Ciara Pugh

Specialisms

Ciara’s practice covers all aspects of private family law. She has a depth of experience as a family lawyer, specialising in financial remedy proceedings, arrangements for children, (including international relocation) and financial provision for unmarried parents and cohabitees. These issues often also have an international dimension or the involvement of competing jurisdictions, such as Portugal and Monaco. She has worked on many high-value cases that include complex issues such as non-matrimonial property, the valuation of business assets and tax issues

Ciara has represented clients in resisting and applying for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction to live abroad in Mauritius, Sweden, Norway and France.  Ciara has successfully obtained Emergency Orders to prevent a parent from relocating with the child. Ciara is also familiar with advising and representing clients in proceedings concerning financial provision for the children of unmarried parents.

The variety in Ciara’s practice reflects the breadth of her appeal. She enjoys representing professionals and homemakers alike and relishes the intellectual challenges that come with having a broad spectrum of clients.

In the event of litigation, she can represent clients in the Family Court.

Approach

Ciara is a dynamic, client-centric solicitor who is regarded for her friendly manner and putting clients at ease straight away.  She brings a wealth of experience to her clients to assist them in identifying their aims and goals and devising a clear and strategic path to obtain them by providing pragmatic and coherent advice. Ciara is adept at working with conciliatory and constructive methods of dispute resolution just as much as she is litigating proceedings when required.

Training & Employment

Ciara read Law and graduated with a First-Class Honours and Master’s in law from Northumbria University in 2016. Originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, Ciara has lived and worked in London since 2017 and qualified in 2019.

Ciara joined Stowe’s London office in early 2021 as a Solicitor. She was promoted to Associate Solicitor in 2022 and again to Senior Associate in 2023.

Notable Cases

Ciara has represented clients in resisting and applying for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction to live abroad.  Ciara has successfully obtained Emergency Orders to prevent a parent from relocating without the other parent’s consent/knowledge.

K v Y [2023] EWFC 262 (B) (30 November 2023), [2023] EWFC 262, [2023] EWFC 262 (B)

Accreditations, memberships and awards 

Ciara is recommended by the law directories as a key family lawyer, in The Legal 500 UK and is recognised for her efficiency and dedication: ‘Ciara Pugh is a complete joy to work with. Her briefs are concise and she has almost always gone above and beyond to get the full context for her clients. What is most enjoyable is just how efficient she is. There’s never anything too small and she accepts the limitations that inevitably come with some hearings. I have to do markedly less client expectation management because Ciara hasn’t promised them the moon on a stick, unlike many others of her level of experience’.

Ciara is a member of Resolution, a network of family law professionals committed to the future of family law and the constructive resolution of family disputes. As a member of Resolution, Ciara endorses an amicable and constructive approach to family law matters. She enjoys keeping up to date on new case law and changes to family law legislation.

Ciara is on the Board of Trustees of a Charity based in Essex called First Step who provide essential support and services for pre-school children with disabilities and their families.

Outside of Work

Ciara was a national chess champion and continues to enjoy a regular chess match. She was Queens University Ladies Champion – twice. She is passionate about history and travel and is an avid dog lover.