Chambers and Partners have released their 2025 Guide, and it has been another hugely successful year for Stowe Family Law.
Chambers and Partners is one of the UK’s annual legal directories. Over 70 independent research analysts conduct extensive reviews into the legal sector, across 78 specialist areas. The guide is used by professionals and clients alike to search for current and reliable recommendations.
We are thrilled to have 15 lawyers ranked, including 4 new names, across 7 regions this year, reflecting the exceptional client service, legal knowledge, and commitment to the sector of our lawyers. Three regions have been ranked, Yorkshire, East Midlands and the South West.
Congratulations to Managing Partner Beth Sheridan, and Senior Associate Florence Ashcroft-Lane, both ranked for the first time this year in the East Midlands. Senior Partner Julian Hawkhead, and Regional Director for the North Rachel Roberts, Team Leader Partner Shanika Haynes and Partner Angela Sussens, all ranked in Yorkshire. They are joined by Partner Charlotte Newman, ranking for the first time this year. Huge congratulations to Rebecca Calden-Storr, ranked for the first time this year, in the West Midlands.
Partner Sarah Crilly, Senior Associate Hollie Murray, are both ranked this year for the North East. Managing Partner Emma Newman has been ranked for The South region, and she is joined by Team Leader Partner Rachel Fisher and Partner Joanna Newton, ranked in the South West. Congratulations also to Managing Partner Helen Miller, and Team Leader Partner Matthew Taylor who are ranked in the North West.
East Midlands
Stowe’s East Midlands team has been ranked for the first time in this year’s Chambers guide, and achieved Band 2 status- a huge achievement.
Chambers said that the team “performed above and beyond; they were fantastic and always available when needed.”
“The advice clients receive from Stowe is practical, pragmatic and realistic. The team is full of talented lawyers and emotionally intelligent individuals.”
Sources say:
“They are knowledgeable and responsive whenever I need them.”
Huge congratulations to Managing Partner Beth Sheridan, who has been ranked in the guide for the first time, achieving Band 3 status.
Sources say:
“Beth is sensible and practical with her advice; she is also very personable.”
Beth is also described as “a pleasure to work with. She is knowledgeable and helpful whenever I have a query and she provides an excellent service to her clients.”
She is joined by Senior Associate Florence Ashcroft-Lane, who has been noted as an Associate to Watch, also appearing for the first time this year.
Sources say: “Florence is a diligent and well-prepared solicitor. She particularly excels in her collaborative approach and is very keen on putting together the right team to support the client.”
West Midlands
Congratulations to Rebecca Calden-Storr who appears in the rankings for the first time this year, ranked as Band 4.
Chambers describes Rebecca as having “wide-ranging expertise in both finance and children work, often acting for HNW individuals.”
Sources say:
“Rebecca is an excellent professional with a calm, consistent and logical approach.”
“I owe my happiness to Rebecca: there could not be a better solicitor in the world.”
North West
Two Stowe lawyers from the North West Region have achieved ranking status in this year’s Chambers guide.
Congratulations to Managing Partner Helen Miller, who has continued to be ranked as Band 4.
Sources say:
“Helen is diligent and thorough and provided amazing support and guidance. I had total confidence in her experience and ability, which she balanced perfectly with great client care and empathy.”
“Helen is really clever and her paperwork is impeccable.”
She is described as “excellent” and “not only knowledgeable but supportive and practical in her suggestions of how to achieve [my] desired outcomes.”
Congratulations to Team Leader Partner Matthew Taylor who has achieved Band status for the first time this year, improving from Up and Coming to Band 4.
Sources describe Matthew as excellent, saying that “He is really proactive, really on the ball and very good at what he does. Clients like him, he is very personable and he really gets the job done.”
North East
Congratulations to Partner Sarah Crilly who has been ranked as Band 3 for the second consecutive year. Chambers describes Sarah as being “well-versed in handling divorce proceedings and financial remedies for high net worth clients.”
Sarah is joined by Senior Associate Hollie Murray, who Chambers has ranked as an Associate to Watch for the second consecutive year.
Chambers said of Hollie that she “has growing experience in family law and regularly assists on a range of complex finance matters for high net worth individuals.” Congratulations Hollie!
Yorkshire
The team in Yorkshire has seen great success this year. Previously Leeds, Bradford and Surrounds, and York, Hull and Surrounds, the region is ranked by Chambers as Band 2, improving on Band 3 last year.
Senior Partner Julian Hawkhead maintains his Eminent Practitioner status – congratulations!
“Julian is a really good strategist and is always able to see the bigger picture with clients.”
Congratulations to Regional Director for the North Rachel Roberts who is ranked again as Band 2.
Rachel is described as having “great knowledge” and “is someone you can work well with even in the most stressful and complex of situations. She won’t inflame a situation as is very approachable.”
Partner Angela Sussens has been ranked as Band 4 in this year’s guide.
Sources say that she is “an excellent lawyer” and “exceptionally thorough, astute, savvy and very knowledgeable. Her input is exceptional and I am wholly happy to endorse her.”
“Angela’s knowledge is extremely good, as is the way she deals with clients.”
“Very good” Team Leader Partner Shanika Haynes maintains her Up and Coming status this year – congratulations Shanika.
Sources say:
“Shanika is personable, hard-working and has a good way with speaking with people from diverse backgrounds. She is a star of the future and has an abundance of different experience.”
Partner Charlotte Newman is a new addition to the rankings this year. She has joined the guide as Up and Coming, and sources say:
“Charlotte will be a top-level lawyer in the future. She is strategically good in cases and has a good level knowledge of the law.”
The South
Huge congratulations to Managing Partner Emma Newman for her outstanding achievement of being ranked as an Eminent Practitioner. Emma was previously ranked Band 2.
Sources say:
“Emma is a pragmatic and calming lawyer.”
“Emma is very able and competent.”
“Emma knows what’s important and she identifies and helps clients arrive at an outcome.”
South West
The South West region (previously Bristol and Surrounds) has maintained its Band 3 ranking.
“Stowe Family Law is a good all-round family law practice.”
“Stowe has a lot of extra resources that they provide their clients with and can bring in other services which are helpful for them.”
Congratulations to both Team Leader Partner Rachel Fisher and Partner Joanna Newton who Chambers have listed as notable practitioners.
Rachel has been ranked as Up and Coming, described by sources as “pragmatic” and having a “calm approach. She is great when looking at the bigger picture.”
“Rachel Fisher works tirelessly on all of her cases. She is incredibly responsive when they are things that needs to be done.”
Joanna Newton has been ranked as Band 3 in this year’s guide.
Sources say that she is “cost conscious, tactical and strategic.”
“Joanna has a really steady hand when it comes to high level finances.”
“Joanna is robust but relatable, firm but empathetic, realistic in the advice that she gives and really good at managing clients’ expectations.”