The Legal 500 UK 2025 rankings are out, and it has been another great year for Stowe Family Law.
The Legal 500 UK is a leading legal directory. Its annual rankings are an independent guide to the best lawyers and law firms across the UK, used by professionals and clients alike.
Each year, the rankings reflect a detailed analysis of law firms. Based on a range of factors including detailed criteria and industry feedback, impartial researchers assess each firm. The only way to be included in The Legal 500 ranking tables is through merit.
Stowe success
This year, nearly 60 Stowe lawyers are mentioned by name in this year’s Legal 500 commentary for standout contributions to their respective practices.
These mentions represent the breadth of expertise within the family law firm, including Leading Partners, Next Generation Partners, Leading Associates (ex Rising Stars), as well as Recommended and Key Lawyers.
Stowe has been recognised across thirteen regions in the UK.
Achievements across the regions
Essex
Managing Partner Sebastian Burrows has been endorsed as a Leading Partner in this year’s Legal 500. Leading partner was previously Leading individual. This is awarded to the leading partners in their field, endorsed by peers and clients.
South East (Kent, Surrey, Sussex)
The South East region this year has retained its Tier 3 ranking in this year’s tables.
‘The team offers focused, practical advice which makes them stand out. They are excellent lawyers who do everything in their power to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients.’
Managing Partner Emma Newman has been noted as a Key Lawyer, known for her work on complex financial matters. She is joined by Team Leader Partners Gemma Thew and Niamh McCarthy.
Senior Associates Nicola Beasley and Harriet Donovan are also noted as Key Lawyers.
‘Niamh McCarthy is a skilled Partner, with a strong work ethic for her clients.’
‘They support their clients through an emotionally draining process and give good sensible advice.’
South East (Thames Valley, Berkshire, Oxon)
The Thames Valley team is hailed as ‘an excellent firm which provides a full range of expertise across the board’. They have achieved Tier 4 ranking this year, with ‘skilled and experienced lawyers who understand the complex issues the client goes through with their divorce.’
Gemma Davison is noted as a Key Lawyer, and described as ‘a very pragmatic and collaborative family lawyer.’ She is known for her niche in surrogacy and mediation.
‘Gemma is calm and forward focused working with clients to find the best process to reach outcomes to suit individual family needs. She is approachable and supportive.’
South East (Hampshire)
Stowe’s Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Fleet and Winchester offices are ranked Tier 3 in the region’s inaugural inclusion in the table. They are known for offering a ‘phenomenal service to clients’ and are ‘going from strength to strength’.
Managing Partner Liza Gatrell is a stand-out Key Lawyer, noted for her specialisms in both domestic and international surrogacy matters. She is joined by ‘brilliant solicitor’ Team Leader Partner Samantha Armour, her inaugural noting in the directory for Stowe Family Law.
‘Liza Gatrell has provided an excellent service. She has always sought to maintain a supportive, reasonable approach with the clear aim of resolving our matter.’
‘Samantha Armour is a brilliant solicitor. Her case preparation is very thorough, and she is focused on achieving settlement. Her approach is calm and pragmatic. She is a joy to work with.’
Partner Vicki Rawlins and Senior Associate Kate Anderson are endorsed as Key Lawyers for the first time. Vicki is noted as ‘a very experienced family lawyer’.
South East (Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx)
Senior Associate Sarah Scriven has retained her status as a Leading associate (previously called Rising Star). Leading associates have regular involvement in their team’s work and are ‘ones to watch’ as recognised by peers or clients.
North
Rising from Tier 4 to Tier 3 this year’s rankings, Stowe’s North team has seen great success, described as ‘Honest, fair, thorough, tactical and evidently experts in their field. Just brilliant!’
The North team sees two lawyers ranked this year, Hollie Murray and Sarah Crilly. Senior Associate Hollie Murray has again been recognised as a Leading Associate (previously Rising Star) and described as ‘fantastic’.
‘The process of dissolving my civil partnership was understandably stressful but Hollie made the process much easier and offered excellent advice throughout.’
For the third consecutive year, Partner Sarah Crilly has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner.
‘I have found the experience of working with Sarah Crilly very refreshing and positive. Outcomes can never be guaranteed in these situations, but Sarah has given me a service I would struggle to fault on every level. Excellent.’
Key Lawyers included in this year’s Legal 500 are Team Leader Partner Nicky Hunter and Senior Associate David Allen.
‘Nicky Hunter is a very skilled lawyer’ who ‘has the ability to explain the legal intricacies of the divorce process in ways that only a true professional could’.
‘David Allen is very dedicated, thoughtful and will go the extra mile for any client.’
East Midlands
Stowe’s East Midlands team has achieved Tier 3 ranking this year.
The team has been described as having ‘strength in depth with superb solicitors across all levels of experience.’
Managing Partner Beth Sheridan is noted as a Key Lawyer, described as a ‘key name’. Partner and Head of International Holly Lamb is a Key Lawyer, alongside Team Leader Partner Sarah Townsend.‘Beth Sheridan’s outstanding qualities and contributions to Stowe’s family team in the East Midlands sets her apart as a remarkable individual in the field of family law.’
‘Holly Lamb is certainly a stand-out partner, as she is extremely experienced, knowledgeable, efficient and capable.’
‘The team is responsive, knowledgeable, and thorough. They manage client expectations well.’
South West
The South West team achieved a Tier 3 ranking in this year’s tables, noted as having a ‘strong regional presence, and for a good reason’, with ‘a depth and breadth’ that is ‘hugely helpful to clients’.
‘A great firm providing excellent service to clients. Professional in their approach.’
