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In the firm’s tenth anniversary year, Silk Family Law retains its position as one of the North’s leading family law firms with top rankings in both Chambers UK and Legal 500 guides for the tenth consecutive year.

The legal guide rankings are independently researched and judged based on an assessment of each law firm’s performance and interviews with clients and other industry professionals.

Chambers UK describes ‘Band One’ Silk as a “pre-eminent team at the forefront of the market in family law, with notable strength in dealing with high-value separation cases involving inheritance, tax, pension or trust issues.”

The guide goes on to say the firm “demonstrates experience advising on wealth protection and the negotiation of nuptial agreements, as well as challenges to such arrangements” and is “capable of handling cross-border matters both within the UK and internationally, [with] further expertise in child disputes arising from divorce.”

One client describes Silk Family Law as “a heavyweight firm which operates impeccably,” adding: “All aspects of their operation are unfailingly efficient and effective, and everyone in the firm still manages to maintain a delightfully human touch with clients.”

Top ranking family law firm in the North

Six of the firm’s lawyers have been highlighted for special recognition in the guides for their outstanding client work and industry contribution. Silk Family Law is the only family law firm in Newcastle to have five of its team highlighted as ‘Ranked Individuals’ in Chambers UK, and the only family law firm in the North to have three team members highlighted as ‘leading individuals’ in the Legal 500 guide.

At the Newcastle office, partners Ian Kennerley, Margaret Simpson, Kim Fellowes and Wayne Lynn, alongside associate Christian Butler, have all been recognised by both guides.

Barrister and co-founding partner Ian Kennerley “has an awe-inspiring level of analytical skill” and can “pick out the key factors at all stages of the case and then apply his formidable expertise and insight to great effect.” (Chambers UK)

Kim Fellowes “is recognised for her experience handling high-value financial remedies, along with Schedule 1 and TOLATA applications, and is one of the firm’s founding partners.” (Chambers UK)

Margaret Simpson is “one of the best around” for matrimonial finance work, and is described by one interviewee as being “very technically able and marries that with exceptional interpersonal skills.” A founding partner of the firm, she has “extensive experience acting for high net worth individuals on divorce and associated financial remedy proceedings, including complex cross-border cases.” (Chambers UK)

Clients describe partner Wayne Lynn as “always very approachable, friendly and very aware of the psychological and emotional impact of a divorce, while still being meticulously professional, efficient, thorough and highly organised.”

Christian Butler is a ‘Rising Star’ (Legal 500) and an ‘Associate to watch’ (Chambers UK).

New position in family law firm Yorkshire rankings for Silk 

Having only opened the Leeds office in 2018, the firm has also secured its first ranking in the prestigious Legal 500 law firms list in Yorkshire.

Since spearheading the launch of the Silk Family Law Leeds office in 2018, partner Teresa Davidson has already built a solid reputation in the region and has been highlighted in the Chambers Yorkshire guide as a notable individual, described by one interviewee as having “a strong ability to separate out issues, prioritise them and then create a coherent plan to address them and get the best outcome for her client.”