DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Balfour+Manson LLP

Family/Matrimonial

5 ranked lawyers

Band 2

Scotland

UK 2022 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

Chambers Review

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What the team is known for

Demonstrates extensive experience across a broad range of financial and child-related disputes. Strong track record of handling high-value separation and cohabitation matters, with the ability to offer comprehensive service through its provision of property and private client experts. Advises on child matters, including deprivation of liberty, child abduction, maintenance and contact order cases. Strong bench of lawyers across its offices in Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Strengths

One source says describes the team as "a strong, cohesive unit of lawyers who are extremely experienced and knowledgeable."

"I fully put my trust in the team's hands and felt I was supported and kept in the loop at all times," says a client.

Notable practitioners

Associate Iain Thomson is based in Edinburgh and regularly advises clients on complex children matters including Hague Convention cases. He also assists with financial provision disputes.
"Iain is an absolute joy to work with and goes above and beyond in offering practical and knowledgeable advice at every stage of the journey." "He is highly regarded for his attention to detail and diligence."

Jamie Foulis is based in the firm's Edinburgh office. He acts for clients on complex financial disputes as well as handling child-related matters including residence orders and foster care issues.
"He is a hard-working and meticulous solicitor who is excellent with clients and will always act in their best interests." "He knows the law inside and out and is very easy to work with."

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Aberdeen-based Kirsten Knight handles a wide range of matters concerning divorce and separations, including both financial provision and children-related disputes. "Kirsten is a sensible lawyer who is very level-headed

Lynne Mulcahy is based in the firm's Aberdeen office. She advises on an array of both matrimonial and children matters, including contact and financial provision disputes, as well as negotiating nuptial agreements.
"She is very straight-talking, down to earth, approachable and fair. She tells clients directly what is and is not achievable so that they are left in no doubt as to what direction their case will head." "Lynne is very practical, gets the job done and is very good at calming clients and managing their expectations."

Edinburgh-based Shona Smith is the firm's head of family law. She regularly advises on high-value financial provision disputes as well as private child cases, drawing on her experience as a trained mediator and arbitrator.
"Shona Smith is among the best for family law in Edinburgh - she really puts clients at ease and is incredibly knowledgeable." "She is extremely experienced, calm and very good at reassuring and guiding clients throughout the process." "Shona was always very calm, open and honest with me on her views of my case and I felt very confident with her specialist legal knowledge."

Department Information

This content is provided by Balfour+Manson LLP.

Overview

A team of dedicated individuals who care a great deal about the work that they do, working out of both Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The individuals at all levels within the team immerse themselves in not only their day to day caseload but in all areas of family law, including representation on Law Society and Scottish Government Committees, publications, the organisation of conferences, academic lectures and training and pro bono advice in legal clinics throughout Edinburgh. The team is able to use the experience of involvement in other areas to the benefit of their clients.

5 members of the team are accredited as specialists by the Law Society of Scotland (Shona Smith, Kirsten Knight, Anne McTaggart, Iain Thomson, Jamie Foulis).

There is an emphasis on ensuring that the solicitor a client instructs is the solicitor that services their work experience and detailed knowledge at all levels within the team in relation to complex, international and cross border issues.

The team also benefits from two non family specialists working with the team in respect of property and private client matters.