Regional Director Louise Chipchase is endorsed as a Key Lawyer, alongside Team Leader Partners Amy Langford and Rachel Fisher. Partners Joanna Newton, Zoe Carter and Senior Associate Katy Jordan are also recognised as Key Lawyers.
‘Rachel Fisher is very experienced and good at dealing with clients who are having an emotional or otherwise challenging divorce. Joanna Newton is a hands on family practitioner who is warm and approachable.’
Wales
The ‘exceptional’ Wales team retained its Tier 3 ranking this year.
It is ‘a strong, experienced and efficient team with a wealth of knowledge and experience to deal with every twist and turn.’
The ‘truly brilliant’ Managing Partner Marjha Golding-Evans is endorsed as a Key Lawyer in the 2025 listings. She is joined by Team Leader Partner Lauren Roche.
Other Key Lawyers are the ‘exceptional’ Partner, Zoe Carter, Senior Associate Helen Hanson and Associate Abigail Jones, and Solicitor Hannah Curtis.
Helen, Abigail and Hannah are celebrating their first appearance in the Legal 500 directory this year.
‘Hannah Curtis delivers proactive support, facilitating smoother divorce process through collaborative efforts with financial planners.’
‘At Stowe Family Law, collaboration yields tailored solutions, simplifying the divorce process for clients and enhancing overall satisfaction.’
London
The London team has retained their Tier 6 ranking for the second consecutive year. They are recognised as ‘a safe pair of hands with a wide range of solicitors’.
The team is known for being ‘switched-on, highly knowledgeable and skilled at client-handling.’
Key Lawyers are Regional Director Jemma Slavin, Managing Partner Phoebe Turner and Team Leader Partners Rosanna Hounslow and Emma McMorrow.
Also recognised as Key Lawyers are Partners Samantha Farndale and Anna Clifton, as well as Senior Associate Ciara Pugh.
Samantha Farndale, Rosanna Hounslow, Emma McMorrow and Anna Clifton celebrate their first listings for Stowe Family Law in this year’s directory.
‘Emma McMorrow is capable, kind, and has an amazing ability to form a rapport from even the most difficult and demanding of clients.’
‘Samantha Farndale is stand out. She has excellent client skills and a very good feel for the right outcome which is key in such a discretionary area of law.’
‘Rosanna Hounslow has knowledge and a skill set far beyond her years. She is the go to person within her firm when others have questions.’
North West
North West team retained its Tier 3 ranking for the fourth year in a row, called ‘the best family law team in Liverpool.’
Team Leader Partner Matthew Taylor has achieved Ranked Status for the first time as a Leading Partner (previously Leading individual). Leading Partner status is awarded to the strongest partners in their field, who have been endorsed by peers and clients.
Managing Partner Helen Miller is a Key Lawyer in this year’s rankings and described as ‘amazing’.
‘Helen Miller is just amazing. The support and advice she provided throughout my case was exceptional. Her experience, combined with her professional but reassuring nature, immediately put me at ease and I had full trust and confidence in her approach and advice at all times.’
Nastassia Burton, Gabrielle Read-Thomas and Camilla Burton-Baddeley are noted as Key Lawyers for the first time this year, a fantastic achievement.
‘Gabrielle Read-Thomas is a fine lawyer with lots of experience’
‘Camilla Burton-Baddeley has been amazing throughout my divorce and finances…I could not have gone through this divorce without her compassionate nature and knowledge.’
‘Nastassia Burton has ability beyond her years and is capable of dealing with cases of the utmost complexity with skill.’
Yorkshire
The ‘wonderful’ Yorkshire region has retained its Tier 2 ranking again this year, described as being at the ‘forefront of family law’ and being ‘very proactive and excellent to work with’.
Key Lawyers endorsed in the rankings are Senior Partner Julian Hawkhead, alongside Regional Director for the North Rachel Roberts.
Managing Partners Sarah Barr-Young and Chris Birch are also noted as Key Lawyers. Team Leader Partners Shanika Haynes and Katie Kilburn, along with Partner Angela Sussens, Kate Sarsfield, and Senior Associate Hannah Ross are noted in the rankings as Key Lawyers.
‘The stand out individuals are Sarah Barr-Young and Angela Sussens. The practical advice delivered with empathy is extremely impressive.’
‘Rachel Roberts is straight forward and no nonsense and always give sensible advice to her clients.’
‘There are many great lawyers. Each of them has the same client focused approach and ensures that realistic advice is provided from the outset. They work well with other lawyers and provide a team approach throughout.’
West Midlands
Retaining its Tier 2 ranking, Stowe’s West Midlands team is headed up by the ‘hugely impressive’ Rebecca Calden-Storr, who provides a ‘caring and personal approach. Rebecca is a key lawyer in this year’s Legal 500, and is noted as being ‘extremely knowledgeable, conscientious and professional and at the same time helpful and caring.’
The team is described as going ‘the extra mile for their clients’ and endorsed for making their clients ‘feel as comfortable as possible without approaching court hearings’
Team Leader Partners Claire Cleary and ‘notable’ Sara Morton are also noted as Key Lawyers. Senior Associates Alice Price, Hannah Stubbs and Associate Chelcie Evans are Key Lawyers.
‘Rebecca Calden-Storr and Hannah Stubbs have excellent attention to detail.’
‘Alice Price is extremely experienced, knowledgeable, efficient and capable. Clients feel very assured that they are in the best hands when Alice is handling their case.’
‘Chelcie Evans is an associate who stands out for her excellent client care.’‘Rebecca Calden-Storr is hugely impressive; her manner inspires confidence and she delivers exceptional standards of service.
Claire Cleary is also very able.’