Experience

MACINTYRE LAW

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Family Law (Consultant and Director)

  • Mar 2018 - Present



Elaine Foster Family Law

• Family Law Consultancy

  • Jul 2017 - Present

  Following my return to family law I was afforded the opportunity to evaluate what I enjoy most about my career in law, what I excel at and what I am and am not prepared to do. I have realised that my strengths lie in caring about my clients and in guiding them through the difficult process of divorce with a view to achieving the best possible outcome for them. Having made the choice to return to law, my next decision was whether to return to the world of employment, following someone else’s goals and plans, or to instead create my own practice where I could offer my clients the service I would wish to receive myself. I therefore decided to join forces with MacIntyre Law, an established and well respected law firm in Stony Stratford. I am proud to be affiliated with MacIntyre Law and to work under their umbrella as this allows me to practice the way I believe best serves my clients, whilst providing them with the protection of an established brand and of course the scope to utilise MacIntyre Law’s wealth of experience in other areas.I have the benefit of having trained under a first rate lawyer, and I can now bring those skills to my clients without the hefty City firm price tag. I have extensive experience in all areas of family law, particularly high net worth cases, with and without an international element. I have a keen interest in children cases to include child arrangement orders and leave to remove applications, and I am particularly keen to help those dealing with domestic abuse. I regularly work with other professionals to ensure my clients have access to a full range of support through the process, to include independent financial advice, counselling, guidance on pensions etc. I also advise on pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, deeds of separation.I am also a member of Resolution which means I follow a code of conduct which promotes a non confrontational approach to family problems.



Parrish Family Law

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice

• Family lawyer

  • Jul 2017 - Feb 2018

  My role at this well known, highly respected law firm was to assist with an existing case load, using my previous experience and expertise to provide high quality legal advice and to bring cases to the best conclusion possible for the clients. I undertook the full range of legal work expected at a specialist practice, to include drafting all necessary applications, statements and orders, advising on the law, representing clients at court etc. My time at Parrish was enlightening to me, as it taught me how to work flexibly to ensure I could continue to provide a high level of service to my clients whilst maintaining my own work life balance.



Ellie Ashton

• Network Marketing Professional

  • Jun 2013 - Jul 2017

  Having spent many years working as a divorce lawyer, I have a natural empathy and understanding of my client's needs. I have taken those skills learned during my career in law and am now applying them in a different way.Many people were surprised by my choice to move away from my full time career in law. However I had grown to realise that for all the good things my career had provided, it was actually robbing me of my most precious commodity... time. I needed to do something that was going to allow me to achieve my work life balance before it was too late. I wanted to have time to spend with my family, to enjoy my beautiful garden, to go to the gym, to holiday without worrying about work.So when I was presented with a business opportunity that offered all this and more I grabbed it with both hands. It has served me well, and allowed me to make choices as to where I work, when I work, and who I work with. That freedom is priceless to me. Running a network marketing business has sparked an interest in personal development and I have really enjoyed helping my team to gain confidence in themselves. I love that having taken the time out of my full time law career I am now in a position to return to my career with renewed vigour and energy, because I can now do so on my own terms. I have always been hard working and disciplined and the skills I have learned through my self employment will only stand me in good stead, as did my training in law. I now have choices. Something I did not have in the past.



HORNE ENGALL AND FREEMAN LLP

• United Kingdom
• Legal Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Family Lawyer

  • Aug 2014 - Aug 2015

  I was employed by HEF on a part time basis to cover a period of maternity leave. My duties were to run and maintain a full and varied case load of family law matters, to include high net worth divorces, pre nuptial agreements, applications under the Children Act and Leave to Remove cases. At the end of the contract I was invited to continue but my focus at that time was to build and further develop my own growing business.



Levison Meltzer Pigott

• Legal Executive - Family Law Specialist

  • Jun 1998 - May 2014

  I began my career as a legal secretary to the managing partner. I undertook the role with vigour, and enjoyed being the "right hand man", as it were. I undertook all the usual duties such as diary management, dealing with correspondence in and out, dealing with clients and counsel on the telephone, issuing simple applications to court etc. In time, my role developed to the point where I was assisting in a fee earning capacity, and as such I eventually went on to to qualify as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.My role as a lawyer involved all aspects of family law, to include high net worth matrimonial and property disputes, separation agreements, Tolata applications, pre and post nuptial agreements, Children Act applications and dealing with Leave to remove cases. Many of my cases involved jurisdictional complications and other complex areas of law. My approach to family law has always been to work hard to get to the heart of the matter in order to produce the best outcome for my client, whilst never forgetting that this is likely to be one of the most distressing things that my client (and the family) can go through. I therefore deal with all matters with a sympathetic and empathetic ear, but equally I do not shy away from giving firm advice where necessary. I believe this approach was part of my success in my career as a lawyer making me popular with clients and barristers alike.



Collyer Bristow

• United Kingdom
• Law Practice
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Legal Secretary/Trainee Legal Executive

  • Sep 1996 - Jun 1998



Fennemores

• Legal Secretary

  • Jan 1992 - Sep 1996