Our Family Team
Our Family Team It is a fact of life that many marriages now end in divorce which can be a painful and stressful process for everyone involved. At Hay & Kilner, we have one of the leading Family Law teams in the North East. We provide legal advice in a practical and understanding manner to achieve a prompt settlement with the minimum amount of emotional stress. We have the expertise to deal with all aspects of Family Law. • Family Mediation • Divorce Proceedings • Civil Partnership Dissolutions • Financial Issues • Children • Separation Agreements
• Pre+Post-Nuptial Agreements • Cohabitation: Setting Up & Splitting Up • Injunctions & Occupation Orders • Child Maintenance • Collaborative Law
We are members of the following specialist panels / groups: • The Law Society Family Law Advanced panel - Ancillary Relief and Complex Assets • The Law Society Children Accreditation Scheme - members have a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of children law. • Resolution - an association of specialist family lawyers who adopt a firm yet conciliatory approach to family cases. • The Resolution Specialist Accreditation Scheme - Children and Domestic Abuse. • Collaborative Family Law North East • Family Mediation Council
Our Family Team Family Mediation Family mediation is a process where families undergoing changes, usually arising from the ending of a relationship, meet together with an impartial third person (the mediator) to assist them to have informed discussions with the aim of the parties reaching an agreement which each and both of them can live with. Our Nicola Matthews is a qualified mediator. Divorce Proceedings We can advise on the various routes to achieve a divorce, prepare the paperwork and liaise with the Court on your behalf. Civil Partnership Dissolutions We can advise on the various routes to achieve a dissolution, prepare the paperwork and liaise with the Court on your behalf. Financial Issues A married couples’ financial relationship with each other continues after divorce unless it ended by a separate Court Order. If an agreement is reached by the couple directly, or through family mediation or collaboration, it will not be legally binding unless it is converted into a Court Order. We can prepare Court Orders for submission to the Court on your behalf. We can advise as to what would be a suitable financial settlement dependent upon the unique circumstances of the case and conduct negotiations on your behalf. If an agreement cannot be reached by negotiation we can pursue an application, on your behalf, for the Court to determine the outcome. Children Where a dispute arises about when a child spends time with each parent after separation, which cannot be resolved through negotiation or mediation, we can make the necessary applications to the Court for Child Arrangement Orders and other related remedies. Separation Agreements Where divorce is not a preferred option, we can advise on and draft separation agreements to deal with financial issues.
Our Family Team Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements Although Pre-Nuptial Agreements are not always binding, they are increasingly being taken into account by divorce courts and are worth considering if one party has more assets than the other at the time of marriage. We can advise on and draft such agreements, where appropriate. We can also advise on and draft Post-Nuptial agreements if a married couple wish to specify how they want to separate their assets, in the event of a separation or divorce. Cohabitation: Setting up & Splitting Up There is an increasing number of people who, rather than entering into marriage, prefer to live together, often buying property together, having children, and sometimes entering into joint ventures. Their legal rights and responsibilities towards each other are very different to those of married couples, and the law that is applied to such relationships is complex. There is no such thing as a “common law� spouse and advice on the separation of non-married couples is very different to that applicable to divorcees. We can fully advise if this occurs and also can draft agreements at the beginning of relationships to define the rights and responsibilities of the parties, and potentially save heartache (and legal costs) at a later date. Injunctions & Occupation Orders It is sometimes necessary to make an application to the Court for an injunction to protect a person against a violent partner, to exclude a violent partner from a property or to preserve financial assets pending a settlement or Court order. We can assist with this process. Child Maintenance We can offer advice regarding entitlement and liability in relation to child maintenance. Collaborative Law Through collaborative law, couples, their lawyers and other professionals work together in round table meetings to negotiate agreements to resolve financial and other issues arising from relationship breakdowns, without the involvement of the courts. It is suitable for couples who have a genuine desire to find a solution for the whole family, and who are willing to disclose information about their finances in a full and honest manner. Couples benefit from having their own legal advisor but they set the agenda and the pace, because they are not governed by court rules or timetables. We hold a Legal Aid franchise for family work so are able to represent publicly funded clients at our Wallsend branch.
Nicola Matthews Partner & Head of Family
Email: nicola.matthews@hay-kilner.co.uk Nicola is a Partner and head of the Family department at our Newcastle office. With over 22 years’ experience, Nicola has a high level of knowledge, skills and experience in the area of family law, her specialism being high value & complex divorce cases. She assists clients to find practical solutions to problems that arise when relationships break down by considering the case from both points of view thereby reaching an amicable agreement with as little animosity as possible. Nicola is a Law Society Family Law Advanced panel member with specialisms in Ancillary Relief and Complex Assets. She is a qualified mediator, so can assist and guide both parties to try and find their own solutions. She is also a qualified collaborative family lawyer, so can advise and assist clients who wish to try and reach agreements with the other party and their representative by a series of round table meetings. She is Secretary of the local “Resolution” committee, an association of specialist family lawyers who adopt a firm yet conciliatory approach to family cases. Nicola is named as a “leading individual” in this area of law in Chambers Guide and recommended in The Legal 500, both independently researched guides to the UK legal profession.
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Nicola Matthews is calm and sensible and provides excellent representation in highvalue divorces. Her particular strength is in the financial aspects of divorce where she helps to demystify the process.
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I found my dealings with Nicola Matthews in particular of a very high standard through my difficult divorce. Nicola was very approachable and easy to talk to but always maintained a professional manner throughout my dealings with her.
Rob Hart Partner
Email: rob.hart@hay-kilner.co.uk With over 33 years’ experience, Rob is regarded as one of the leading Family lawyers in the North East. Rob has huge expertise in all child care cases including non-accidental injury allegations, emotional abuse and cases concerning sexual risk. He has a significant and complex caseload, acting for parents and children as both Solicitor and Advocate. He is a longstanding member of the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation scheme whose members are recognised as having a high level of skill, experience and expertise in the intense, emotive and demanding area of Children Law.
