Family Lawolicitors Guildford

Our People

Lynn Child LL.B
Partner and Family Law Solicitor

A law graduate from Warwick University, Lynn completed her legal training in London. She has specialised in family law work for more than thirty years and is the head of the family law team at Wheltons, dealing with the more complex cases and, in particular, resolution of the financial issues arising on divorce or separation.

Lynn is a member of Resolution (formally the Solicitors Family Law Association) and has been a trained Collaborative Lawyer since 2005. Along with colleagues Julie Watts and Pamela Horner, Lynn is an enthusiastic supporter of the Collaborative Law approach in appropriate cases as a means of resolving issues without resort to legal proceedings. This is a growing area of practice and the feedback from clients whose cases have been dealt with in this way is extremely encouraging.

l.child@wheltons.com

 
Julie Watts LL.B
Partner and Family Law Solicitor

Julie studied at Brunel University and the College of Law in Guildford. After being admitted in 1994 she was an assistant solicitor at a firm in the West End of London dealing with family matters and white collar fraud. Following a break in her career she joined Wheltons in September 2000; she is now a partner in the firm practising solely in family law.

Julie advises on all aspects of family breakdown, particularly financial disputes on divorce and children matters including contact and residence applications.

As a member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) Julie is committed to their code of practice, which advocates promoting a non-confrontational resolution of disputes, which is constructive and cost-effective. To further underline this approach Julie trained as a Collaborative Lawyer in March 2005.

j.watts@wheltons.com

 
Claire Fountain
Partner, Conveyancing and Wills & Probate Solicitor

SRA number: 211134

Claire qualified as a Solicitor from the College of Law, Guildford in 1999, having already been part of the team at Wheltons since 1991. She started her career as a Legal Executive and was a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.

Now with over 20 years experience in residential property work and wills, will trusts and probate, she heads up the conveyancing department at Wheltons and also works closely with her colleagues in the family section of the firm implementing agreements and orders relating to property/mortgage transfers on divorce and separation.

Claire is a part time lecturer at Guildford College on conveyancing practice and land law. She is a member of the Association of Women in Property and has passed the CQS standard as supervisor for the Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

c.fountain@wheltons.com

 
Pamela Horner BA, LL.B
Consultant – Family Law Solicitor

Pamela was a languages graduate before taking up a career in company commercial law for a large multinational pharmaceutical company. During a career break she completed a law degree and qualified as a solicitor, working in Weybridge for Guillaumes, and becoming a Partner in 1991. She specialises in family law and headed the litigation and family department until 2009 when she became a Consultant. As a Consultant she continued to look after her own clients in both financial and children aspects of relationship breakdown.

She is a long standing member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association) and is accredited by the Law Society as a specialist family lawyer. She has known Wheltons and Senior Partner Lynn Child for more than 20 years and is delighted to have joined them as a Consultant in July 2011. She was particularly attracted by the emphasis on looking at clients as individuals and recognising them as having unique needs and aspirations.

As a Collaborative lawyer she shares with her colleagues a desire to resolve issues without commencing legal proceedings in appropriate cases and also welcomes the non-confrontational approach relating to all aspects of matrimonial law and in particular in respect of children matters.

p.horner@wheltons.com

 
Jane Bell F.I.L.E.X
Family Law Legal Executive

After a progressive career in the retail industry, Jane decided to return to her studies in 1993 to embark on a career in law. She graduated as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in 1998 and excelled in a number of subjects passing many of them with distinction.

Thereafter, Jane gained wide experience within the family law field both locally and in London where she was part of an expert team dealing with international children law, including abduction and inter country adoption.  Jane also undertook a large proportion of public law work (care proceedings) and private law proceedings relating to residence and contact dispute and applications for permanent relocation.

Jane joined the Wheltons’ family law team in 2005 where she advises on all aspects of family law with particular emphasis on complex children issues, undertaking both private and public law children work as well as divorce and finance.  Jane is a member of Resolution and is a Resolution Accredited specialist in Advanced Financial Provision I, Children Law (Private) and Financial Provision for Children.

j.bell@wheltons.com

 
Lora Clark F.Inst.L.Ex
Legal Executive Advocate

Lora has over twenty years experience in legal practice and has been part of the legal team at Wheltons since 1998. She deals with all aspects of family law including all private and public law, children matters, ancillary relief and other family related issues as well as contentious probate situations and claims under The Inheritance (Family and Dependents) Act 1975.

Lora is also a Legal Aid specialist and Representative for our contract with the Legal Services Commission, and has obtained extended rights of audience in Family Proceedings which enables her to conduct family proceedings in all courts.

Founder and original chairman of Guildford and District Branch of the Institute of Legal Executives, Lora is now the Branch Secretary, looking after a large and thriving membership.

l.clark@wheltons.com


 
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Wheltons Solicitors | 162 High Street | Guildford | Surrey GU1 3HN | Tel: 01483 537633 | Fax: 01483 576454 | DX: 2419 Guildford 1