Cheryl Grace

Specialisms

Cheryl advises clients in relation to all aspects of private family law: divorce; finances; planning documents (pre and post nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements); cohabitation; and children.

Cheryl acts for a wide range of clients from homemakers to business people. She particularly enjoys working on financial cases involving trusts and non-marital assets, as well as leave to remove children cases. Cheryl has particular expertise in surrogacy and recently assisted a same sex couple in obtaining a Parental Order for their child born via a US surrogacy arrangement.

Cheryl also acts in cases involving financial provision for children and has represented both multi-millionaire fathers and fathers of more modest means, defending such claims brought against them. She is well versed in making interim applications and has recently applied for orders such as permission to re-enter the family home owned by the other spouse for the purpose of retrieving belongings, permission to stay the grant of Decree Absolute of divorce, and permission to witness summons third parties to a hearing.

Cheryl and her former colleague are believed to be the first family lawyers in England to obtain court permission to serve matrimonial finance proceedings via Facebook.

Cheryl is based in the firm’s Leeds family lawyers office and is actively involved in the local legal community. She is Press Officer of the West and North Yorkshire Resolution Committee and sat on the Young Resolution Committee prior to that, being the Chair in 2018. Resolution is an organisation of family lawyers who are committed to resolving matters in a non-confrontational, conciliatory manner wherever possible.

Cheryl has previously been involved in drafting marital agreements for multi-millionaires including a lottery winner.

Training & employment

Cheryl completed a Solicitors’ Exempting Degree at the University of Northumbria. She worked in an international law firm and a large regional law firm before starting her training contract at a regional commercial law firm in September 2010. Chery qualified as a family solicitor in September 2012. Cheryl is a Resolution Accredited Specialist Solicitor in Children and Complex Financial Remedies.

Approach

Cheryl is very thorough and has strong attention to detail. She encourages clients to take a pragmatic and cost proportionate approach. Cheryl is naturally empathetic and aims to put her clients at ease whilst she guides them through the legal process. Cheryl tailors the service she provides to suit her individual clients appreciating the different needs clients have. She avoids the use of legal jargon wherever possible so that clients understand the process and can make informed decisions. Cheryl focuses on building trust and forming solid working relationships with her clients.

Outside of work

Cheryl enjoys socialising with family and friends, training in the gym, and hiking. She has completed both the Yorkshire and National 3 Peaks.