Between its Ipswich, Cambridge and Norwich offices, Birketts LLP fields a family law practice that is one of the best renowned in East Anglia. Practice head Katie Beaven is regarded by clients as an ‘excellent team leader and solicitor’, and provides specialist advice, particularly to family businesses, with a focus on farming businesses. She routinely acts for senior members of the business community, as well as clients working in London. Juliet Harvey is also a well-known specialist in family law, excelling in complex cases and non-court based dispute resolution. Sarah Overy is the lead contact at the Cambridge office, while in Norwich Denise Findlay is the name to note. Deborah Lloyd,  Ivana Radovic, and Francesca Skakel are among the other practitioners regularly involved in the practice.

The ‘superb team’ at Cambridge Family Law Practice ‘clearly know the inner workings of the court system’ and offers advice on all aspects of relationship breakdown. A diverse client base from across East Anglia and further afield instructs the group on matters requiring advocacy at court, day-to-day representation in dispute resolution processes, or traditional negotiation. Key contacts to note include: Kathryn Evans, a sought-after figure in the Cambridge legal community; Jeremy Ford, whose practice includes the rare specialities of surrogacy law, child abduction and medical treatment of children disputes; Tricia Ashton, who receives client acclaim for her ‘fierce sense of justice’, and Adam Moghadas, a collaborative family law practitioner and mediator.

The largest specialist family law practice in East Anglia, FM Family Law, typically acts for high-net-worth individuals in matters involving complex tax considerations, assets located overseas, trusts, and business interests. Practice co-head Fiona McLeman receives client recognition as ‘the best matrimonial finance lawyer in Cambridge’ and is approaching 30 years of experience in family law. Sue Bailey is the senior contact at the Norwich office, and Christina Hale completes the leadership trio. Further key figures in the practice include the ‘exceptional’ Karen Fox; Laura Clay-Harris, who supports on private children law matters, financial remedy cases, and relationship agreements; Carla Morphett, who has experience dealing with complex matters involving international elements, conflict, conduct issues, and complex finances; and Laura Tuddenham, who comes with client acclaim.

Mills & Reeve LLP fields noted family law practitioners across its Cambridge and Norwich offices, part of a team that handles the gamut of matters in the field, including complex financial matters that involve corporate structures and offshore trusts. Work extends across East Anglia and nationally, and the firm has a collaborative practice group across the country. The Cambridge team is led by Caitlin Jenkins, an expert in complex financial matters involving business owners and trust issues. National practice head Nick Stone is based in Norwich and within the agricultural and family business sectors is a nationally renowned family lawyer; and Frances Bailey heads the Norwich team, a further expert in complex financial remedy cases. A deep bench includes Rachel Brand, who is strong on marital agreements, and Ania Tarasiewicz, who excels in agribusiness, life sciences and international cases.

Renowned family law expert Jackie Wells has an excellent track record in complex and high value financial cases, and particular expertise dealing with tech companies, city finance and farming cases. She heads Mishcon de Reya LLP‘s Cambridge office offering in family law, which is a key hub for its national practice. ‘Reassuring presence’ Alexandra Gooden is well versed in high-value matrimonial finance cases, assisting prominent individuals, and advises on complex pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Rachel Bevan advises on complex finances following relationship breakdown and divorce, as well as private law children matters, while Silvia Devecchi is experienced in non-matrimonial property, the valuation of business assets, and multi-jurisdictional assets.

The Cambridge office of specialist family law firm Vardags is the basis of its strong position in the market across East Anglia, wherein it can be relied on for assistance with complex, high-value cases that often involve cross-jurisdictional elements. ‘Standout in the profession’ Anna Jones acts on financial arrangements from divorce, complex child arrangements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, and protective injunctions. Rebecca Fenner is recommended as ’empathetic’ and ‘excellent’, and has a wealth of experience from a diverse family law practice within the Cambridge community. The team was bolstered by the hire of Harriet Chastney in December 2024 from Tees Law, and she adds to the firm’s abundant experience in Cambridge.

Clients from across East Anglia and nationally that have substantial financial assets and significant land and trust assets can rely on Ashtons Legal for an ‘excellent level of service’ in family law. Joanna Cotgrove, ‘a star in relation to financially remedy work in Cambridge’, heads the regional team and focuses on issues arising from family and marriage breakdown, child arrangements, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. Her predecessor Mary Pearce remains a senior contact in the group, while Sameena Manzar, Victoria Cole, and Nathalie Fearnley represent the next generation of family lawyers at the firm.

‘Consummate professionals’ Sarah Martin and Karen Anker are the family law professionals to note at Barr Ellison LLP‘s Cambridge office, which remains a robust choice for local business leaders and Cambridge academics. The team regularly advises a number of the wider firm’s long-standing clients and their extended families. Practice head Martin is an accomplished counsel on wealth protection, divorce and related financial matters; and Anker has a broad practice and a particular specialism in mid-range financial claims on divorce.

