England - South East • Private client
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP‘s Thames Valley contingent is notable for having the bandwidth to handle a broad range 0f highly complex family law matters, especially those with a cross-border element or involving high-net-worth individuals. Co-head of practice Jane Mitchell is a key name for such matters, as a fellow of the International Family Law Association. Divorce specialist and renowned practitioner Kerry Fretwell serves as fellow co-head, specialising in negotiating financial settlements. Trained collaborative lawyer Ruth James rounds out the leadership team, focusing her practice on child disputes and high net-worth cases. In 2024, Jolene Hutchison joined the practice from IBB Law.
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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.
Head of the family law team in Oxford, specialising in family law, particularly in more complex financial cases and difficult disputes concerning arrangements for children. Accorded top ranking in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 for many years. A Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, one of only a relatively small number of UK family law specialists outside London who are members.
Leading individuals
Kerry has been specialising in Family Law for nearly 30 years. Having qualified in 1993, she was made a partner at the top prestigious firm of Manches in London in 2002 and moved to Henley on Thames in Oxfordshire in 2004. Kerry has been privileged to head up the Penningtons Manches Cooper Reading family team for 12 years now, building it up to a legal 500 and Chambers rated team and developing and training many excellent family lawyers under her tutelage. Kerry is highly experienced in mid to high net worth family cases including Schedule One claims and children proceedings for both fathers and mothers. Kerry also has experience of leave to remove proceedings and advising on both pre and post nuptial contracts and cohabitation agreements. Kerry is also a collaborative lawyer and trained mediator. A tough negotiator when required, she is also empathetic and supportive to clients with good judgment. Kerry is ably assisted by her excellent team of Danielle Bentley, Hannah McCrindle, Poppy Holmes and Rebecca Holder.
Jolene’s expertise covers a wide range of family law matters, including complex financial cases arising on divorce for high-net worth clients. Career cases include a divorce with assets, including trust assets and companies, worth over £10 million. Jolene also advises clients seeking to protect their income and assets on divorce through the drafting of Pre and Post- Nuptial agreements. Recent agreements involved inherited wealth in the region of £60 million. She also advises on agreements with an international element to ensure protection where other jurisdictions are involved. During her career, Jolene has dealt with and continues to deal with complex children cases, including applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction and also financial claims (Schedule 1 claims) in respect of children born to unmarried parents.
Ruth is a partner and trained collaborative lawyer in the family law team in Oxford. She specialises in financial matters and disputes relating to arrangements for children. Acting for both married and unmarried clients, she regularly advises on cases involving international elements and complex financial arrangements. She also acts in cases where there are allegations of parental coercion or control. Ruth is also particularly skilled in acting for business owners and executives, or their spouses, and advising where there are complex issues regarding company valuations and remuneration packages.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jane Mitchell, Kerry Fretwell, Ruth James