Family Department
Hawley & Rodgers have a large Family Department and are able to handle all types of Family work, both privately and publicly funded. Our eight practitioners are based between our three offices and can all undertake work from any of them as required. They are all legally qualified (either solicitors or fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives). Our aim is to match clients with the appropriate advisor to ensure the best possible outcome.
In particular we can deal with all problems relating to children, whether care proceedings involving Social Services or disputes about residence and/or contact. Domestic violence is a particular speciality and as far as financial disputes are concerned we have a number of senior solicitors, who are either partners or former partners, who have significant experience over a broad range of work from the modest case to the much higher value case. We are committed to undertaking publicly funded work and will always carry out an assessment for eligibility. As a firm we are very much aware that legal costs can mount to alarming sums very quickly and all our work is carried out with a view to minimising those costs wherever possible and assisting in finding ways in which they can be met.
Elspeth Harlow
Elspeth Harlow has over twenty years experience of dealing with all types of family work. Her speciality is high value financial claims, whether acting for husband or wife, in particular those involving businesses of any kind. She has significant expertise with regard to rural enterprises, such as farms, liveries and the like. Her straightforward approach is designed to achieve the best possible result without incurring excessive legal costs. Elspeth is the Head of our Family Department and a member of both the Law Society Panel and Resolution.
Sue Benson
Sue is a Partner and in charge of our Nottingham office. She is a very experienced Family Lawyer who undertakes both private and legal aid work. She is especially interested in Children cases but also does a large amount of work related to dealing with finances following separation. She has particular expertise in the breakdown of Civil Partnerships.
Mike Morris
Michael Morris is an experienced solicitor who specialises in Divorce work (particularly cases involving substantial assets) and Elderly client work including wills, Probate, Inheritance tax planning and court of protection work.
Alison Forrest
Alison Forrest is a solicitor and has over fifteen years experience in handling all aspects of family work. Alison specialises in dealing with financial claims although her expertise also extends to cases involving children. She has a caring approach but also has the ability to conduct a case in an efficient and cost effective manner. Alison is a member of the Law Society's Family Law Panel.
Victoria Chamberlain
Victoria is a Partner and in charge of our Leicester office. She was originally an English teacher but following a change of direction retrained as a solicitor with a firm in Birmingham. She has been with us since qualification and undertakes all kinds of family work both funded privately and by legal aid.
Gordon Clow
Gordon Clow is a solicitor specialising in children matters, predominantly dealing with care proceedings, adoption and other cases involving social services. As a recognition of his expertise, he has achieved membership of the Law Society's Children Panel (Children Representative). He also deals with other complex cases involving children as well as general family law work. He is a member of the family lawyer's group, Resolution.
Sandra Stephens
Sandra is based at our Loughborough office and is a Legal Executive with many years experience. She acts in both Children and financial matters and is able to accept legally aided work. Her speciality is both children and financial issues.
Susan Rayson
Sue is a Legal Executive and works at our Nottingham office undertaking Family work of all kinds, but particularly divorce and child care work.
