Jones Myers has appointed a senior family law specialist with almost four decades of expertise in relationship breakdown and financial settlements to head its Harrogate office.

Neil Dring, Senior Solicitor and Consultant, joins the firm’s Financial Remedies Department, which is regularly instructed in multi-jurisdictional proceedings and cases involving complex corporate and offshore trust structures.

His track record in divorce and separation includes complex high net worth financial disputes and advocacy, along with both pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.

Jones Myers, which set up offices in Harrogate in 2017, has recently moved to bigger town centre premises opposite the Harrogate Justice Centre in Victoria Avenue in line with client demand.

Neil said: “Jones Myers’ standing as an award-winning leader in its field which attracts the best family lawyers is acknowledged on a regional and national level. Its esteemed Children’s Department is also renowned internationally.

“The firm’s ethos of seeking non-confrontational solutions to relationship breakdowns resonates with my approach and values, and I am looking forward to playing a key role in the practice’s continued expansion.”

Richard Peaker, Jones Myers Managing Partner who heads the Financial Remedies Department, said: “Neil is a highly respected and well-known family lawyer whose breadth and depth of experience highly complements our expertise and approach in delivering bespoke solutions for our clients.

“We warmly welcome him to the team as we continue to go from strength to strength in Yorkshire and beyond.”       

The appointment coincides with the practice’s York team also moving to bigger city centre offices at Bootham Row to accommodate future growth.

Retaining its Family Law Firm of the year North award in the Family Law Awards across 2020-2022, Jones Myers was the only Yorkshire-based family law firm in the national finals of the awards’ Children Law Team of the Year category.   

The practice, whose headquarters are in Leeds, also has offices in York and marks its 30^th anniversary this year.

For divorce or family law related issues including children, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

Jones Myers blog is ranked 9^th in the UK’s Best 25 family law blogs and websites to follow in 2022.

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Our next profile which shares an insight into the professional and personal life of our experienced and empathetic family lawyers puts the spotlight on Solicitor Debra Jackson who is based in our Leeds office.  

What prompted you to become a family lawyer?

I worked in the reception of a family law firm and saw at first hand the difference family lawyers made to the lives of their clients at a stressful time in their lives when they needed good advice and empathy.  This led to me to launch my career in family law.   

What areas do you specialise in?

My 11 years’ experience in all areas of family law includes divorce, financial settlements, pre-and post-nuptial agreements, and living together (cohabitation) agreements.

My particular expertise is cohabitation and I have achieved Specialist Accreditation from Resolution in this area. I also deal with a range of complex financial cases, including those which involve inheritances and trust interests.

How would your clients describe you? 

My clients appreciate my honest and straightforward approach along with my empathy and understanding.

I treat every client as an individual, taking the time to establish what they are seeking and providing realistic and practical advice as to how this could be achieved.

What have been the most significant cases you have worked on?

Those where it has been particularly challenging to ensure my clients receive the right financial settlements they need to move forward with their lives. It is extremely rewarding to succeed in doing my best for them.

 If you could change one thing about the legal profession, what would it be? 

More protection for cohabiting couples – an area in which Jones Myers has been a long-standing campaigner for reform.  

Many cohabitating couples wrongly believe they have the same legal rights as married couples in key areas such as savings, income, pensions or business interests. This is not the case and the current law offers them no protection if they split up.   

If you weren’t in your current role what would you do?

I’d be working with animals. I’ve always loved animals and although I’ve scaled down to a cat and fishes in the past I grew up with all sorts of pets, including dogs, cats, hamsters, birds and even some terrapins!

What’s your favourite time of day – and why?

Seven o clock in the morning, when a new day begins. A favourite weekday walk is to Hob Moor near York racecourse where cows still graze and I spot birds and rabbits. I’m particularly motivated by walking in the rain when everything is fresh and clean.

What’s your favourite pastime ?

Walking! At weekends my fiancée and I explore the North Yorkshire Moors and the ruins of former castles and monasteries. The pubs reopening has enhanced our outings.

What’s your top lockdown tip?

Get out into the fresh air and enjoy a walk to blow the cobwebs away and remember better times are ahead!       

Where will you go as travel is restarting?

The spectacular Scottish highlands – their beauty is captivating and the isolation (no phone signal) helps us to really switch off. We’d also love to explore the Orkneys and the furthermost point of the Shetlands which will be exhilarating.

For queries on divorce or any aspect of family law, call Jones Myers at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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By Anna Sutcliffe, Senior Family Law Executive

From next month couples trying the knot can also invite up to 30 people to their reception as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

While meticulously preparing for everything to be perfect for the ‘big day’, many couples do not have a plan if their relationship breaks down.    

With 42 per cent of marriages ending in divorce and more couples tying the knot for the second and third time – addressing financial arrangements should divorce become inevitable is vital.   

