Members

Tina joined Neves Solicitors in 2021 after having been Head of Family Law at a local firm.

She is experienced in dealing with all aspects of family law including matrimonial, private law children matters, domestic violence and cohabitation matters. She is passionate about resolving disputes in a non-confrontational way. She trained as a collaborative lawyer to help couples wanting to share control of resolving their issues together.

In her free time Tina enjoys fundraising and charity work.

Gemma Evans is a Director in the Family Team at Howes Percival LLP in Milton Keynes. She has specialised in family law since 2006 and is a qualified Collaborative Lawyer. Gemma is committed to helping clients resolve family issues constructively.

Gemma’s financial cases often involve family businesses, inherited wealth and the protection of wealth through pre and post nuptial agreements.

Gemma also advises on children cases, including internal and international relocation and financial claims for children of unmarried parents (Schedule 1).

Her collaborative approach focuses on achieving fair, practical outcomes while minimising conflict and avoiding court proceedings where possible. She is an accredited member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel, a member of Resolution, and is recognised in The Legal 500 as a “Next Generation Partner”. Gemma provides a complimentary initial consultation by telephone.

Helen has over 20 years’ experience specialising in family law and is known for her pragmatic ‘cutting to the chase’ approach.

In Helen’s experience, most clients prefer to reach an agreement in relation to arrangements concerning their children and regarding financial matters and avoid going to court and Helen works hard to achieve that for most of her clients. However, where court proceedings are required, Helen has a record of achieving successful outcomes for her clients.

Helen is a collaborative lawyer and a member of Resolution and believes in dealing with matters reasonably and fairly.

Caroline is a partner and co-founder of Watson Morris Family Law. Caroline has over twenty years’ experience in family law to include divorce, separation, cohabitation, pre and post nuptial agreements and children matters. Ranked by the legal directories and a top recommended lawyer in Spear’s 500 Caroline is described by her peers as meticulous in her case presentation and technically excellent. You can be confident of the very best outcome for you and your family with Caroline by your side.

The team at Watson Morris are driven by a shared purpose: to help clients start or end a relationship with confidence.  Caroline lives the firm’s purpose and values by making sure clients never feel judged and they have the confidence to share everything that matters to them.  Caroline combines her legal expertise with practical support to help her clients navigate the best pathway forward to achieve their goals.

Reasons clients choose to work with Caroline:

• Commercial understanding of business structures and complex financial arrangements, including forensic accountant reports, tax and cases involving third party interests.
• International expertise and experience in cases involving inherited wealth, assets acquired pre-and post-relationship and pensions.
• Straight-talking and pragmatic approach.
• Dedication and commitment to helping clients move on with dignity, respect and confidence.

What others say

“Caroline Watson is well prepared and thorough.  She gives pragmatic advice and doesn’t give clients unrealistic expectations”
Chambers UK

“Caroline Watson is an excellent family lawyer who has a fantastic eye for detail. Clients feel very safe with Caroline. I have had her as an opponent and been impressed. She also works collaboratively”.
Legal 500

Caroline is happy to provide an initial consultation by telephone or Teams without charge or obligation to discuss your issues and explain how she can help.

Emily Pope is an Associate in the Divorce & Family Law Team at Neves Solicitors. She advises clients on all aspects of Family Law including Divorce, Separation, Financial Matters, Arrangements for Children, Cohabitation Disputes and Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements.

A committed member of Resolution, Emily is passionate about helping families resolve issues constructively and sensitively, with a focus on achieving practical and child focused outcomes wherever possible. She supports clients in exploring non-confrontational approaches to dispute resolution and is dedicated to helping families move forward positively following separation.

Mandi Austin specialises in Family Law in particular complex financial issues and qualified as a solicitor in September 2000 and is a Director at Purcell. Mandi is a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution.

She is passionate about the Collaborative process and is the Treasurer of the local collaborative group and is committed to the expansion and growth of collaborative law having now completed a number of cases using the process. When not working Mandi enjoys socialising with friends and attends the gym at least twice a week which she says is a great stress reliever.

Pauline is the Managing Director of Purcell Solicitors, a specialist family law firm in Central Milton Keynes.

She is an experienced family Solicitor, Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer. Pauline was one of the first Collaborative Lawyers in the country and has considerable experience representing clients in this way. She is committed to the collaborative process as an innovative way of helping couples resolve their disputes in an amicable and civilised way.

