About

Provided by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Our family law department offers the highest quality of service to our clients, stemming from the experience and talent of outstanding family lawyers who are nationally and internationally acknowledged as leaders in their field.

We act in some of the leading cases in England and Wales representing clients including professionals, entrepreneurs, wealthy individuals, landowners, those in the public eye, or for their partners.

Our team is committed to providing clients with an unparalleled level of service in a compassionate, timely and cost effective manner from our offices in London, Oxford, Reading and Guildford. Our skills include constructive negotiation, a full range of family dispute resolution services and robust and rigorous litigation where required.

We work closely with the firm’s highly regarded private client team on complex onshore and offshore tax and trust issues, as well as lifetime and succession planning. We have significant experience in disputes between unmarried couples, the ground breaking issues surrounding surrogacy, “alternative families” and complex parenting arrangements.

Six members of our team are fellows of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers. We are at the very forefront of those who advise on international family law issues including “forum shopping” or jurisdiction disputes as well as international marital agreements and cases involving cross-border disputes about children.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - Thames Valley

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Penningtons Manches Cooper has a strong regional presence with standout teams in both Reading and Oxford. The firm often handles cases with a strong international element, including cross-border disputes in which children are involved, advising on care arrangements, changes of residence and Schedule 1 applications. The firm frequently advises high net worth individuals on complex financial settlements, involving inheritance issues, trusts and complicated business aspects. It is able to offer alternative dispute resolution options, including mediation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Jane Mitchell
1
Jane Mitchell
1
Band 1

Jane Mitchell is a leading family law practitioner, advising clients on divorce and financial remedy proceedings. Her work often involves complicated business or inheritance aspects, as well as spousal maintenance issues. She also has notable experience in Schedule 1 Children Act matters and change of residence applications.

Jane is wise and provides excellent advice, rooted in her wide-ranging experience.

Jane Mitchell is extremely experienced and gives very good, strong and firm advice.

An eminent professional who is very pragmatic and will really think outside the box.

Jane Mitchell is the person I'd want her on my side. She's measured, unflappable and pays attention to detail: she's got her finger on everything and on every figure.

Jolene Hutchison
2
Jolene Hutchison
2
Band 2

Jolene Hutchison advises on a broad range of matrimonial finance disputes, including complex cross-border and cross-cultural matters, as well as private children arrangements.

Jolene Hutchison is very bright and has an incredible capacity to draw from large amounts of information and previous cases.

Jolene is a real asset for Penningtons. She's an extremely good lawyer, has excellent client care, is extremely thorough, very detail-oriented and really knows her onions. She is the whole package.

I felt Jolene understood what outcome I needed and throughout the process she has supported me to help work towards this.

Ruth James
2
Ruth James
2
Band 2

Ruth James frequently advises clients on complex matrimonial financial disputes involving overseas assets, as well as military pensions and business concerns. She also advises on Children Act proceedings.

Ruth is a fantastic practitioner who works very hard for clients and runs good points.

Ruth James has a lovely manner with clients and instantly puts them at ease.

Ruth manages to mix being a brilliant lawyer with incredible humanity. She's very supportive of her clients and because they like her so much she can help them through unpalatable advice really well.

Ranked Lawyers at
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Thames Valley

Family/Matrimonial

Jane Mitchell
1
Jane Mitchell
1
Band 1
Jolene Hutchison
2
Jolene Hutchison
2
Band 2
Ruth James
2
Ruth James
2
Band 2

Members

Provided by Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP