Manchester law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP is continuing its ambitious expansion plans in the city centre with the appointment of Family law solicitor, Dianne Skidmore.
Dianne, from Saddleworth, has joined the firm’s leading Children law team. Immediately prior to joining Stephensons, Dianne was a part time law lecturer at the University of Huddersfield after completing her PGCE, however, she was formerly a partner at Manchester law firm Tranters having worked there for ten years.
She will advise local authorities, parents, children and other family members in Care proceedings such as adoption, care, contact and residence applications. Dianne also has expertise in divorce and the financial aspects of relationship breakdowns.
Stephensons Family team is also renowned for its expertise in acting in child care cases on behalf of local authorities and Dianne’s arrival will enable the department to take on more of this work.
Dianne said: “I’m looking forward to undertaking an interesting, varied and challenging caseload and working within an extremely experienced and well respected team. The Child care team has a very good reputation, as does the firm. It is forward thinking and has adapted to the current challenges that the profession faces.”
Mike Devlin, managing partner of the Family department at Stephensons, said: “We are delighted that Dianne has chosen to join the firm. Her arrival coincides with one of the busiest periods we have experienced in the area of Children law and with her vast experience in this field, her appointment marks a real strengthening of the team.
“We have ambitious plans for our Family law department in the city centre. What sets us apart from our competitors in this field is our commitment to Legal Aid work, which enables us to act for some of the most vulnerable people in society, regardless of their income level. This is in addition to other funding methods such as our fixed-fee divorce package and our private paying work.”
Stephensons Family team is one of the largest in the North West, with 27 solicitors offering an unrivalled breadth and depth of expertise across the whole range of family law issues. The team is recommended in the latest edition of the Legal 500 directory, which says ‘Stephensons Solicitors LLP is committed to Legal Aid as well as private family work. In 2008 the team was appointed to the Framework Agreement for Manchester City Council for childcare work, and also assists an increasing number of high-net-worth individuals.’
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Notes to editors
About Stephensons:
The latest edition of Legal 500 recommends the family law department at Stephensons and ranks the firm as the fifth largest in the North West.
Stephensons has 26 partners and more than 300 staff across a network of offices in Manchester, Wigan, Bolton, Leigh and St Helens.
For more information visit www.stephensons.co.uk.
Media information: Lianne Tracey
Stephensons Solicitors LLP
T: 01616 966 229