Nothing more important than family to Punch Robson legal team
There for you – Punch Robson ’ s family lawyers Katy Moody ( left ) and Jenn Williamson
T he Covid-19 pandemic put an enormous strain on so many areas of society but perhaps nowhere more so than its impact on family life .
In many cases , the national crisis resulted in financial pressures and heightened issues in relation to domestic abuse and break-ups . In other cases , the pandemic forced families to spend time together due to the lockdown and exacerbated underlying problems
Sometimes , the stocktaking on what was important in life led people to call time on relationships that were no longer working .
In contrast , many couples entering into long-term relationships or marriage wanted to make sure that they started off on the right foot legally .
Whatever the circumstances , Punch Robson ’ s family law department has been there to offer the best legal advice in each situation .
The long-established legal firm , based in Ingleby Barwick with offices in Coulby Newham , has offered advice to generations of Teessiders . But the company has also seen pandemicaffected changes of its own , including greater emphasis being put on its family law department , headed up by Jenn Williamson and Katy Moody .
Jenn and Katy arrived at the law firm last year as associate solicitors but such has been their outstanding work in a legal growth area that they were both appointed partners this year .
Jenn , who qualified in 2013 , primarily
WORDS : GRAEME ANDERSON PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
deals with private children , public children and domestic abuse matters while Katy , who qualified in 2016 , specialises in divorce and matrimonial cases .
The pandemic presented an influx of cases for the family department .
Jenn said : “ We saw a huge rise in childcare and domestic abuse proceedings throughout the pandemic as well as other divorce and matrimonial-related issues . But at the same time we were having to conduct meetings via Zoom and telephone , so you lose a lot of the human contact with the client which is often extremely important to them , during a difficult period in their lives .”
Katy pointed out : “ In some ways , people skills are almost as important
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