Alison Bull the partner in charge of my case was exceptional. She accompanied me through several years of a complex, difficult and fractious divorce and was a tower of strength. She was compassionate, emotionally intelligent and focussed on the end goal. She has exceptional attention to detail and is an excellent manager of her team. I cannot praise Alison highly enough. Rose Marie Drury was an exceptional associate.'
  • ‘Sue Brookes was outstanding and I cannot praise her enough for approach and advice which was invaluable and provided me with confidence that the process had a clearly defined end and the likely responses from the other side. I felt I was informed and supported at all times.’
  • ‘Andrew Moore has dedicated himself to my families highly complex case of parental alienation with complex financial proceedings. Andy has exceeded all of my expectations and I cannot thank him enough.’
  • ‘The team are well known for their commitment to ADR options such as mediation (including lawyer assisted mediation), collaborative law, arbitration and other out-of-court options. They have also introduced a one lawyer-two clients model.’
  • ‘Alison Bull is a pragmatic lawyer who has a great grasp of the details of a case. Nigel Shepherd is one of the most well known family lawyers in the North West who has been critical in leading the campaign for no-fault divorce. Andrew Moore is incredibly well liked by clients and his peers and is takes a thoughtful and sensible approach to cases.’
  • ‘What stands out to me is the firm's approach to dispute resolution in all forms. Whether that's mediation, their newly developed one lawyer two clients offering, or in the way in which they conduct their litigation. Even in highly contentious cases, there is an appropriate level of collaboration.
  • ‘I was instructed last year by Rose-Marie Drury on a difficult case in which our client was the beneficiary of a substantial family trust against which her husband was trying to make a claim on divorce. I was hugely impressed not only with her legal analysis but also the sensible, pragmatic advice which meant that it was possible to navigate a negotiated settlement on favourable terms, at minimum financial and emotional expense.’

Lawyers

Rising stars

Andrew Moore

Mills & Reeve LLP

Family law specialist, mediator and collaborative lawyer specialising in financial remedy and private children proceedings upon relationship breakdown. Andrew regularly advises on wealth protection opportunities and issues, working closely with Mills & Reeve’s corporate, commercial and private client teams to deliver joined up advice for regional, national and international business owners, and other high net worth individuals.

Leading individuals

Alison Bull

Mills & Reeve LLP

Area of practice includes family mediation; collaborative law; civil/commercial mediation; family court work. Alison is also a children and financial arbitrator. Types of work include complex financial settlements on divorce, wealth protection (including pre-and post-marital agreements), all issues mediation, advice in relation to disputes about children. Important cases include numerous confidential high-value divorce and pre-marital agreement cases involving individuals based in England & Wales and overseas. Increasing number of mediation cases, involving a wide range of clients, including some high profile individuals. Particular focus on resolving disputes in a conciliatory way in the best interests of the families and children involved. Reported cases include McMinn v McMinn [2003] 2 FLR 823 and [2003] 2 FLR 839, D v D (Divorce: media presence) [2009] EWHC 946. Heads the Mills & Reeve family dispute resolution practice.

Nigel Shepherd

Mills & Reeve LLP

Consultant and former national head of family law for Mills & Reeve; reputation as one of the country’s leading family practitioners; appears regularly in the print and broadcast media. He is a trained but now non-practising collaborative lawyer and practising family law financial arbitrator.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Alison Bull

Other key lawyers

Nigel Shepherd, Andrew Moore, Sue Brookes, Rose-Marie Drury