Head of Department: James Myatt
James heads the Family Law team. As a Collaborative Family Lawyer, he helps couples with substantial assets and incomes separate and divorce with dignity. James works with clients who want an improved relationship with their former partners, achieving solutions that benefit their children and preserve their wealth. James deals with private companies, businesses, farming partnerships and other complex assets. He is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in pensions and substantial asset cases.
jmyatt@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Iona Phillips
Iona Phillips is a Principal Associate and Group Leader of Advoca, a specialist child and domestic abuse law division of Lyons Davidson. She is a Resolution-accredited specialist in both areas, as well as a member of the Law Society Children Panel.
Iona strives to settle her cases out of court, but recognises that this will not always be possible. Her wealth of experience in court provides clients with the confidence and support they need throughout the case.
Iona is a child law specialist and membership of the Law Society Children Panel means her expertise in children proceedings has been independently recognised and acknowledged, and enables her to represent children.
"I believe that it is important that every client feels that they have been listened to and understood. I am then able to guide and assist them throughout the legal process and bring about a swift resolution to their case at what I appreciate is often a difficult time".
Iona is a member of the Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum and the Management Committee of Nextlink Domestic Abuse Support Services.
iphillips@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Philippa Morgan
Philippa Morgan is a very experienced lawyer dealing with international child abduction, and other cases involving an international element including wardship proceedings. Philippa is one of the few specialists in the country, instructed by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit, to deal with such cases. Philippa is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in child abduction and financial provision.
The separation of a child from a parent is a very distressing event, Philippa and her team work sympathetically and swiftly to achieve the return of a child to their country of habitual residence and to re-establish contact as soon as possible.
Philippa is married with two young children.
pmorgan@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Louise Higham
Louise has worked in the Family Department at Lyons Davidson since 2004. Specialising in divorce, ancillary relief, cohabitation disputes and children issues, Louise is the family department’s Finance Team leader and is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Advanced Financial Provision I and Children Law Private.
lhigham@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Hannah Perry
Hannah is a Senior Associate in Advoca, a specialist child and domestic abuse law division of Lyons Davidson. She specialises in children cases, both private law and public law (child care). Hannah works with clients to settle their disputes out of court, however if this is not possible she is experienced and confident in addressing issues in court.
Hannah is a childcare specialist and is on the Law Society Children Panel, meaning her expertise in children proceedings has been independently recognised and acknowledged. Panel membership enables Hannah to represent children.
Hannah’s aim in every case is to help clients reach a resolution to their family conflict in a constructive way finding creative solutions for their family so that they can all move forward positively “I help clients take control of the issues that affect them and ensure that we focus upon the needs of the children, to achieve an effective outcome as efficiently as possible by listening to what they need and guiding them through the legal process”.
Hannah is a member of the Bristol Resolution Committee and the national Resolution Standards Committee, and is also a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children executive committee.
hperry@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Alexandra Mills
Alex has worked as a lawyer in the South West region since 2003, qualifying in Bath in 2005 and then joining Lyons Davidson in 2007. She is a Resolution-accredited specialist in financial and children cases. In recent years, Alex has taken on many complex financial cases involving the breakdown of marriage, civil partnerships and cohabiting couples. Alex is also a mediator and is keen to encourage people to consider this alternative method to resolving family disputes. She has achieved very successful outcomes for her clients, always aiming for the best that can be done, using a creative and robust approach. Alex believes that too often these days lawyers can lose sight of true 'client care'. She says that her role is about giving you sensible and honest advice, enabling you to make informed decisions with strong support and attention to detail to put your best case before the court.
amills@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Kate Atkins
Kate Atkins is a solicitor in Advoca, a specialist child and domestic abuse law division of Lyons Davidson. She is experienced in dealing with private law children matters, although she has a background working in, and sound understanding of, all other areas of family law, such as domestic violence, and international child abduction, having previously been a member of the Child Abduction team. Working alongside Iona and Hannah, Kate also assists with public law (childcare) cases.
"Dealing with clients in an understanding and sympathetic way during what can only be described as one of the most upsetting times of their lives is my number one priority. I work constructively with clients, listening to their needs and providing them with clear advice whilst being dynamic, in order to achieve the best possible outcome."
Kate is from Yorkshire and is a member of Resolution.
katkins@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Bernice Mumford
Bernice Mumford is an Associate in Advoca, a specialist child and domestic abuse law division of Lyons Davidson.
She specialises in children and domestic violence cases and is known throughout Bristol for her expertise in domestic violence matters. She is highly regarded for the clear advice and support that she gives to her clients in what is usually a highly emotional, stressful and difficult time.
"At times of great emotional difficulty people need clear and concise advice, followed up with prompt and considered action to achieve a result which is beneficial to them and their children. People suffering as a result of domestic violence especially need all of the above, plus a great deal of TLC - something which I pride myself on."
Bernice is a member of Resolution, the Family Justice Council and the Protection and Justice Group of Bristol Domestic Abuse Forum.
bmumford@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Sarah Comley
Sarah assists the Head of Department James Myatt.
Working along side James, Sarah works with clients to resolve their divorces and associated financial matters as amicably as possible and where possible without recourse to Court. She also assists James in his role as a Collaborative Family Lawyer and plays an active part in all other forms of negotiation between the Clients and their respective legal teams.
A member of Resolution, Sarah aims to provide support and reassurance to her clients at what is a very difficult time.
scomley@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Alice Harrington
Alice assists Philippa Morgan in dealing with international child abduction cases and other cases with an international element. Alice has an LLB (Hons), has volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau and is a member of Resolution
aharrington@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Rhianna Airey
Rhianna works within in Advoca, a specialist child and domestic abuse law division of Lyons Davidson. She specialises in domestic abuse matters and is fast gaining a reputation for the clear advice and support she offers to all her clients. She is an Associate Member of ILEX, having passed her Family Law and Family Practice exams in 2009. She is also a member of Resolution.
rairey@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Amelia Davey
Amelia is a Solicitor working in the Finance team under the supervision of Louise Higham. She is a member of Resolution.
adavey@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
Sabeena Pirooz
Sabeena is a Trainee Solicitor working in the Child and Domestic Abuse team under the supervision of Iona Phillips.
spirooz@lyonsdavidson.co.uk
John Lawley
John is a member of the family department's Finance Team, and specialises in divorce and ancillary relief. Having studied accountancy, John has a particular interest in cases involving private businesses and companies. He has worked on matters involving irregular accounting practices and cases where a spouse has attempted to conceal assets. He is a member of Resolution.
jlawley@lyonsdavidson.co.uk