Do you collaborate with other Solictors? At Keelys LLP we do.

Traditionally when couples separate they each take independent advice from their specialist solicitors. They work with their solicitor to try and reach an agreement as to how to settle their differences. In many cases with the help of Resolution solicitors couples can reach an agreement as to, for example, the amount of contact the children have with each parent and the division of the marital assets. In cases where the couples cannot reach an agreement it is then left to the family courts to make decisions on their behalf.

An alternative is for the couples to sit down with their respective specialist family solicitors in the same room, face to face, to discuss the issues and negotiate a solution. This is how Collaborative Family Law works but it can only be successful if the parties have a genuine desire for it to work and if the parties are open and honest with each other. By committing to the Collaborative Family Law approach the couple are agreeing that a resolution will be found without going to court.

You still benefit from having your own independent legal advisor, but you are in control without the threat of court proceedings hanging over you.

The collaborative approach is a fundamental change in the way that family law cases are dealt with and an alternative way of resolving the issues which arise when a relationship breaks down.

You may find the following websites useful for further information and guidance: www.cflg.co.uk and www.resolution.org.uk

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Family law team




Julie Slater-Williams
Family Law | Head of Department | Partner
Experience
Julie qualified as a Solicitor in 2005. She has specialised in Family Law all through her career, throughout Staffordshire and Cheshire. In 2015, she joined Keelys LLP. Julie is a Partner and Head of Department.
Practice Area
Julie has practiced family law throughout her career, qualifying in 2005. 
Julie has extensive experience of all areas of family law including divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, private law children matters, special guardianship orders, pre nuptial and post nuptial agreements and financial matters on divorce / dissolution. 
Julie has experience with high net worth cases including multi million pound assets, high value pensions and high value businesses.  She regularly liaises with top tier counsel in cases involving unusual elements and arguments relating to conduct and intractable contact disputes and implacable hostility in children cases. 
Julie is also a qualified collaborative solicitor.  She is trained to assist clients in settlement focused manner where this is deemed appropriate.  She has strong links with other collaborative solicitors. Julie’s ethos is to get to the heart of cases in as cost effective and stress reduced way as possible.  Where this is not possible, Julie will advise and litigate to contested hearings to ensure that the matters that need to be dealt with are done so as swiftly and thoroughly as possible to ensure the needs of the client are met.
Qualifications
Solicitor
Interests
Julie is a keen reader, traveller and enjoys spending time with her children doing fun things.
Phone:01543 420011
Email:jslater-williams@keelys.co.uk

Marie Bell
Family Law | Executive
Experience
Marie joined Keelys’ in December 2013.  She has over 18 years experience of working within a family law department.  Marie became an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (now known as CILEX Member – Paralegal) on the 1^st September 2009 and she obtained her certificate in family law in August 2011.  Marie is currently working towards her Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law to become an Advanced Paralegal, with a view to completing the full qualification in due course.
Practice Area
Marie specialises in divorce and the resolution of financial matters.  Marie also undertakes work in relation to separation agreements where unmarried couples were engaged and children proceedings.
Qualification
ACILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Out of work Marie enjoys the outdoors by volunteering on a Local Nature Reserve, walking and cruising the inland waterways on a narrowboat.  She also enjoys wildlife photography.
Phone:01543 420031
Email:mbell@keelys.co.uk

Julie Cox
Family Law | Family Lawyer
Experience
Julie has over 10 years’ experience representing clients in family law cases in addition to Court advocacy representation. 
Practice Area
Julie specialises in all private family matters, including divorce, judicial separation, dissolution of Civil Partnerships, cohabitation agreements and disputes, financial negotiations and settlements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, child arrangements and Injunctions.
Julie is known to have a pragmatic but empathetic approach and has a number of outstanding recommendations and reviews from previous clients. 
Highlights
International child relocation
Return of a child in a child abduction case
Successful defenses to Injunctions
Prevention of dissipation of international assets in financial remedy case
Qualifications
CILEX
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Phone:01543 420047
Email:jcox@keelys.co.uk

Nashmeen Malik
Family Law | Assistant
Experience
Nashmeen became part of Keelys Family team in June 2023 as a Matrimonial Assistant. Nashmeen has many years’ of experience assisting in relation to Family matter, Wills, LPAs, and Probate Law. In April 2023, Nashmeen successfully concluded her Paralegal Training and UK Legal System training at QLS Level 5.
Reporting to
Head of Family Law department: Julie Slater-Williams
Interests
Outside of the legal realm, Nashmeen is passionate about holistic healing, personal development, and spirituality. Graduating as a holistic life coach and Mind Body Practitioner in 2021, she finds delight in delving into literature on spirituality, neuroscience, and positive psychology, while also cherishing moments spent with her loved ones.     
Phone:01543 420041
Email:nmalik@keelys.co.uk

Collaborative Work

The collaborative approach is a fundamental change in the way family law cases are dealt with

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