Family Solicitor on Hand to Help in Darlington

Posted: 6th February 2024

Growing legal practice, EMG Solicitors, has responded to demand for family law services in Darlington.

Daisy Hebblethwaite is leading the new family service at EMG Solicitors, from Coniscliffe House on Coniscliffe Road, ensuring clients from Darlington, North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley can access advice easily.

Gemma Holmes, Director within the family law team at the firm, explained: “We opened our Darlington office in January 2023 and quite quickly started to notice we were receiving an increasing number of enquiries for family advice. Although clients from the Darlington area had been meeting with us at our other offices, we wanted to meet the demand and extend our reach by having a family solicitor in the town.”

Daisy, who comes from Northallerton, has been qualified for seven years having reached masters level in law at university.

“I advise on all family matters including divorce, children, finances, pre and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements,” she said.

“The introduction of no-fault divorce in April 2022 has made divorce more straightforward for couples who can reach an amicable agreement which means that we can help them with the more complicated matters of finances, property and the care of children. In some cases, we can act for both parties and at EMG, we launched our new 1:2:1 service last year.”

Both Daisy and Gemma, along with all of EMG family solicitors, are members of Resolution and are committed to its code of practice that promotes a constructive approach to resolving family law matters as well as considering the needs of the whole family. The team also includes qualified mediator, Sue McArthur, to offer a full suite of services to clients. Across the region, the team is always keen to work with other professionals in such a way as to avoid litigation which can reduce costs and time for divorcing couples as well as promoting a more sensitive and amicable atmosphere throughout the proceedings.

“If we do have to move to court proceedings, we are very competent at that,” said Daisy, “but we do aim for a more collaborative approach to try and resolve disputes without the need for court. Our way of working is more cost effective, gets better results and means families are less disrupted.”

A mum of three, Daisy joined EMG Solicitors on returning to work after maternity leave. “I was ready for something different and it was a good opportunity to join a well-established firm with a great culture,” she said.

Gemma added: “We are very forward thinking in the way we work with separating couples and we are continuing to build on the strong connections we have with counsellors, mediators and financial advisers in order to support our clients. We’re delighted to have Daisy on board to support us with this.

“Most people don’t want to fight their way through divorce; they want to move away from hostility and reach agreements so they can move on with their lives and we can support them with that.”

Now a team of 13 colleagues, the firm’s family department is growing from strength to strength, operating from EMG offices across the North.