Pauline says “It is incredibly rewarding to see a client come through the collaborative process having made their own decisions about the future whilst remaining on reasonable terms with their former partner and most importantly able to focus on what is best for their children”

​Beth Woodward is a Partner and heads up the divorce and family law department at Neves Solicitors Milton Keynes office.

She is the Chairperson of the Milton Keynes Collaborative Group and as their liaison officer represents the Group at national level. She has specialised in Family Law for over 20 years. She has extensive experience in guiding couples through their separation using the Collaborative Law process for which she has a high success rate. She believes it offers couples control and dignity in the process of separating. Beth is a member of Resolution. In her spare time she is an avid reader, is always on the go and enjoys spending time with her family.

She also helps at her local Youth Club for teenagers and is a School Governor.

Having worked at firms in Buckinghamshire for the past 29 years, practicing exclusively in the area of Family Law for the last 22 years, I am delighted to now join the Family Law team at Brethertons, mainly from the firm’s Rugby office, but also in the Milton Keynes area.

Annabel joined the family team at Anthony Gold, London in March 2026, but lives in the Beds/Bucks area and continues to work with clients and like-minded family practitioners in this area. She has over 25 years’ experience in family law, with much of it based in MK and her reputation is built around excellent client care and bespoke financial settlements – out of Court where possible, and at an early juncture. She uses her skills and experience as a lawyer, collaborative practitioner and mediator to help clients move through life’s changes with care, focus and integrity, and she believes that the interests of children should always come first.

Annabel is Resolution Accredited as a specialist in high-net-worth cases involving complex/substantial assets and issues affecting unmarried couples. She is an advocate for positive change in the field of family law and actively supports the campaign of Resolution’s Cohabitation Working Party to bring about legislative change for unmarried couples, who currently have no protection in law.

Annabel is consistently ranked and recommended as a key lawyer in Chambers, Legal 500 and Westlaw and receives excellent feedback.

“Annabel has given my requirements real focus and attention. She has always been empathetic and supportive, always giving excellent advice and predicting outcomes far into the future” (Legal 500 – 2026 edition).

“Annabel is amazing, she is always listening and giving good, honest advice” (Chambers – 2025 edition).

Jane is a Legal Director at national law firm Shakespeare Martineau based at their Milton Keynes office. Jane has over 20 years’ experience in family law focussing on complex financial settlements with businesses, trusts, pensions, inherited assets and properties. She also has extensive experience in sensitive children cases and pre/post nuptial and living together agreements.

Jane is a Member of Resolution and is a collaboratively trained family lawyer. In the legal directory, Chambers 2022, she is ranked individually as a leading family lawyer and the family team is also recognised in the Legal 500 directory.

In Chambers 2022 a client quotes “Jane Charlton has been remarkable in terms of her empathy, support, expertise and advice. I felt totally safe in her capable and experienced hands. She has guided me through the most difficult period of my life and done so with calmness, clarity and total integrity.”

Jane is committed to resolving matters amicably for the parties and to help them reach a better place in their lives.

Jane provides an initial consultation by telephone without charge to discuss your matter.

Rachel is a very experienced family law solicitor with Woolley and Co – a firm that is rated exceptionally highly by their clients. She has a career spanning three decades, qualifying as a solicitor in 1995. She has since held senior roles across several prominent firms, including a commercial practice in Staffordshire, where she led the family law department, a commercial law firm in Liverpool as a partner, and a well-regarded niche family law practice in Milton Keynes – all Legal 500 firms.

Rachel brings a pragmatic, approachable, and solutions-focused angle to every case. She has extensive experience in all areas of family law, including complex financial, high-asset divorces; children matters, working to achieve child-centred solutions that respect each family’s unique dynamics; and cohabitation disputes, providing knowledgeable advice and support.

Rachel is committed to resolving family disputes with a constructive and sensitive approach. Her work as a trained mediator has equipped her with unique skills to help clients in many ways, including ensuring that they feel that they are being heard. She says, “Dealing with a case collaboratively is such a civilised way to resolve issues arising from divorce and separation, whilst helping to reduce mistrust and any ‘Chinese whispers’ effect that can all too easily build up. Everyone works together to ensure transparency and understanding in order to reach a sensible and fair outcome with much reduced stress compared to court proceedings”.

coming soon

​Lisa Buckridge has specialised in family law for over 12 years and is a Director at Purcell solicitors.

Lisa trained as a collaborative lawyer in 2012 and recognises the many benefits, including greater control and dignity, that this process offers families going through a separation. Lisa is a member of Resolution and is also a trustee and current Chair of Milton Keynes Children’s Contact Centre in Milton Keynes.