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David Emmerson - Edwards Duthie Solicitors

David is the Partner with overall responsibility for the Family, Community Law and Employment teams at Edwards Duthie. He specialises in family law and is a registered expert with the prestigious 'Resolution' (previously the Solicitors Family Law Association) Accreditation Panel of Expert Family Lawyers and A National Committee member of Resolution representing more than 5000 family lawyers throughout the country.

David conducts the advocacy in the majority of his cases and has particular expertise in resolving complex financial and children cases. He has a reputation for achieving swift successful settlements. He was an assessor for the Law Society Specialist Family Law Panel and a former member of the Law Society Child Care Panel.

In June 2004 he was awarded an O.B.E. for his work in publicly funded legal services nationally and particularly at Edwards Duthie. He is the immediate past Chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group [1999-2003] which is a national organisation representing the interests of Legal Aid Practitioners in negotiations with The Legal Services Commission and the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

In March 2004 David gave evidence to the House of Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee on behalf of the then Solicitors Family Law Association. David is also a member of the Legal Services Commission Review Committee. He is a member of and assessor for the Bow County Court Housing Duty Solicitor Scheme.

David has given lectures and chaired conferences on family law, legal services, legal aid and practice management He has written many articles for periodicals and journals on both family law and legal aid issues. He is a co-author of the Law Society's guidebook on Family Law

Saika Alam

Admitted as a Partner at Huggins & Lewis Foskett in 2003 Saika specialises in Family Law and general litigation. Her practice covers the whole range of family matters for both married and unmarried couples. She has experience in resolving property and financial disputes upon relationship breakdown both through the court process and by negotiation. She deals with the majority of the “high end” family work in her practice.

Saika is a member of Resolution and the Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Membership of Resolution commits family lawyers to resolving disputes in a non-confrontational and constructive way and Resolution members adhere to a code of practice.To find out more about Resolution please visit www.resolution.org.uk

She also undertakes Collaborative Family Law which is a new way of making a break and surviving the aftermath of divorce. For further information please refer to her practice website which is www.huggins-law.co.uk

Jonathan Diamond - Wiseman Lee LLP

Jonathan Diamond joined Wiseman Lee in 1987 after having qualified as a solicitor in 1986. He is the solicitor in charge of the family law department at Wiseman Lee LLP. He specialises in all areas of separation and divorce and can advise and deal with disputes concerning children, money and property.

Jonathan is a registered expert with Resolution and also an advanced member of the Family Law Panel. Even though Jonathan acts for private paying clients, he still has a legal aid case load, bearing in mind the firm's ongoing commitment to publicly funded services. He has a detailed knowledge of the workings of legal aid and sits on both the public funding review panel and the costs appeals committee. Furthermore, Jonathan also sits as an adjudicator in relation to legal aid appeals.

Jonathan is also a resolution trained collaborative lawyer. His training is able to assist the client in resolving issues without going to court for a number of four way meetings with another trained collaborative lawyer who would act for the client's ex partner. He would work in such a way as part of a team so as to achieve a settlement.

Teresa Foss - Palmers Solicitors

Teresa is a solicitor with Palmers at Thurrock. She is a member of Resolution and is actively involved as a committee member with the Essex regional Resolution group. She is an accredited specialist with Resolution in financial provision and private children law and is also a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel. Teresa is a trained Collaborative Family lawyer.

Teresa qualified as a solicitor in 1993 and has worked exclusively in Family Law since then. She mainly deals with cases involving financial settlement, including pension provision and family businesses for all levels of income and assets, and also all private law children matters, domestic violence, and cohabittee property issues.

Teresa mentors law students from Anglia Ruskin University.

Catherine Polli - www.pinneyrogers.co.uk

Catherine is a Partner of the Firm, a Solicitor and the head of our Family Law Department.

She specialises in divorce, complex financial settlements for high-worth clients, prenuptial and separation agreements and Children Act proceedings, as well as cohabitation issues.

Catherine qualified as a Barrister in 1997 and practised as a family specialist until 2003, when she took on the role as Head of Family in another Essex-based firm of solicitors. She joined us in 2004, and after months of further studying, converted to a Solicitor in 2005. She became a Partner on 1 May 2006.

Catherine is a member of the Family Law Bar Association, the Association of Lawyers for Children and Resolution, as well as being a trained Collaborative Lawyer.

She undertakes presentations with local groups and has been quoted in the national press, as well as finding time to be a member of the Havering Solicitors Group Committee and West Essex Law Society.

Colin Smith - http://www.leonardgray.co.uk/

Colin is the Senior Solicitor who leads the Leonard Gray Family Law Team. He is a Partner with 20 years qualified experience in Family Law.

Colin is a Member of the Law Society Family Panel , a Member of Resolution, a Member of the Association of Lawyers for Children.

Broadcasts and lectures on Family Law matters and Family mediation.

Specialises in:

Law Society Family Law Panel Member
"Collaborative Lawyer" accredited by "Resolution" previously the Solicitors Family Law Association
Colin regularly advises high net worth divorcing and separating clients and is much in demand
Advises directors of public and private companies in divorce and separation
Helps resolve Family Trusts in divorce and separation
Advises on agricultural companies and partnerships in divorce and separation
High worth pensions and investments in divorce and separation
Principal Practice Consultant and Mediator.
National Family Mediators Association Committee Member
All aspects of Civil Partnerships including set up and separation.

Margaret Ridley - http://www.beechamfisherridley.co.uk/

Margaret Ridley LLB, MCFM Margaret joined Beecham Fisher Ridley in 1999 having previously built up and headed the Family Law Department in her firm where she had worked for over twenty years. She is a member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association).

Margaret deals with all aspects of Family Law i.e. divorce, separation, cohabitation, children, wardship and adoption matters and disputes over family property. She specialises in high value asset case and has a particular interest in Child Support Law.

She is a part-time Chairman of Social Security and Child Support Appeal Tribunals.

In 1992 she trained as a Mediator with the Family Mediators Association and is an accredited member and a Professional Practice Consultant of same as well as a member of the UK College of Family Mediators. She is a practitioner member of the Law Society’s Family Mediation Panel and Resolution Mediation Panel.

Jennifer Taylor - Palmers Solicitors

Jennifer is a solicitor at Palmers South Woodham Ferrers office with 8 years family experience. She has extensive experience in advising upon divorce, separation and children issues. Jennifer is a member of The Law Society Family Law Panel as well as Resolution.

Jennifer is a member of various breakfast and lunch clubs. She is a mentor for a law student at Anglia Ruskin University and also works with 2 local Sixth Form schools assisting students with careers advice and in their preparation for employment.

Tom Farrell - Merlin Financial Consultants Ltd.

Tom is an Independent Consultant with Merlin Financial Consultants Limited. He has worked as an Independent Financial Planner for more than a decade and runs a specialist practice, concentrating on financial planning and divorce, working throughout the Essex area (he has lived in Maldon for many years) and from Merlin's London offices on High Holborn. He is highly qualified in financial services, holding several advanced qualifications and is a Resolution Accredited IFA.