Sadly arguments concerning money can bring out the worst in people and couples are advised to seek advice from family lawyers such as Jones Myers who are members of Resolution which is committed to taking a constructive approach to resolving these arrangements. 

When you marry later in life it is more likely that you will both have children from previous relationships who may be adults themselves. 

You may also be at the higher end of your career earnings and have significant pension provision and assets.  In these situations English law does not automatically exclude “pre-marital assets” on divorce so the Courts can distribute anything that you or your partner have.

One way to take control is to have a pre-nup which are becoming more popular in the UK.  

For many years the English Courts refused to recognise pre-nups but have recently handed down decisions which have strengthened their role.

Pre nups are sought for many reasons. Some couples embarking on their second marriage want to ensure that certain assets are preserved for their children from previous relationships. Others are keen to protect wealth which may have been in their family for generations.

Pre-nups are widely accepted as the sensible way for couples to avoid the potential distress, acrimony and expense associated with resolving financial matters, should they break up.  

Both parties should be open and honest about their financial situation before signing the agreement.

Situations where the contracts can run into problems include when judges think they have been signed in haste and under pressure. A judge will want to know that the financially weaker partner understood the agreement, was not under duress when they signed it, and took independent legal advice. Courts may ignore or vary pre-nups drawn up in haste.

It is important that the agreement is signed at least 21 days before the wedding, making full financial disclosure and securing sound legal advice.

You can also take out a post-nup – which works in very much the same way as the pre-nup – at any time during your marriage. However, in the event of a dispute, the Court can use its powers to vary a post-nup settlement if it considers it to be unfair.

Experts in this field, our founder Peter Jones, recently featured in a Daily Mail article on post-nups. Call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, at Harrogate on 01423 276104, or at York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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Our niche family law firm Jones Myers is further expanding its team with the appointment of highly experienced family lawyer Debra Jackson.

Debra’s extensive expertise across eleven years spans divorce, financial settlements, pre and post nuptial agreements as well as inheritances and trusts.

A specialist in cases involving unmarried couples, Debra has gained Specialist Accreditation from Resolution in cohabitation.  

Debra encourages her clients to consider Mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution which avoid going to court.  

However, when a Court process is appropriate, she is equally experienced in providing clients with all options to enable them to make informed decisions that are right for them.

Treating each client as an individual, Debra’s clients commend her honesty and straightforward approach, and applaud her empathy and understanding.

Jones Myers partner and director Richard Peaker said: “Debra’s strong track record complements and enhances the expertise of our family lawyers and we wish her every success.

“Attracting and retaining top talent remains a top priority as we continue recruiting in line with a further increase in instructions from our local, national and international clients to meet growing demand.”

Jones Myers – which has offices in Leeds, Harrogate and York – is consistently ranked in a joint Top Tier position by the Legal 500 and Chambers guides alongside national practices. We are the only family law firm in Leeds with its own in-house barrister.

Said Debra: “Jones Myers has an outstanding reputation and it’s tremendous to join the firm at this formative period in its development. I thrive on the challenges of complicated cases and am looking forward to helping clients achieve creative solutions tailored to their individual circumstances and needs.”

Debra’s appointment has been well received in media publications including Yorkshire Legal and the Yorkshire Times.  

The expansion is the latest in a series of developments for the firm which has recently appointed a new partner and boosted its teams across all three offices.  

Jones Myers founder Peter Jones, partner and director Richard Peaker and collaborative law expert Norman Taylor have also recently featured in the UK’s ‘Best Lawyers’ listing for the 12^th consecutive year.

For queries on divorce or any aspect of family law, call us at Leeds on 0113 246 0055, Harrogate on 01423 276104, or York on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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The case of reality star Gemma Collins vowing to sever ties with her boyfriend James ‘Arg’ Argent if he refuses to sign a pre-nup highlights how such contracts are not to everyone’s taste.  

Ms Collins’ announcement, which cited the non-disclosure agreement celebrity chef Paul Hollywood  presented to his girlfriend Summer Monteys-Fullham and prompted their split, reinforces how such contracts demonstrate the ‘test’ of a relationship.

It is important to highlight that pre-nup agreements can be tailored to a couple’s present and future circumstances – for example by including an increase in provision which is dependent upon the amount of time they spent together.

An understanding of this element of flexibility and variation by both the proposer and recipient of the contract may go a long way to make it more digestible.     

Prenups are sought for many reasons. Some couples embarking on their second marriage want to ensure that certain assets are preserved for their children from previous relationships. Others are keen to protect wealth which may have been in their family for generations.

In our extensive experience the majority of cases pre-nups are widely accepted as the sensible way for couples to avoid the potential distress, acrimony and expense associated with resolving financial matters, should they break up.  

