Shane Miller is a partner in the Family team at Knights. She specialises in complex financial disputes, matters involving children, farming divorce, wealth protection, and pre/post-nuptial agreements. Shane represents clients and has a particular expertise in business owners, high net worth individuals and landowners. Recognised by the Legal 500, Shane is plain speaking and extremely passionate about family law.
What was your career path to your current role?
I started my career journey and trained as a solicitor. After a year of being qualified I became an associate, then three years later senior associate. I joined Thursfields Solicitors as a senior associate, became head of department in six months then director (partner) within nine months of joining the business.
I am hugely passionate about anything that I do and love developing people and a growth culture. Over about 10 years I grew the family department from delivering £375,000 to £2.2 million. The team was extremely formidable and a leading regional family team. The role had many challenges, which was exciting to work on and deliver.
I became a strategic board member of the firm and business owner. While this was taxing at times, I really enjoyed the role – the strategic element particularly. The role exposed me to understanding reports and how to read them to develop and deliver on business goals. I embraced blue sky thinking and how to accept change and coach change, which can be a challenge for people.
Thursfields was sold in September 2025 and I joined Knights as a partner, where I work with the other partners in the office. We are able to make the office what we want it to be and drive growth in line with the business plan and strategy.
Did you have any other career ambitions?
I am hugely ambitious and I embrace a challenge. I am forever optimistic and I like to think that I am able to find a solution to a problem. I am practical. I wanted to become a solicitor as I saw an opportunity to fulfil my skills and thought it would be a good career. I went into family law as I felt this was an interesting area and I am empathic.
I also did not want a job which would be the same every day. With family law every day is different, every case is different, every client is different and you have to advise and tailor the needs of all of these elements with every case.
What keeps you motivated in your work?
I am hugely passionate about my clients and the work I do. I am a perfectionist so everything I deliver has to be on point and right. I love developing people and working with clients, and I like the opportunity to grow and develop a team.
What has been the best development in family law in the last 20 years?
No fault divorce and pre-nups. No fault divorce offers people the ability to deal with the breakdown of the marriage without pointing out blame, which can just inflame an already fragile situation. Many people will have children and will need to have a relationship with each other for some time after their marriage has ended and financial matters concluded.
Pre-nups because this allows people to put safeguards into place to protect their assets, legacies and wealth. I have see so many cases where families have built businesses and assets for generations and then they are subject to a divorce. It is a heart breaker and costs a huge amount in legal fees, let alone the emotions the parties and their wider family go through.
And the worst?
Co-habiting couples and the common law marriage (there’s no such thing).
This needs to be reviewed and reformed. The law is very old and really does little for people in this position. As time has moved on there are now many blended families and the law and guidance do not lend themselves to modern society or offer a clear way of dealing with the issues when they arise.
Most people also think that if they have lived together for a certain amount of time they are common law husband and wife, and this is not true. There is no such thing. This can leave so many people financially devastated. The process to deal with this issue is complex, slow and very expensive.
If you could bring in one new piece of legislation for the sector, what would it be and why?
Reform for cohabiting couples. The law is old and complex, it needs to be reformed, it is outdated. It is not a reflection on modern living and how families have evolved. Many now are blended. The process needs to be reformed and made simpler. Guidance needs to be offered on how to resolve disputes and for it to be accessible. The current framework is far from this.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone ever gave you regarding your career?
You can be and do anything that you want to.
Lots of people have opinions and can influence you in both a positive and negative way, only you as you have the ability and power to be who you want to be and do what you want to do.
Take on the pieces of advice that suit you and take the information you need. Surround yourself with radiators, not drains. Light up a room as you go into it and shine!
What advice would you like to give to someone just starting out?
Be yourself – do not compare yourself to others. This is your career path and you can achieve whatever you would like to.
You have to concentrate on you and how you do things and deliver them well. I would encourage people to observe and soak up as much information as possible. Listen, learn and be open to change, that can be hard and challenging at times.
I would also say do not be afraid to ask questions and challenge things that you do not think is right. Be curious.
Tell us something people may be surprised to know about you…
I used to play hockey at county level for South Yorkshire.
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