Michelle Bowyer

Training & experience

I undertook an unconventional route to qualifying as a solicitor. I obtained my Business and Law degree from Solent University in 1995 and joined a leading South Coast firm as a trainee Legal Executive in 1996. I completed the ILEX course long distance whilst working full time and completed my exams in 1999, before qualifying as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 2001. I then attended Guildford School of Law on their part time/weekend course to achieve my ultimate ambition to qualify as a Solicitor in 2005.

I left the South Coast and returned to my routes in the Cotswolds, in 2004 and joined a busy family team where I worked for 8 years. Following a year on maternity leave, I moved to a multi-office practice in Wiltshire in 2014 and was promoted to Associate Solicitor in 2019 before taking over as Head of the Family Team in 2024.

I offer over 25 years experience in practising Family Law and remain as passionate and committed to this specialist area as I did when I first started in 1996.

Specialisms

I specialise in divorce and the resulting financial remedy proceedings, private Children Act cases, prenuptial and post nuptial agreements and advising upon and drafting cohabitation agreements and Deeds of Separation.

Approach

I am known for being a straight talker. I offer a no-nonsense approach to dispute resolution whilst contributing an empathetic and pragmatic approach to the legal issues I am faced with. I pride myself on adopting a non-confrontational approach to negotiations but will assert your position with tenacity both inside and outside of court.

I never forget that family breakdown is one of the most challenging experiences my clients will encounter and I will guide you through the process with honesty about the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and a promise to make it as painless for you, as possible.

Accreditations

I have been a Resolution Accredited Specialist in Advanced Financial Provision and private Children Law since 2010.

Outside of work

I am passionate about animal welfare. I volunteer as a Trustee for North Wiltshire and Newbury RSPCA which is a self funded branch with 10 shops and a wildlife rescue centre to oversee. I have 3 cats and a dog. I am a fanatical follower of boxing with my home office walls covered in boxing memorabilia and I have an unfulfilled ambition to pay homage to Elvis, by visiting Graceland. All of my pets are female but the next male animal my family adopts, will be called after the King himself.

I keep myself both sane and fit, by drumming and dog walking and any spare time is always best spent with my husband and daughter.