One of the firm’s Partners and Head of Family Law, Mark is a highly capable negotiator with a determination to get the best results for his clients. He has significant expertise in divorce, family finances, particularly owner managed businesses, private law children, and the preparation of pre-nuptial agreements. Collaboratively trained, an accredited mediator and a member of Resolution, Mark understands the importance of providing clients with workable solutions, avoiding acrimony and providing a clear pathway into the future. He is also a member of The Law Society’s Family Law Accreditation Scheme; all of which highlight his excellence and commitment to ensuring the best results for separating families.

Having originally qualified as a barrister and with a 20 year track record of leading her own specialist family law firm, Melanie is a highly accomplished family law solicitor with vast experience to bring to her current role as a Consultant Solicitor. Practising exclusively in family law since 1997, she handles a varied caseload with a strong reputation in complex high-net-worth cases including the tracing of hidden/ transferred assets involving companies, properties and overseas trusts. Taking a robust and proactive approach to her work, Melanie seeks to achieve a fair share of the matrimonial assets and is committed to conducting all matters in a constructive and non-confrontational manner in order to alleviate tension and stress for her clients.

Recognising the emotional and financial demands placed on individuals when a relationship breaks down, Louise is an experienced family law solicitor who is dedicated to working closely with her clients to achieve the best and most appropriate resolution in the most cost effective manner. Head of the Family Law Department with a career spanning two decades, she provides honest, practical advice on divorce, separation, financial issues arising from a relationship breakdown, dissolution of civil partnerships, disputes relating to children and pre-nuptial agreements. Louise is highly recommended by her clients who have praised her responsiveness and down-to-earth manner.

Director and Head of the Family Law department, Donna has dedicated her career to family law. With over 16 years of expertise under her belt, she provides astute advice on divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, financial settlements, separation agreements, and relationship agreements such as pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and cohabitation agreements. Donna also frequently provides advice and assistance to parents and wider family members, such as grandparents, relating to the arrangements for children following separation and divorce. Donna has been a member of The Law Society’s Family Law Accreditation Scheme and Advanced Family Law Accreditation Scheme since 2012 and is also a dedicated member of Resolution.

Noted as a ‘Recommended Lawyer’ in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500, Helen has built an excellent reputation in the field of family law and is a Partner and Joint Head of Family Law at this highly regarded firm. With a specialism in children law, she handles cases involving CAFCASS, as well as providing representation to children in public law court cases or complex private law disputes. As a member of The Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation Scheme, Helen is able to represent children and parents in care proceedings as well as children’s guardians in all aspects of proceedings involving young people across the family courts. She also holds membership of Resolution as well as an accredited specialism in children law and domestic abuse, and has gained Higher Rights of Audience in Advocacy.

With an excellent reputation built over 45 years, Lynda has established a strong practice in family law, representing a broad range of clients in all family and matrimonial matters. A Director at the firm and offering her expertise as a consultant solicitor, she handles divorce and separation, with expertise in dealing with high-net-worth individuals involving companies, property portfolios, agricultural assets, family businesses and pensions. Lynda also has a keen interest in supporting vulnerable individuals who are no longer able, through loss of mental capacity, to manage their own financial and property affairs and she is regularly appointed by the Court of Protection as Financial Deputy to look after the affairs of those clients. Lynda is also a member of The Law Society’s Family Law Advanced Accreditation Scheme, reflecting her expertise and knowledge in the family law arena.

A member of the firm since qualifying as a solicitor in 1998, Chris heads up the Family Law team and provides advice on the full range of family law disputes with particular expertise in Children Act proceedings and ancillary relief issues. Chris is a dedicated member of Resolution and endorses an amicable and constructive approach to family law matters to reach resolutions for his clients in the most cost-effective way. Valued for his friendly, professional and extremely competent approach to his cases, clients are reassured that Chris will always offer honest and fair advice and will strive to achieve the best possible outcome.

Priding herself on her ability to sensitively support her clients in navigating the complex area of family and relationship breakdown, Helen has a wealth of experience in providing advice in relation to family law issues. Head of the Family & Divorce Team, she is well versed in divorce, separation, children matters, and financial disputes arising from a relationship breakdown. Helen also advises on wealth protection matters involving relationship agreements including pre-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. Aiming to reach amicable, non-confrontational solutions to family issues, she is one of only a handful of specially trained collaborative lawyers in the Lancashire area. Helen gains a large proportion of her work from personal recommendations.

With a successful career in family law of over 40 years, John established his own law firm in 1990 in order to provide legal advice and support concerning issues affecting families in the Blackpool area. With an excellent reputation in resolving detailed and complex cases, he has a wealth of experience in all aspects of child law in relation to the financial consequences of marital and cohabitation breakdown. John has been a member of both The Law Society’s Family Law Advanced Accreditation Scheme and the Children Law Accreditation Scheme since 2000, and provides advice and representation to both parents and children who are the subject of Local Authority child protection measures as well as where there are disputes regarding child arrangements due to child welfare. John has also been instructed by the Official Solicitor in cases where the client has lacked mental capacity. In addition to his children work, he deals with finance cases ranging from complex multi-million pound disputes to those with more modest assets. John is also able to offer his clients mediation services.

Pragmatic, with a ‘no nonsense’ approach, Sharon is a highly recommended family lawyer and divorce solicitor who prides herself on her excellent client care. A Director and Head of the Family Department, she offers assistance in a range of cases involving divorce, separation, financial disputes – often dealing with substantial and wide ranging assets including pensions – and matters relating to children. Sharon regularly acts on behalf of parents and wider family members in complex court proceedings including internal and international relocation cases. She firmly believes in a constructive approach to family disputes and supports clients who are hoping to agree the way forward as opposed to proceeding on a litigious basis. However, in the event that court proceedings are inevitable, Sharon is a tough and confident advocate.

Known for being empathetic and persistent in supporting clients to achieve the best outcome they can, Matthew is a highly regarded family lawyer and divorce solicitor. Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution department, he handles a broad spectrum of family work, including divorce, separation, financial settlements involving pension sharing, inherited assets and family-owned businesses, cohabitee issues, arrangements for children, pre-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and inheritance claims. A committed Resolution member, Matthew is an expert at providing a non-confrontational approach to solving the problems faced by his clients during this difficult period in their lives. He also deals with civil litigation disputes.

Practising family law for nearly 20 years, Martin is a highly talented family lawyer and divorce solicitor who is committed to offering a high level of service to his clients. A Director and Head of the Family Department, he provides advice on divorce, separation, cohabitation disputes, child arrangement issues, domestic violence injunctions, separation agreements and pre-nuptial agreements. Martin believes that whilst a non-confrontational, dignified approach is often key to resolving family matters, equally he does not flinch at taking a more tenacious approach where circumstances dictate. He is a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist in complex lower income financial remedies, cohabitation and TOLATA, and domestic abuse.