Buckles Solicitors LLP has a strong family law offering at its Peterborough office, regularly resolving cross-jurisdictional matters, including domicile and habitual residence litigation, international proceedings, and contentious (TLATA) and other cohabitation issues. Practice head Lyn Brisley is seen by clients as ‘a stand-out performer’ and is an experienced practitioner across the range of matters, particularly complex financial remedy work. Helen Saggers is particularly active in TLATA matters, while Brenda Wong Robinson is an experienced associate with a niche practice serving the high net-worth Chinese community across the country. Veteran lawyer Roger Gurney  departed in January 2025.

Greene & Greene assists with complex and high-conflict private law children act proceedings, as well as high-value pre and post nuptial agreements. The ‘calm, composed, and client-focused’ team is led by Stuart Hughes, who comes with considerable client acclaim. He is a specialist in all aspects of family law, including divorce, separation and disputes concerning children. Melanie Pilmer is a further key figure, with experience in divorce and financial remedy proceedings, and a focus on alternative dispute resolution. The ‘superb knowledge and advice’ of Emma Alfieri is a further boon to clients.

A number of recent additions to the family law practice at Hunt & Coombs LLP‘s Peterborough office have cemented its position as a go-to in the local area. The group is equipped to handle high-level matters in both the private family law and public family law areas. Farhana Butt leads the department and ‘manages complex financial cases with skill’. Her primary focus is resolving disputes using alternate dispute resolution methods. Hannah Byatt is another key contact for divorces and children matters. Senior professional Roger Gurney  joined in January 2025 from Buckles Solicitors LLP, building on the strength that was added from the same firm in September 2024 in Sellina Kauser, and in October 2024, with John Futter and Hazel Chapman as Hunt & Coombs acquired Futter Chapman.

The ‘practical, sensible advice’ of Sue Wardropper impresses clients of Barker Gotelee in family law. She leads a team that excels in advice on the full scope of matrimonial matters including divorce, separation, finances, child arrangements, and pre-marriage and post-marriage planning. As a trained collaborative lawyer, Wardropper has strength in settling cases amicably.

Bates Wells & Braithwaite has a comprehensive family law offering that includes expertise in cases involving children in both private and public law, and family mediation. The team has also been handling an increased number of complex financial arrangements. Denise Head leads the practice at the Ipswich office, with Scott Emsden a key contact for children and social care matters.

In Norwich, Fosters‘ has distinct teams for family and children, and family and mediation, reflecting the specific expertise of its practitioners in the field. Lucy Simpson leads on the children law side and also has expertise in contested advocacy in all areas of family law. For mediation, Iain McClay is the lead contact, specialising in the financial consequences of separation and divorce. Clare Sharpe manages a case load of complex private and public law children matters, and at a more junior level, Lauren Beldom is noted for her ‘exceptional professionalism’.

West Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire are domains in which Fraser Dawbarns maintains a strong reputation in family law. Its particular key areas include high-net worth divorce cases; pre-nuptial agreements involving business or agricultural assets; guardianship orders; cohabitation agreements; and TOLATA applications. Emma Stearman in King’s Lynn, and Rebecca Woodley in Downham Market are the team leaders, with Jackie Jessiman a name to note in Ely.

As part of its London-based family law practice with national scope, Irwin Mitchell has practitioners well versed in matters in and around Cambridge. The group is held in high regard for advice to HNWIs on all aspects of family disputes, including financial disputes following the breakdown of a marriage, complex children cases, and disputes between non-married couples. Carmel Brown is the head of the Cambridge team, and other names with frequent involvement in the region include Joanna Uzoka; Hannah McCrindle; and Taler Kelly.

Prettys Solicitors LLP excels in out-of-court resolution of complex family law matters and continues to draw in new clients from the East Anglia region as the market trends away from court action. Based in Ipswich, the team is jointly led by Georgie Hall and Georgina Rayment. Both come with client acclaim, the ‘smart, highly strategic’ Hall is a sought-after specialist in conflict resolution, and Rayment is ‘hugely knowledgeable, terrific with clients, and secures excellent results’, primarily known for her litigation work in complex financial and children cases. January 2025 recruit Demelza Butler, who joined from Gotelee Solicitors, and Victoria Mayhew are the additional key names.

Caroline Elliott, ‘a true expert and leader in her field, is the main contact at Roythornes Solicitors for family law matters in the East Anglia region. Based at the firm’s Alconbury office, she focuses on financial remedy proceedings and complex children cases.

Tees Law has a strong reputation for family law in East Anglia, acting for a varied client base across the region, including HNWIs, academics, SME business owners, farmers, and landowners. ‘One of Cambridge’s family law heavy hitters’ leads the group and continues to develop the client base and value of the firm’s work in this field. ‘Accomplished lawyer’ Amber Kennedy is one of the junior members of the team that stands out.