Edward is a Senior Solicitor and the Head of our Newbury office.
Prior to joining KJ Smith in 2019, Edward trained at a respected local Newbury firm and has volunteered as a caseworker for the National Centre for Domestic Violence and as a trustee for a Mental Health charity. He has also worked for a national Family Law firm and a boutique Family Law firm specialising in medium to high net worth divorces.
Edward deals with all aspects of family law, including matrimonial issues, children law disputes, and disputes between unmarried couples.
One of Edward’s areas of expertise is representing clients who have difficult and combative spouses. In these scenarios, the divorce proceedings can be acrimonious, which quickly becomes costly. But Edward’s diplomacy and pragmatism smooth the path to a more amicable settlement. With robust yet practical communication, he keeps matters on track and costs under control.
Edward also has a particular specialism in resolving disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1997 (ToLATA). These are disputes between unmarried couples around the ownership of property, often assisting them to resolve disputes without recourse to the Court, with the benefit of expert advice.
Alongside his day-to-day legal work, Edward manages our Newbury office. As part of that role, he supports and trains junior colleagues in legal and soft skills. He is an emerging leader of the business and supports his colleagues by giving them the tools to succeed in their careers.
Q: What’s the most interesting item on your desk right now?
A: A drink coaster with a picture of an otter in a tie at a business meeting
Q: Outside of work, what are your hobbies and interests?
A: I love the outdoors, be it kayaking down a river, hiking through Scotland, or a dog walk through the countryside. Combining that with reading a good book outside on a sunny day is a perfect day!
Q: Who would be your dream dinner party guests?
A: My ideal guests would be Sir David Attenborough, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Ben Fogle, and Sir Michael Palin. All have led some incredible lives, had amazing experiences, and have a wonderful sense of humour. I can imagine that we would have some fantastic conversations over dinner and long into the night!
We’re recognised by the Legal 500 as a Leading Firm in a number of practice areas. That means that an external, objective body has scrutinised our competency and client reviews, and found us to be one of the top family law practices in the UK.
Our lawyers are members of Resolution, so we are committed to a Code of Practice which promotes a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family.
