Harrogate Family Law is 8 today! To mark this milestone our Managing Director and the Firm’s founder, Andrew Meehan, has been asked his thoughts on the last 8 years and what the future holds for Harrogate Family Law.
What is your background and why did you choose to specialise in family law?
I qualified as a solicitor in 2001. My father was also a solicitor. I chose family law because I wanted to work in an area of law which really helped people. When people first come to see me they are often at a very low point in their lives and it is very rewarding helping them take back control and move on with their lives. My parents are divorced and so I am, so I know first-hand the impact of divorce.
Were you worried about starting a practice dealing only with family law?
I knew there was a gap in the market for a niche family law firm which provided a truly specialist and bespoke client service. I had been working for a large Leeds firm in which family law was only one part of what they did. The draw-back of this is that any additional advice or help outside of family law issues has to accessed within the firm irrespective of whether this is best for the client. I wanted to work differently.
At Harrogate Family Law we have a network of other lawyers who are leaders in their fields too who we can call on when the need arises and we know that our clients are getting the best possible service.
Has everything gone to plan over the last 8 years?
In any business there are setbacks from time to time but fortunately these have been relatively minor and the firm has grown as I intended and we have a great team of knowledgeable and compassionate lawyers.
We achieved recognition and accolades in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 shortly after the firm started and have maintained these ever since.
This year we were shortlisted for Niche Practice of the Year at the Yorkshire Legal Awards which is a proud achievement because this is assessed by our peers.
What would you say makes Harrogate Family Law stand out?
We go out of our way as a firm to get to know our clients and understand their needs. We have a fantastic group of people, not just our approachable and highly skilled lawyers, but also our team in the back office who provide support to our clients.
Anyone who has a worry about family law issues can call us and speak to someone who genuinely cares and understands what they are going through. They will be looked after and supported from day one and helped to make the best choices for moving on with their lives.
Do you only deal with separation and divorce?
We help people at all stages of their relationship. We can assist with planning for a relationship with living together agreements or pre-marital agreements. We can help with planning for inheritance or taking over a family business and ring-fencing those assets in the event of a separation. The law for separating cohabitees is different for married couples and we have specialist accreditation in those cases as well as for complex financial cases following divorce. We also help with issues over child arrangements on or after separation, including relocation.
What does the future hold for Harrogate Family Law?
We have a great close-knit team. Our vision is to prioritise the quality of our service to clients rather than the size of our firm. This means recruiting only the very best solicitors who are few and far between.
We just want to continue doing what we do in the very best way for our clients.
If you would like to talk to Harrogate Family Law give us a call on 01423 594680 or go to our website www.harrogatefamilylaw.co.uk.
Andrew Meehan is an experienced family lawyer specialising in complex divorces involving significant or hidden assets, as well as cases involving children.
He is recommended for family law by both Chambers 2019 (York, Hull and surrounding regions) and the Legal 500 2018 (Leeds/West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire region).
Everyone’s circumstances are different and this article is provided by way of general information only and must not be replied upon. If you require legal advice on a family law issue, please feel free to contact us by emailing enquiries@harrogatefamilylaw.co.uk.
