Firms of family law solicitors and barristers’ chambers across the country are collaborating and expanding their services.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors has promoted four lawyers to director positions within its Family and Child Care teams, which the firm says reinforces its continued investment in internal talent.
Kohitoor Alam (main picture, far left) is now director, Family (City of London); Paul Nuttall (second left) is director, Family & Child Care (City of London and Shepherd’s Bush); Emma Hamilton (pictured far right) is director, Child Care (City of London and East Anglia) and Jaspreet Rai (second right) is the new director for Family and Child Care (Birmingham).
Alam joined Duncan Lewis in 2002 and qualified at the firm in 2005. She specialises in complex financial remedy matters and private children cases, and will play a key role in developing the firm’s Private Family Finance and High Net Worth Divorce practice.
Nuttall has developed a well-regarded practice across public and private children law, alongside complex financial remedy work, including cases involving high-value assets. He will continue to expand the firm’s private family finance offering.
Hamilton has developed a strong practice across both private and public children matters, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable clients. She is building the firm’s Child Care and Family Law offering across Colchester and the wider East Anglia region, and works closely with organisations including the Family Justice Centre and Women’s Aid.
Rai trained and qualified with Duncan Lewis and has built a strong reputation in Birmingham for her work across private children, domestic abuse, and matrimonial finance matters, including High Net Worth Divorce cases involving complex financial and international elements. Her promotion reflects both her legal expertise and her role in strengthening the firm’s regional private family offering.
Practice director Jason Bruce said: “These promotions reflect the strength and depth of talent within Duncan Lewis. We are committed to developing our people and providing clear pathways for progression, and it is particularly rewarding to see colleagues who have built their careers with us step into leadership roles. Their expertise and dedication will play an important role in supporting our clients and shaping the future of the firm.”
Family law practitioners from 4 Brick Court will be joining the established family group at 42BR Barristers this summer, with 34 members of 4BC and their pupils joining the 60-strong family group.
With the barristers from 4BC, 42BR will become one of the largest single-site sets of chambers in the UK.
Tina Cook KC, head of 42BR Barristers, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that 4BC will be joining 42BR this summer. They bring their excellent reputation and strong, established practices and we are committed to supporting their continued success from within chambers. This is an exciting opportunity and cements our reputation as a centre of legal excellence.”
Isabelle Watson, head of 4BC, said: “This is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for 4BC and we very much look forward to working with the excellent practitioners and staff at 42BR. Our priority throughout is continuity for our clients, and we look forward to continuing our work with care, determination and professionalism, supported by the wider team at 42BR Barristers .”
Family law firm Dawson Cornwell LLP has welcomed Naomi Angell (right) as a consultant in its Children department.
Angell is recognised as a leading authority in adoption and surrogacy law, both domestically and internationally, specialising in intercountry and domestic adoption, surrogacy, and children cases with an immigration dimension.
She advises a wide range of clients including children, birth parents, extended family members, intended parents, adopters, foster parents and surrogates. She also acts as an expert witness to local authorities, foreign courts and organisations involved in cross-border children work.
Her career has combined complex casework with significant contributions to family law policy and reform, including her longstanding involvement in national committees and advisory groups. In 1981, she founded the Children’s Legal Centre and later became its patron.
“I am delighted to be joining Dawson Cornwell,” Angell said. “It was important to me to find a firm where my practice would be valued and developed for the future. I look forward to working with such a highly regarded team, and to supporting and mentoring lawyers who are keen to build expertise in adoption, surrogacy and international children work.”
In Birmingham, MSB Solicitors has found it necessary to double the size of its office following expansion and ahead of anticipated growth.
The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners-listed practice has relocated its Birmingham operations to a larger office in its Chamberlain Square base.
The firm is now also actively recruiting for its property and litigation teams in the Midlands, which will also be based in the same office.
TWM Solicitors has also expanded its office space, bringing together teams from Epsom, Leatherhead and Reigate to a new office in Leatherhead.
The move marks TWM’s ongoing commitment to its clients across Surrey, London, the South East and across the UK, the firm said.
