Michelmores Family Law

Sue is a Family Solicitor with 20 years experience. She has expertise with relationship breakdown, money, children, same sex relationships, cohabitation and domestic violence.

Sue brings a wealth of experience including practicing, for a number of years, as a solicitor in Spain. In the late 1990s, Sue relocated to Devon and is now a Senior Solicitor within the Michelmores Family Law Service.

Sue is based in the Sidmouth office where she is well known, within the locality, for her expertise and 'calm and sensible' approach.

In 2011, the University of Plymouth invited Sue to lecture on the subjects of divorce and money within the post graduate Legal Practice Course Family Law Elective.

She is a Resolution member and an accredited specialist in cohabitation and domestic violence.

Rachel qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and joined Michelmores in 2008.

Rachel has a particular expertise in adoption and alternative  ways of clients, including same sex, creating a family through Surrogacy and  Assisted  Reproduction. . Rachel is the legal advisor to a large Voluntary  Adoption  Agency in the South West. She is also an enthusiastic member of the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) Legal Group Advisory Committee.  Her current caseload includes complex Adoption cases involving the Court of Appeal. Rachel receives instructions from Local Authorities on complex Adoption matters throughout the Country.

In addition, Rachel is an Associate Lecturer for the University of Plymouth – lecturing at LLB (Honours) Undergraduate Family Law and the Post-graduate Legal Practice Course Family Law Elective.

She is highly experienced in child law matters including care proceedings (Social Services involvement ),  Residence and  Contact

Rachel is a member of the Law Society Children's Panel, Association of Lawyers for Children and BAAF.

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Vanessa is the Head of the Michelmores Family Law Service Childcare Team. Having qualified in 1987, she has over 20 years experience and has a first-rate reputation in acting for children in all types of proceedings. This includes care proceedings (involvement with Social Services), with a particular interest in fabricated illness and non-accidental injury. Her specialisms also include adoption, international adoption and surrogacy.

Vanessa is constantly referred to as a source of knowledge on topics relating to children by her peers. She is frequently requested to lecture nationally on Family Law relating to children.

She is a member of the Law Society Children's Panel, Resolution, and the Association of Lawyers for Children.

Vanessa's experience, extensive knowledge and decisive approach culminated in a judicial appointment. In 2010, Vanessa was appointed as a Deputy District Judge.

Zoe qualified as a Solicitor in 2001, joined Michelmores Family Law Service in 2007 and was promoted to Partner in 2009. She has a specialism for complex, difficult or 'big money cases'; particularly those that involve pensions and businesses. Zoe also practises in the financial rights of couples who have been living together, including same sex couples and has a national client base.

Additionally she is a trained Collaborative Lawyer, a Resolution member, an Accredited Specialist with Resolution (both in relation to money and cohabitation), and a Panel Member for the Law Society.

Penny qualified in 1995 and therefore is an experienced Family Solicitor.

Penny's expertise extends to all family law issues including relationship breakdown, money, children, same sex relationships and domestic violence.

In the late 1990s Penny qualified as all issues Mediator. She is well known as an effective and experienced mediator and is a consultant and supervisor to Devon Family Solutions (mediation agency). In addition, Penny is a respected Collaborative Lawyer (resolving issues following relationship breakdown without them going to Court).

Penny is a member of the Law Society's Children's Panel and Resolution.

She practised for a number of years within Torbay and South Devon where she maintains a first rate reputation amongst clients and colleagues.

Simon is Head of the Michelmores Family Law Service. He joined the firm in 1992 and was promoted to Partner in 1998. Simon has 20-years experience in all areas of family law; specialising in the financial impact of a relationship breakdown. His expertise includes pensions, family businesses, and financial provision for children, pre-nuptial agreements and cohabitation matters. Simon's excellent reputation attracts clients both locally and nationally.

Simon is a trained Collaborative Lawyer (resolving issues following relationship breakdown without going to Court), a member of Resolution and a member of the Law Society Negligence Referral Panel.