UK
Practice Areas
Family Law in which Joanne has over 25 years’ experience. She specialises in:
• Divorce and Financial Remedy – In particular, cases involving significant pension assets, complex business structures and trust assets
• Nuptial Agreements – Drafting and negotiating both pre-nuptial and post-nuptials forms a large part of the wok she undertakes. She is known as the “go to lawyer in Liverpool for this area of work.
• Financial Provision for Children – In particular claims brought by one parent under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
• Unmarried couple claims – resolving financial claims arising on separation of unmarried or engaged couples
• Injunctions – financial and personal, either to protect from disposal of assets in divorce and financial remedy proceedings, or to protect an individual in the form of non-molestation or occupation orders.
• International aspects of family issues – where there are assets abroad or the parties live in other jurisdictions.
• Private Children cases – resolving child arrangement issues to include specific issues applications re change of name, change of school, consent to medical treatment or relocation to other country
Career
Joanne trained with a Liverpool Firm before qualifying in 2001. After 3 years working at East Midlands Firm Nelsons Solicitors, Joanne joined Pannone LLP in 2004 where she spent 8 years before joining Hill Dickinson LLP. Joanne was made a Partner in 2021. Under Joanne’s leadership the team has grown from a headcount of 2 to a strong team of 8 today split across both Liverpool and Manchester offices.
Joanne is also the gender equality lead for Hill Dickinson LLP, where she ensures the D&I strategy is evolving through feedback and co-creation.
Professional Memberships
Joanne is a member of Resolution and Liverpool Law Society.
Publications
Joanne frequently writes for publications, press and magazines and has featured in Spears, Yourmoney.com, The Guardian, Financial Times, E-Private Client and many others.
Joanne has been named in the Top 10 most Influential Matrimonial Lawyers dominating the Liverpool Legal Landscape.
Personal
For many years Joanne has been involved in education. She has enjoyed the role of school governor with a special interest in assessing pupil progress. She has also been involved in her local community as a director of a management company for over 9 years.
As a mum of 2 boys Joanne enjoys watching all things “football related”. She is a keen traveller and loves planning family adventures to new destinations.
Awards
Family Law Workplace of the Year
Family Law Awards
2023
Family Law Firm of the Year (Shortlisted)
North at Family Law Awards
2024
Clients
Joanne’s clients are usually high net worth individuals. She regularly acts for “rich list”, media, sport, business and professional clients or for families looking to protect inherited and dynastic wealth.
Work Highlights
Joanne is currently leading on a complex, multi-party case in the RCJ where she is representing the Husband: https://beta.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2023/3485.html (06 December 2023)
Other notable work highlights include:
• Negotiating a post-nuptial agreement on behalf of a Wife where the Husband was seeking to protect dynastic wealth of £100m built up in a family business in Switzerland.
• Representing the Husband in divorce and financial remedy proceedings where the assets exceeded £13m, split across x3 jurisdictions and there were difficult post-separation accrual arguments.
• Obtaining a declaration of parentage which was fundamental to challenging a decision of the Home Office to deport a mother and child from the UK
Industry Sector Expertise
Individual services and wealth protection.
Expert in these Jurisdictions
England and Wales.
Experience
Joanne has over 25 years’ experience in Family Law. She specialises in:
• Divorce and Financial Remedy – In particular, cases involving significant pension assets, complex business structures and trust assets
• Nuptial Agreements – Drafting and negotiating both pre-nuptial and post-nuptials forms a large part of the wok she undertakes. She is known as the “go to lawyer in Liverpool for this area of work.
• Financial Provision for Children – In particular claims brought by one parent under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
• Unmarried couple claims – resolving financial claims arising on separation of unmarried or engaged couples
• Injunctions – financial and personal, either to protect from disposal of assets in divorce and financial remedy proceedings, or to protect an individual in the form of non-molestation or occupation orders.
• International aspects of family issues – where there are assets abroad or the parties live in other jurisdictions.
• Private Children cases – resolving child arrangement issues to include specific issues applications re change of name, change of school, consent to medical treatment or relocation to other country.
Education
Nottingham Trent University
LLB Law
1995 - 1998
College of Law Chester
Legal Practice Course (LPC)
1998 - 1999