A South Wales law firm is celebrating after one of its young solicitors gained Law Society accreditation as an expert in children’s law and became a member of the specialist Law Society Children Panel.
This is the result of six years of hard work by Siobhan Downes, originally from Newport, who has worked for HardingEvans since she undertook her training contract with the firm in 2007.
Siobhan is now recognised UK-wide as an expert in children’s law which will assist her in her dealings with complex court proceedings involving vulnerable families and children. Siobhan is the second member of the department to become a member of the Children Panel.
Siobhan said: “HardingEvans has a thriving Care Department and has a long standing commitment to representing families and children who are involved with social services departments because of issues of neglect, emotional, physical or sexual risk. In addition, we regularly represent parents in disputes relating to contact with their children and residence issues.
“This recognition from the Law Society is the result of a great deal of hard work and I am very pleased that I will be able to better represent the children and families I work with.”
Vicky Walker, a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 2001 and Head of the Care Department at HardingEvans, said: “It is a huge benefit to the department and the firm to have Siobhan’s hard work and skill recognised in this way.
“At HardingEvans we believe that everyone is entitled to quality, specialist representation and Siobhan’s success means that our dedication to the task of representing families and children in times of great need is enhanced.”
HardingEvans is one of South Wales’ most progressive law firms, delivering a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals. The firm was recently recommended by Chambers 2014 in five practice areas and in 13 practice areas by Legal 500.