The ‘forward thinking and innovative’ team at Grant Stephens Family Law is a ‘heavy hitter’ in the south Wales private family law field, regularly advising clients on complex cases involving high-value assets. Founding partner Grant Stephens is noted for his tenacious approach for clients, which include high-profile celebrities, ensuring he achieves favourable conclusions on financial remedy cases including Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearings. The ‘diligent and personable’ Matthew Wells excels in handling highly sensitive financial and child-related cases, as does the ‘calm and reassuring’ Lisa Evans. The team is rounded out at a partner level by the ‘exceptional’ Nia Thomas, who heads up the firm’s new Swansea office and is noted for her ’empathetic and pragmatic’ approach to handling both financial and children law matters.

The ‘very tight knit’ team at Lux Family Law provides ‘high-quality legal services’ to high-net-worth individuals engaged in often very complex financial remedy cases, including those involving assets located abroad. Founding partner Charlotte Leyshon has a strong local presence, and has also successfully secured many instructions from London-based clients, including those in the media and sporting fields. Delivering a ‘service that is far beyond her years of experience’, Emily Borghese is also a key member of the team and continues to excel at handling difficult financial remedy cases, including those with complex tax considerations.

Able to draw upon strength-in-depth at various levels of seniority, Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice provides a ‘professional and slick service’ to clients across both financial remedy and private children cases across south Wales as well as further afield. Melanie Hamer ‘always fights hard and gets the best outcome’ for high-net-worth clients, in particular, on financial remedy cases in the aftermath of a divorce as well as drafting co-habitation and pre-nuptial agreements. The ‘outstanding’ Sarah Wyburn also regularly handles high-value financial remedy cases, and has niche expertise in relation to same sex marriages and civil partnerships. Drawing upon ‘forensic attention to detail’, David James excels in handling complex ancillary relief cases that involve businesses/pensions, and children contact issues. Rebecca Knight is appreciated for her ability ‘to master the details while keeping the bigger picture in mind’, and handles complex matters including Schedule 1 children cases and surrogacy issues. Sam John who is ‘fantastic’; the ‘pragmatic’ Lucy Morris, who recently joined the team from Lux Family Law; and the ‘very sensible and calm’ Fay Jones are also key contacts.

The ‘very efficient, helpful and knowledgeable’ Bridgend-based team at Berry Smith has an excellent reputation throughout south and west Wales for its ability to resolve complex financial remedy and children cases utilising a collaborative approach. ‘Outstanding’ team head Katie McColgan provides added insight to clients by virtue of her mediation and family arbitrator accreditation. The ‘very approachable’ Benjamin Delve is also a key contact, while at a more junior level, Conor Lynn assists McColgan in a raft of complex cases, including financial remedy matters involving extensive property portfolios and instances of child abduction to another country.

Since the arrival of Adrienne Donneky, Geldards LLP has quickly gained traction in the market, leveraging the firm’s internal corporate and private client base. Praised as a ‘thoughtful and details-focused lawyer’, Donneky excels at handling complex financial remedy matters, and drafting pre-nuptial and co-habitation agreements. As well as handling conventional family matters, the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Aysha Chouhdary has carved out a niche acting on behalf of Muslim clients, guiding them through the complexities of the dissolution of a marriage under Shariah law. Belinda Moseley is appreciated for her willingness ‘to go the extra mile’ for clients on finance and children matters.

Under the guidance of the ‘caring and compassionate’ Leah Thomas, Harding Evans LLP handles a wide variety of highly complex private children cases and high-net-worth financial remedy proceedings for clients throughout south and west Wales and beyond. A considerable amount of the work comes from clients in the agricultural sector, where Thomas is supported by Rebecca Ferris, who has a farming background. Rhian Jones regularly takes the lead on nuanced financial remedy cases involving substantial international assets, and contact cases whereby allegations of abuse or mental  health issues have been raised.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys has gained significant visibility in the market, and clients praise ‘trusted senior lawyer’ Richard Scott, who has ‘seen it all and done it all before’. Cardiff-based team head Scott has a particularly strong reputation advising clients within the public sector, leveraging his longstanding ties with the Police Federation, where he is noted for his skill at handling financial remedy cases involving significant pension pots. The arrival in August 2024 of the ‘brilliant’ Gwenllian Reeves from Geldards LLP enhanced the team’s offering.

