SL Family Law

Sherwood #LoveBiz Community

Contact: Sue Leadbeater

Telephone: 07950 164 614

I am a Family Law Specialist assisting people in managing their personal relationships. I help those at the start of a relationship creating agreements to protect assets and children and at the end using learned collaborative and communication skills to minimise cost and financial impact and maximise emotional wellbeing and assets preserved.

I have more than 30 years experience in dealing with all aspects of family law for both married and unmarried clients. I specialise in the financial aspects of marriage breakdown including the division of business assets and pension sharing as well as child related matters. I have a particular interest in assisting couples in planning and prevention by way of cohabitation and civil partnership contracts pre marital (nuptial) agreements. This is particularly relevant for those who are perhaps embarking on the purchase of their first home but with unequal contributions to make, who are in second or subsequent relationships and there are children from the former relationship to protect financially or where there is a significant discrepancy in assets.

My aim is to avoid litigation and to treat court proceedings as a last resort and if it is the only way to resolve matters. To this end I have acquired various skills over the years in conducting non adversarial litigation by means of mediation, collaboration and negotiation. Since qualification I have been a member of Resolution, an organisation of family lawyers committed to resolving disputes in a non-confrontational way. I abide by their code of conduct which means that I agree to deal with disputes in a constructive way designed to preserve people’s dignity and to encourage agreement.

I work collaboratively. I have been specially trained to offer support and guidance to couples in dispute who agree that they wish to work with their lawyers as a team in meetings to resolve issues without going to court. This gives people more control over what is happening and a greater opportunity to be listened to and focus on what is important to them and any children at a pace that is comfortable for them.

However, I am a skilled advocate and if court is unavoidable then I can ably provide representation at court