Kirsty Leedam has been family partner in the Liverpool office of HM3 Legal since early 2025. She has a particular interest in all areas of family, but particularly those with expatriate family dynamics, complex children issues and relationships that go beyond the usual nuclear family unit.
What was your career path to your current role?
Aged 16 I picked Law A-Level on a whim after reading a pocket guide to A-Levels, having no clue about law beforehand. Turned out I was good at it, so I studied law at university. After my LPC at the University of Law, I started out in as a paralegal in a family law team of a medium-sized firm. I was desperately seeking a training contract at a time when there had been an economic crash, and firms were rolling back offering training contracts.
Just as I was about to give up and change careers, I applied for a training contract with a firm that had a large mental health, criminal and prison Law team. I didn’t get the contract, but they liked how I answered a question about how I would handle a meeting with Ian Brady, (one of the Moors murderers – who I didn’t realise was a client), and they created a training contract for me. I subsequently qualified into family law and I’m forever grateful for that opportunity. I learnt a lot.
In my twenties I went on to work for firms in Manchester, Cheshire and Liverpool and got great exposure to international and high-net-worth work. In the evenings and weekends, I studied for an LLM, as well as lecturing at law schools.
In 2016 I moved to work as a family law attorney in the Cayman Islands, getting exposure to ultra high net worth individuals, expatriate dynamics and even some family related human rights law.
I later moved back to the North West, working for a top-end law firm as a senior associate and settling in Liverpool. I was delighted when I was approached to become partner heading up the Liverpool team at HM3 Legal in early 2025.
Did you have any other career ambitions?
When I was younger, I had ambitions to go into theatre. Whether this was on the stage, off the stage, behind the stage; I wasn’t fussed. Some people might see the similarities in going into a career in law.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
It doesn’t take much to keep me motivated. A great result for a client or a ‘thank you’ really does the trick for me.
What has been the best development in family law in the last 20 years?
The legal right to enter into same-sex marriage and civil partnerships for all.
I worked on the case that challenged the constitutional right to marry in Cayman, which as a result introduced same-sex civil partnerships, but not marriage. It’s easy to forget how progressive the UK is and how important these changes were for many, most importantly the LGBTQ+ community.
And the worst?
The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 brought about No Fault Divorce which I am a big fan of. However, I don’t agree with the reflection period of 20 weeks – it’s too long. I also don’t agree they should have kept in the provision that you can’t divorce if you have been married less than 12 months. I just don’t think these provisions are progressive.
If you could bring in one new piece of legislation for the sector, what would it be and why?
Regulation of ownership of animals in relationships. Many pets are being used as tools of manipulation on separation. More frequently I am seeing animals being kept or destroyed as an extension of control by one of the parties on separation. It’s wrong and I think core legislation is needed.
What piece of legislation would you take off the statute books and why?
Probably Section 3 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973. If people want to divorce before the first year is out, why should we try and stop them?
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you regarding your career?
You don’t have to be the loudest lawyer in the room to get your point across.
What’s the best piece of advice you’d like to give to someone just starting out?
If something is scary, it’s probably worth doing. Don’t shy away from opportunities through fear. I have done plenty of things I have been terrified to do, it is never as bad as you think and sometimes can be the best decision you could ever have made.
Tell us something people may be surprised to know about you…
I spent many of my student summers working as a children’s entertainer in a theme park, performing in magic shows, face painting or dressing up as the park’s mascot. As a result, I’m a pro at face painting Spiderman and butterflies.
If you’d like to appear in a future profile, email press@todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk with ‘Profile’ in the subject line.
