November 1, 2013

“Sensitive and understanding” – top ranking in Chambers legal guide

The Jones Myers team is celebrating once again as the respected Chambers UK legal guide ranks the firm in the top tier with high praise for individual partners.

Previously described by the guide as “utterly brilliant”, the 2014 edition comments that clients find us “sensitive and understanding”.  The accolade comes hot on the heels of our top ranking in Legal 500, another leading guide to UK law firms.

The latest Chambers listing consolidates Jones Myers standing as one of the top family law firms in Yorkshire, alongside Mills & Reeve and Lake Legal.

It highlights our work advising on highly complex cases, including high-value divorces and private children law matters, often involving cross-border aspects, as well as our expertise in mediation, arbitration and collaborative law. Chambers also notes our new practice area, headed by Martin Holdsworth, spanning both contentious and non-contentious trust and probate matters.

The new guide says that founding partner Peter Jones ,who predominantly handles complex financial issues, is also recognised for his skills as a trained arbitrator. One source describes him as “brilliant to work with – and he really looks after the clients’ needs.”

Richard Peaker specialises in financial remedy disputes, pre and postnuptial agreements and cohabitation disputes, and he is also trained in collaborative law. Commentators praise him for his experience in matrimonial finance cases and note that “he has a heavy case load of good quality work.

The “fantasticFiona Kendall focuses on matrimonial finance, cohabitation disputes, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements, with many of her cases involving significant cross-border aspects. She is also an active collaborative lawyer and mediation practitioner.

Norman Taylor continues to act in complex financial disputes in his role as a consultant at the firm, and he is also recognised for his collaborative law work.

Martin Holdsworth is a well-established practitioner much admired by both peers and clients in the market. His practice spans both contentious and non-contentious trust and probate matters.

Our reputation and expertise, that is reinforced by success in these legal industry bibles, means that we are frequently called on by the media to discuss family and divorce matters.

Following the news that Norway’s government is urging couples to keep their marriages ignited with date nights, partner and trained mediator Fiona Kendall was invited to talk to Nick Ahad on BBC Radio Leeds about why it’s a good idea.

Fiona said: “Spending time with one another goes to the heart of every relationship. For time-poor couples, juggling the pressures of work, family and running home, precious moments can be in short supply.

“Surprising though it may seem for a government to develop a policy about this, the emotional and financial cost of a broken relationship is something we all agree needs to be urgently tackled – and prevention may be better than cure.”

One of the most rewarding aspects of these honours is that they are based on feedback from our clients and our peers.  We must thank every member of our hard-working team who ensures that we maintain our high standards, values and client service.

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