If embarking on a pre-nup, it is vital to finalise it in good time. Situations where the contracts can run into problems include when judges think they have been signed in haste and under pressure.

A judge will want to know that the financially weaker partner understood the agreement, was not under duress when they signed it, and took independent legal advice. Courts may ignore or vary pre-nups drawn up in haste.

We always advise that the agreement is signed at least 21 days before the wedding, making full financial disclosure and securing sound legal advice.

For information about pre-nup and post-nup agreements or any aspect of family law, call our Leeds office 0113 246 0055, our Harrogate office 01423 276104, or our York office on 01904 202550. Visit jm2023.jonesmyers.co.uk, email info@jonesmyers.co.uk or tweet us @helpwithdivorce

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Many business owners with failed marriages have found themselves losing an organisation  they have worked long and hard to build over decades, to their ex.

With UK family businesses employing over nine million people and accounting for a quarter of the UK’s GDP, according to the most recent statistics from the Institute for Family Business, safeguarding the family company is also critical when a divorce or separation becomes inevitable between husband and wife business partners.

Such cases, when husband and wife teams own joint shareholdings as “co-preneurs”, and are both seeking to retain their stake in the company, are the most difficult to resolve. Many couples also employ their children in the family business – increasing the importance of a smooth transition to safeguard their sons’ and daughters’ respective roles.

In a divorce, a company is regarded as a matrimonial asset, to be sold or shared like any other. It is therefore vital for a couple in business together to secure sound legal advice before marrying, so that a pre-nuptial agreement can be drawn up. If already married, it is worth considering a post-nuptial if you failed to sign a pre-nup – or to protect any new business ventures.

Although pre-nups and post-nups are not legally binding, courts do take them into account and they can make the whole divorce process run more smoothly. However, despite their advantages, they will not prevent your business from coming under close scrutiny. How much is it worth? What income can it produce – now and in the future, when assets are divided? Should it be producing more?

Judges will often examine a business’ liquidity and how this might be paid out to the wider family to meet costs such as accommodation. Although problematic if you planned to use that liquidity as the seed corn for a future start-up, you must not hide any assets.

Collaborative law can be the most constructive, cost-effective and least painful approach to finding a financial solution when both partners are involved in a family business – and can also lessen impact on the company. It sees a couple and their lawyers working together on problems face-to-face, with additional professional advisers such as accountants on hand when necessary. It aims to resolve matters amicably and without the case going to court.

Talking about the future of your business, and who will run it, in a calm and supportive atmosphere is infinitely preferable to the hostility and acrimony of a courtroom battle – and can protect enterprises by avoiding the distress and distraction that can derail a company.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns on divorce affecting your business or wider divorce related issues, leave a comment below, call the Jones Myers team on 0113 246 0055 or tweet us on @helpwithdivorce.

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Eric, the soap’s longest serving character, also expressed his anger at not having organised a pre-nuptial agreement prior to his marriage. As Eric’s marriage to Val was his fifth attempt to find wedded bliss, some of the soap’s six million plus viewers may have been a little surprised that he hadn’t previously considered a pre-nup.

As readers of our blog are aware, Jones Myers is passionate about prenuptial agreements as they may help prevent the acrimony that often befalls some couples.

However, pre-nups are too late for older married people like Eric and Val, who are, according to recent statistics, divorcing at a rate of knots.

Known as the silver separators, the number of over 60s opting for divorce has been rising steadily since the mid-1990s.  Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal that the divorce rate between 1991 and 2011 for the over 60s increased from 1.6 to 2.3 per 1,000 married men and from 1.2 to 1.6 per 1,000 married women.

But, while the option to draw up a pre-nup agreement is closed to married couples, many may be unaware they could consider signing a postnuptial agreement or post-nup.

A post-nup is similar to a pre-nup as it determines what should happen to each other’s assets in the event of divorce. The difference is that it is drawn up after a marriage has taken place.

Whilst they are not legally binding, the courts have ruled that where such agreements are freely entered into by each party, they are likely to be adhered to unless the court reviewing the agreement considers it to be unfair at that point.

A post nuptial agreement can be helpful for people who are married for a second time – or even, like Eric Pollard, for a fifth time – as they can help to protect your assets and take into consideration the needs of children from a previous relationship.  A post-nup can also be amended if personal circumstances change.

It’s always interesting to see how a topical storyline in a soap viewed by millions unfolds – and how closely it matches reality. Therefore, we wonder how Emmerdale will tackle the practical and emotional issues of a divorcing older couple – neither of whom protected their assets with a pre or post marital arrangement.

If you have any questions or concerns about pre or post nuptial agreements, please call us on 0113 246 0055, leave us a comment below or drop us an e-mail.

You can follow us on Twitter @helpwithdivorce

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