New face in firm’s family law team

Dec 30 2009 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

LAW firm Dickinson Dees has strengthened its family law team with the appointment of Rachel Donald.

Ms Donald has joined Dickinson Dees from Jacksons of Stockton, where she specialised in family law. She also spent time working in Newcastle when Jacksons merged with Mincoffs in October 2008.

She joined Jacksons as a trainee solicitor after graduating from the University of Newcastle with a degree in law and after obtaining a postgraduate diploma in legal practice from the College of Law in York.

Ms Donald advises on all aspects of family law, including divorce and civil partnership dissolutions, the resolution of financial matters following separation for both married and unmarried couples, matters involving children and disputes concerning child maintenance, including appeals against the Child Support Agency.

Head of family law at Dickinson Dees in Newcastle and leading barrister, Ian Kennerley said: “I am delighted to welcome Rachel into the family law team.

“Rachel is a committed and talented young lawyer with a wonderful career ahead of her. Her recruitment adds further depth to our team of specialist matrimonial lawyers and increases the range of services we can offer to clients at all levels.”

Ms Donald, who was educated at Conyers School in Yarm, has acted for clients in a variety of cases including cross-jurisdictional maintenance claims and has successfully represented parents in the Social Security and Child Support Tribunals appealing against Child Support Agency decisions.

She said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for me. Dickinson Dees has a highly reputable family law team and it will be fantastic to work alongside acclaimed specialists in family law such as Ian Kennerley and Margaret Simpson.”

Her recruitment adds further depth to our team of specialist matrimonial lawyers”