Ramsdens Solicitors has added a new partner to its family team advising clients from its Leeds office as the firm continues to invest in its regional expansion.
Siobhan Jeffels (above centre, with Ramsdens’ senior partner Joanne Coen, left, and head of family law Sarah Ward, right) joins from law firm Clarion, where spent five years as legal director. With more than two decades of family law experience, Jeffels specialises in advising clients across complex and high-net-worth finance cases, often involving business owners and farming families undergoing separation.
She is also trained in collaborative law and is an active member of Resolution, sitting on the organisation’s North, East and West Yorkshire committee as treasurer.
Jeffels said: “It’s a great opportunity to join Ramsdens, which has an impressive regional reputation and has achieved significant recognition over the years for providing outstanding client outcomes across the family team and wider practices.”
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with colleagues who combine leading expertise with a close, personal touch, which is essential for the complex, sensitive cases the team handles.”
Also in Leeds, Ward Hadaway has appointed family lawyer Maria Coster (right) as partner. Coster will lead the family and matrimonial team from the city, working closely with 
colleagues across the firm’s national team.
Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Rising Star and Next Generation Partner, Coster has worked exclusively in family law for nearly 15 years, handling financial disputes and private children matters.
Her work includes divorce and dissolution, high-value financial cases involving business interests and arrangements concerning children. She also supports clients with asset protection, including pre- and post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.
Coster said: “I have spent my career working on financial and children matters, often involving significant assets or challenging personal circumstances. Bringing that experience into this role will be important as we continue to deliver clear, practical advice.”
The appointment forms part of continued investment in this area of the firm, with a focus on strengthening capability and supporting the long-term growth of the team.
Family law firm Burgess Mee has appointed Victoria Sterritt as its legal director in London.
Sterritt joins the firm from Belfast-based Davidson McDonnell (now Browne Jacobson Northern Ireland), where she was a legal director and head of the private client team.
Dual qualified in England and Wales and Northern Ireland, Sterritt has practised exclusively in family law since qualification, advising on the full range of issues that can result from the breakdown of a relationship.
She has a particular interest in child arrangements, including complex matters involving disputes about education, medication, allegations of serious abuse, as well as international relocation and wrongful retention matters.
Sterritt is recommended in Spear’s Family Law Index, and is a member of Resolution and a committee member of the London Irish Lawyers Association.
“I am delighted to join Burgess Mee,” Sterritt said. “The firm’s commitment to client care, excellence and innovation makes for a particularly exciting opportunity and I look forward to joining such a highly regarded team.”
Midlands and south west law firm Lodders has appointed family law specialist Mark Hands (left) as head of its family team.
Hands joins Lodders from a Top 50 UK law firm and is ranked as a Band 1 lawyer in Chambers & Partners and a Leading Partner in the Legal 500 rankings. He is one of only four family lawyers in the Midlands to be recognised by the Doyles Guide as ‘preeminent’ and one of only two lawyers practising in Birmingham to be admitted as a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.
He sits as vice chair of the Family Law Committee of the Birmingham Law Society and on the Resolution Committee. He regularly represents victims of narcissistic and other abuse and those against whom false allegations have been made, whether in the context of children or financial disputes.
Hands said: “Lodders has a stellar reputation for combining excellent legal advice with genuine care for its clients and its people. That combination matters greatly to me, especially in family law, where the emotional demands can be significant.
“Lodders struck me immediately as a firm of excellent lawyers with strong values, and I am thrilled to be joining at such an exciting stage in its growth. The existing family team already has real strength and a first class reputation, having been expertly led by Vivienne Middleton and I am looking forward to continuing to work closely with Vivienne as we build on that success.”
Orwins has strengthened its family team in London with the appointment of senior associate Maryam Abbasi.
Abbasi joins from Buckinghamshire firm Blaser Mills Law and brings a strong track record in complex divorce cases involving international financial remedy cases, domestic abuse, non-disclosure issues and divorce cases involving complex healthcare needs.
Abbasi said: “I am thrilled to be joining Orwins. The firm is building a clear and compelling offering for individuals and families and has exciting ambitions for growth. I am looking forward to working with the team, developing my career, and helping to drive the next phase of the firm’s success.”
Ellisons has appointed Francesca Brown as a solicitor in its family team.
Brown advises on a range of family law issues including relationship breakdown, financial arrangements and matters involving children. She is also a member of Resolution, the national organisation committed to a constructive and non-confrontational approach to family law, reflecting her focus on supporting clients in a practical and considered way.
As part of Ellisons’ family team, Brown will support individuals and families across the east of England.
She said: “I’m really pleased to be joining Ellisons. Family law can feel overwhelming for clients, particularly at the outset, so I focus on keeping things clear and helping people understand what their options are. I’m looking forward to building relationships with clients and supporting them through what can be a difficult time.”
