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PUNCH Robson Solicitors has increased its commitment to family law work with the promotion of two specialists to partner status.

Deborah Greenwood, who acts principally in public child work, and Clare Bailey, who specialises in divorce and relationship breakdown, have played a key role in establishing Punch Robson as one of the Tees Valley’s leading family law practices.

They are part of six-strong family law team at the Middlesbrough-based firm, led by Graeme Downs.

Deborah Greenwood qualified as a solicitor in Birmingham in 1996 and immediately returned to her roots on Teesside, working initially for legal firms in the Redcar area before joining Punch Robson in 2003. She specialises mainly in child protection issues, often when social services or the local authority are involved.

She says: “As a mother with a ten-year-old daughter, I find it easy to have empathy with the children and parents I represent, while my work in public child legal work involves me in another aspect of the profession I enjoy, namely advocacy.

“As a working mother, Punch Robson is an excellent company to work for, flexible and supportive, and I am delighted to have been made a partner.”

Clare Bailey qualified in 1999 and worked in West Sussex and Hampshire before joining Punch Robson. Her main field of work is divorce and financial matters and she is a member of Resolution and the Law Society’s Family Law Panel.

Clare decided on a career in law as a teenager after watching her grandparents prepare their will with the help of a solicitor - from Punch Robson.

She says: “I am proud to be part of family law team that is highly thought of within the profession in the Tees Valley area and beyond. The scope of expertise within the team easily rivals that of much bigger practices, while being smaller often makes Punch Robson more approachable and considerate.

“Family law is a highly emotive area of work, nowhere more so than ancillary relief in the wake of relationship breakdown, be it divorce or civil partnership breakdown, when the children are often the innocent victims. Emotions inevitably run high and it is impossible to completely detach yourself, but it is important that alongside the empathy you retain an analytical approach to the legal representation you provide.”

Established in 1877, Punch Robson is one of the region’s longest-established legal practices and in respect of family law is a member of The Law Society’s specialist panels - The Children’s Panel and The Family Law Panel - as well as Resolution and the Association of Lawyers for Children.

Its family law solicitors are based at all three of its offices in Albert Road, Middlesbrough, Parkway Centre, Coulby Newham, and Myton Road, Ingleby Barwick. The firm’s18 solicitors act for a diverse range of private and commercial clients in most other aspects of law, including accidents and compensation, civil litigation, conveyancing, wills, probate and trusts, and commercial law.

Managing partner Alan Mottram said: “The promotions of Deborah and Clare as partners in Punch Robson are well deserved and reflect the contributions they have made in gaining Punch Robson an enviable reputation in family law.”

For further information contact Alan Mottram on 01642 754050

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