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I could not fault the service I have received from your firm. During my recent problems, Rob agreed to act on my behalf at very short notice and despite very difficult circumstances presented my defence in a totally professional manner. He also found the time to keep me informed and advise me at every opportunity. I am extremely grateful for his assistance during what for me was a very difficult time.
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Kerry Sutherland Associate Solicitor
Email: kerry.sutherland@hay-kilner.co.uk Kerry qualified as a Solicitor after training with the firm in August 2004. She is an Associate Solicitor and heads up the Family team at our Wallsend office. Kerry deals with a wide range of family law matters including care proceedings, private children matters, domestic abuse, divorce and finance and is a member of Resolution and The Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation scheme where members have a high level of knowledge, skills, experience and practice in the area of children law.
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Kerry is compassionate, caring and understanding. She made the whole process much easier to deal with.
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I received a very high standard of service from Kerry Sutherland. Any problems or concerns I had were dealt with in a professional and friendly manner.
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Leanne Sutherland Associate Solicitor
Email: leanne.sutherland@hay-kilner.co.uk Leanne is an Associate Solicitor within the Family department based at our Wallsend office. She deals with both private and publicly funded clients covering a wide range of family law matters including care proceedings, private children matters, domestic abuse, divorce and finance. Leanne is a member of the following specialist panels: The Resolution Specialist Accreditation scheme The Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation scheme Leanne is also a member of The Resolution Parenting After Parting Committee (PAP). The focus of the committee’s work is on skills development for members working with parents or children, in the context of divorce and separation.
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The service I received was beyond my expectations. I am extremely happy - Leanne has done a great job. Thank you.
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Stephanie Layton Solicitor
Email: stephanie.layton@hay-kilner.co.uk Stephanie qualified as a solicitor in 2014 and is part of our family team based at our Newcastle office. She assists clients with divorce and non-married partners separating, dealing with both the financial and any children issues arising from the separation. She understands that separation can be one of the most difficult times for a family and aims to provide clear advice to help enable clients reach agreements which are fair and reasonable. Stephanie is passionate about children matters helping parents through difficult separations keeping focus on the best interests of any children. She is a member of Voices in the Middle, a website of the charity, ‘Kids in the Middle’ which is dedicated to helping support children through separations. Stephanie is a keen advocate regularly appearing before Magistrates and District Judges and is praised for her professional service and ability to help make the legal process as easy to understand as possible. She is also a member of ‘Resolution’, an association of specialist family lawyers who adopt a firm yet conciliatory approach to family cases.
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Stephanie provided a professional but personal service and was very understanding of my needs. Thank you.
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Stephanie is very professional and a pleasure to deal with.
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Jeremy Nash Solicitor
Email: jeremy.nash@hay-kilner.co.uk Jeremy is a solicitor working in our family department at our Wallsend office. He qualified in September 2018 having joined Hay & Kilner in September 2016 as a Trainee Solicitor. Jeremy read Politics at Newcastle University before studying law as a postgraduate at Northumbria University. Jeremy has experience in a number of areas of family law including care proceedings, private children matters, domestic abuse, divorce and finance. He understands that the beginning of court proceedings is a daunting, and at times overwhelming experience, and he is committed to providing clear and realistic advice to clients. It is always Jeremy’s aim that he achieves the best possible outcome for his clients. It is important to Jeremy that he gets to know his clients and their cases properly so that he can work towards producing the best results. Jeremy regularly undertakes advocacy and appears in court to provide a voice for clients. Jeremy is a member of Resolution, a national organisation committed to the constructive, and non-confrontational, approach in resolving family disputes. They consider the needs of the whole family with a focus on the best interests of the children.
Kerry Johnston Paralegal
Email: kerry.johnston@hay-kilner.co.uk Kerry works in our Wallsend family team as one of the most thorough and able Paralegals in our region. During her time at Hay & Kilner she has been closely involved in some of the most complex and demanding cases including Non-Accidental Injury cases, cases linked to the most serious of criminal allegations, and cases involving children and adults with very difficult personal histories. Kerry is a regular attender at Child Care Meetings and in cases at all levels of the Family Court. Not only has she acquired a reputation as “a safe pair of hands�, but she is regularly praised by professionals and clients alike for her excellent people skills.
Mairi Clancy Paralegal
Email: mairi.clancy@hay-kilner.co.uk Mairi joined our Wallsend family team in 2016 and has quickly established herself as a vital part of the team. Fluent in Spanish, Mairi has a broad range of professional experience and expertise which compliment her role. With exceptional interpersonal skills and an in-depth knowledge of family law and procedure, Mairi is a very popular legal adviser among professional and lay clients alike. Mairi is currently involved with a large caseload of complex, sensitive, and demanding cases including those alleging serious non-accidental Injury to children, and she routinely represents and manages clients with highly complex needs and demands. Mairi regularly attends Child Care Meetings and is involved in cases at all levels of the Family Court. She is also a member of CILEx and is studying to become a Chartered Legal Executive.
What others say about us
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The team has a long-established reputation in the field and works to extremely high professional standards The Legal 500
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observers with its high standards, huge volume of work and pragmatic approach Chambers & Partners
The lawyers have an excellent manner with clients The Legal 500
& Kilner “ Hay impresses market
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“ Hay & Kilner is
unquestionably one of the major players in the region Chambers & Partners
The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners are independently researched guides to the UK legal profession
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Hay & Kilner Merchant House, 30 Cloth Market Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1EE www.hay-kilner.co.uk 0191 232 8345