DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Harper Macleod LLP

Family/Matrimonial

3 ranked lawyers

Band 3

Scotland

UK 2022 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

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What the team is known for

Recognised for its broad coverage of family matters, offering expertise in divorces, cohabitation claims and child relocation matters along with prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Also has experience in fertility law and associated issues, including adoption, surrogacy and assisted conception. Well practised in separations entailing bankruptcy issues and displays considerable capabilities in cross-border cases. Offers trained collaborative lawyers and mediators, in addition to skilled litigators.

Strengths

One client says: "The quickness of the team's responses and the service I received made me feel like I was the firm's only client."

Notable practitioners

Amanda Masson acts on a range of financial provision disputes and also advises on issues around child relocation. She also has specialist expertise in issues concerning fertility, surrogacy and non-traditional family structures.
"Amanda is hands-on and always very perceptive, and as such can anticipate problems before they arise. She is really excellent."

Jenny Smith advises on financial provision issues related to divorce and separation, often involving complex business assets and intra-UK jurisdictional aspects.
"Jenny is exceptionally organised, diligent and completely on the ball. She is always very thorough and results-orientated, and knows what her clients' best interests are." "She is very effective and down to earth."

Karen Gibbons advises across a broad range of family matters, including divorce, cohabitation claims, nuptial agreements and child arrangements. She is an accredited mediator and trained collaborative lawyer.
"She is detail-orientated and gets things done quickly and well." "Karen was tremendous - she was straight with me from the start and courageous at a time when I had lost all my courage." "A very good lawyer who will always stand her ground and defend her clients' interests."

Department Information

This content is provided by Harper Macleod LLP.

Overview

The Harper Macleod Family team is one of the largest family law teams in Scotland and is actively involved in many key cases shaping the development of family law. Our experienced and approachable lawyers can handle all types of enquiries but are becoming recognised for having particular specialist expertise in cases with an insolvency element and child relocation cases, with clients seeking to instruct the team on the basis of reputation in these areas. We are more commonly instructed in particularly high value or complex financial provision cases, including actions in the Court of Session. We also have a growing 'Modern Families' practice advising on family creation including surrogacy, assisted reproduction law and adoption services.

Our team has a unique, Scotland-wide footprint with specialist family lawyers based throughout the country in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Lerwick. This allows us to ensure a local offering where needed, delivering a fast, responsive service to clients.

In addition, our team consists of five Law Society of Scotland accredited specialists, one of whom holds all three family law specialisms, namely: Family Law, Child Law and Family Mediation.