Leveraging the firm’s strong internal private client and corporate client base, Hugh James is regularly engaged across a range of family law matters, including complex financial remedy and children cases. As well as handling work for many high-net-worth clients, the ‘highly experienced’ Victoria Cannon has also developed several internal strategic initiatives, including a military family law fixed fee service.

The ’empathetic and user-friendly’ team at Neath-based firm Hutchinson Thomas has well-established ties with the local community as well as regularly receiving referrals from professional services firms across a wide range of family law matters. Team head Robert Williams, who ‘has a flair for ensuring that the best is obtained for his client, however complex the case’, is particularly skilled at handling ancillary relief cases where he frequently undertakes his own advocacy. The ‘exceptional’ Debbie Richards heads the firm’s renowned childcare department which is recognised for its expertise in public law cases concerning children.

Led from Caerphilly by Jill Bulteel with specialised resources on the ground in Carmarthen and Swansea, JCP Solicitors is well-positioned to represent clients from south and west Wales across a wide array of family law matters. Bulteel excels in handling financial remedy cases with complex asset pools, including those involving businesses and pensions; she also has niche expertise in surrogacy-related family law issues. In Carmarthen, the ‘incredibly bright’ Angela Killa has a focus on children law matters.

Robertson Solicitors provides ‘friendly and efficient legal services’ across a variety of family law matters, with a reputation that extends beyond south Wales to include work for clients in England. Appreciated for her ‘good eye for detail’, Cardiff-based team head Hannah Magee excels in handling complex financial remedy cases for high-net-worth individuals, often involving trusts and internationally dispersed assets. ‘Well prepared and client focused’, Lisa Shrimpton is also adept at handling financial remedy cases for high-net-worth individuals as well as work for vulnerable clients, including those who have been subject to domestic violence.

Under the leadership of the vastly experienced Marjha Golding-Evans, Stowe Family Law LLP excels in handling work for high-net-worth clients, with Golding-Evans particularly skilled at handling complex matrimonial finance matters, including divorces involving significant farming assets and landed estates. The ‘superb’ Lauren Roche is also a key member of the team, handling divorce and matrimonial finance matter as well as challenging children law cases, including issues involving allegations of abuse and parental alienation.

Now headed by Newport/Cardiff-based Leah Rhydderch, following Sophie Hughes’ retirement in December 2024, Watkins & Gunn Limited maintains a strong reputation throughout south Wales across a broad array of private family law matters. Recognised as ‘a good all round family lawyer’, Rhydderch acts for high-net-worth clients, including a growing number within the Welsh speaking community in south Wales. Kate Roberts leads the childcare sub-group from Pontypool and has significant experience for children and parents in complex cases involving jurisdictional issues, sexual abuse and non-accidental injuries.

Under the guidance of the ‘forward-thinking’ Ceri Boland, Cardiff-based boutique First Line Family Law has continued to gain traction in the local market, handling medium to high-net-worth financial remedy divorce and complex Children Act cases.

Overseen by the ‘exceptional’ Lucy Williams in Llanelli, Gomer Williams & Co has ‘an excellent reputation in the local area’ for its ability to provide ‘sensible advice’ across a range of matters, including cases involving allegations of non-accidental injures to children. Williams takes the lead on complex matters, and is noted for her ‘robust yet compassionate approach’ for vulnerable clients.

Drawing on the expertise of lawyers with a wide range of experience, the ‘personable’ team at Howells Solicitors produces ‘high standards of work’ for both private and publicly funded clients. A trained collaborative lawyer and mediator, team head Gerard Griffiths is recognised as ‘a safe pair of hands’, and utilises ADR strategies to effectively resolve matters. Praised for her ‘ability to relate difficult concepts and possible outcomes with empathy’, Jayne Hunt is also a key member of the team, including in relation to legally aided children matters.

Praised for its willingness to ‘go above and beyond for clients’, Bridgend-based firm RLE Law has established a notable reputation among privately and publicly-funded clients across family law matters. Team head Victoria Jones  ‘demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence as well as empathy’, and remains a go-to name for vulnerable clients, including those who have suffered domestic abuse or have mental health issues, and for care proceedings with social services involvement.

With practitioners based in Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff, Red Kite Law LLP has the strength-in-depth to handle a range of family issues from the south east to south west of the country. ‘Highly experienced’ Welsh-speaking team head Catrin Griffiths has strong connections in the local community, including acting for farming clients and medical professionals. Susan Williams is also a key member of the team and is adept at handling matrimonial finance and contact matters.