Members

Jo qualified as a solicitor in 1992 having completed her training at leading Cambridge firms Taylor Vinters and Thompson and Co. After qualification, Jo moved to J Garrard and Allen in Olney where she established the family department.

In 1994 Jo was made a Partner at J Garrard and Allen and continued to build and develop the practice. Jo trained as a mediator with Resolution in 1996. In 2001 Jo decided to set up independently and created a purely family law practice in Stony Stratford. Since then Hawkins Family Law has continued to grow but maintains its original ethos of providing professional quality advice to individuals. The team is described by The Legal 500 as ‘exemplary’ and Jo herself as a ‘Leading Individual’ with ‘strong experience and a commercial approach’. Jo is a trained Collaborative Lawyer and in June 2013 became a Family law Arbitrator. In addition she is an accredited specialist of Resolution and is on the committee for the local Resolution group in Milton Keynes.

Jo has particular experience in relation to all aspects of separation and divorce. Much of her work involves dealing with complex financial issues. Jo also has considerable experience resolving children issues. Jo has established good links with local and national solicitors and other professionals which can be called upon as and when required.

Rachel is a senior Solicitor at Hawkins Family Law in Stony Stratford, having specialised in family law for over 16 years.

She is an Accredited Specialist of Resolution and a trained Mediator. Rachel trained as a collaborative lawyer in May 2005, and was one of the first to help to establish collaborative practice in the North of England.

She says, “Collaborative is a growing trend and is a civilised and constructive way to endeavour 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 in normal 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.

Loraine qualified as a solicitor in 1996 and since then has specialised in family law with a focus on complex financial issues.

She is accredited by Resolution and is a mediator as well as a solicitor. Since qualifying as a collaborative lawyer in 2005 she has concluded many collaborative cases and is a committed advocate of the process. She also chairs the regional group of Resolution recognising the crucial importance of the good practice that Resolution promotes in this area of law which is so pivotal to minimising the adverse effects of separation.

The Legal 500 comments that the team at Hawkins are “exemplary” and specifically recommends Loraine who ‘fights her clients’ corner, but knows when it is in a client’s interests to settle.’

Tina joined Neves 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.

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.

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.

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.

Gemma Evans has specialised in family law since 2006 and is committed to the collaborative law process.

Gemma is an Associate Solicitor at Howes Percival LLP and advises in relation to all aspects of family law, in particular complex children issues and financial matters. Gemma is a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel and a member of Resolution

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.

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”

Annabel qualified as a solicitor in 1998, and has practiced in family law ever since with particular specialist in cases involving complex finances. She was delighted to join specialist practice Hawkins Family Law in April 2014, and is now a Director, having spent the previous eleven years as a Senior Associate at Taylor Vinters in Cambridge and London.

Annabel is collaboratively trained as a family lawyer, she is a family mediator and is a Resolution Specialist in cases involving substantial assets (including pre-nuptial agreements), and those involving cohabitees. The Legal 500 comments that the team at Hawkins are ‘exemplary’ and describes Annabel as ‘striking a good balance between empathising and successfully navigating divorce cases’ and ‘a pragmatic lawyer with a cool head’. Her strong reputation is built around negotiating tailor-made financial settlements, where possible out of court, and at an early juncture.

Alongside client work, Annabel is regional Press Officer for the Milton Keynes’ branch of Resolution and sits on Resolution’s national Cohabitation Working Party which campaigns to secure legal recognition for cohabitants. She is a contributor to the legal and national media on family issues, and lives in Bedford.

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