Why a child ’ s ‘ thank you ’ card meant so much to Punch Robson ’ s family team
LAW
Partner – Jenn Williamson at Punch Robson ’ s Ingleby Barwick office .
PART OF THE
PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH WORDS : DAVE ROBSON
FAMILY
Why a child ’ s ‘ thank you ’ card meant so much to Punch Robson ’ s family team
It was a complex case involving domestic abuse that took two-and-a-half years to conclude . But when Punch Robson Solicitors ’ head of family Jenn Williamson subsequently received a card from the child involved , it was confirmation of a job well done – it said simply , “ Thank you for keeping my home happy .”
A small but intensely powerful gesture – and one that , perhaps , sums up the importance of the tasks Punch Robson ’ s family team faces .
Jenn and family solicitor Mia Coultas deal largely with public law and private children proceedings – often where social services are looking to remove children from a family home or a parent wants contact with , or residence for , a child .
Paralegals Vicky Gibbons and Helen Daly concentrate on the matrimonial side of things , including divorce and finances . And helping it all run smoothly are Punch Robson secretaries Donna Carter and Sue Rhodes – the support team who have to deal with and reassure clients who are often going through some of the most stressful times of their lives .
But , Jenn admits , receiving the card after that recent case , which lasted more than two years , was the sort of moment that makes all the effort worthwhile .
She said : “ Things like that are really powerful and make me and the girls in my team think all the stress and everything that goes with our jobs is worth it .
“ We never usually get to meet the child the court is making orders about when we represent the parents , so it was lovely . And it was an exceptionally good outcome for the client and the child .
“ In terms of the sort of clients we ’ re dealing with , we get a lot of referral work from domestic abuse and mental health organisations – and some of the clients are , therefore , extremely vulnerable . “ While having to maintain that professional relationship with them , there ’ s an emotional side to it and you do become emotionally invested because you want the best outcome for your client . And when you do get that outcome , it ’ s a rewarding feeling .”
An established law firm on Teesside – its roots date back to 1877 – Punch Robson Solicitors has offices in Ingleby Barwick and Coulby Newham .
Its extensive services cover employment and commercial law , conveyancing , disputes , wills and probate , personal injury and more .
But few areas of law are as emotionally driven as matrimonial , children and domestic abuse work – and Jenn and her team always remember they ’ re dealing with people in sensitive situations .
Hartlepool-born Jenn , who joined Punch Robson in 2020 and became a partner a year later , said : “ We build up a relationship with a client and that ethos runs through the entire department .
“ In an ideal world , of course , a child should have a relationship with both parents , but only when that can be positive and safe .
“ Each day we ’ re having to deal with difficult situations and clients going through difficult times in their lives – but
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