In what is a remarkable achievement, Stephens Scown’s Family team has been shortlisted across four categories in the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 2024.
The four categories recognise the outstanding quality of work being undertaken by the team, with one lawyer highlighted in the Young Solicitor of the Year category.
In what is a hugely competitive field, the awards celebrate the best family law firms and individuals from across the country. To have been nominated in four areas is a real demonstration of the team’s strong offer and accomplishments over the last year, and cements Stephens Scown’s position as a regional heavyweight.
The team is shortlisted for the following awards:
- Family Law Firm of the Year – South
- Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year – Megan Eaton
- Family Law Legal Support of the Year
- Family Law Workplace of the Year
Summing up what the awards means, Andrew Barton, head of the Family team, said, “The LexisNexis Awards are the who’s who of family law. To receive shortlistings in not one but four categories is spectacular and is a brilliant badge of honour for the entire team and something for us all to celebrate.”
Partner Sarah Walls said the nominations were, “Great news. Well done to everyone, I’m so proud of the team,” and Sarah Atkinson, Partner and head of the firm’s Family Finance team said, “This is exciting recognition for our team as a whole and reflects our dedication to our clients and colleagues. Congratulations to Megan in particular!”
With the team ranked in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide for its work handling complex and high-value financial remedy work and the only Family Law team in the region to be top-ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners independent legal guides, the shortlisting for Family Law Firm of the Year – South and Family Law Legal Support of the Year further shows the expertise of the 50 strong team and the efforts they are making to deliver outstanding client service, including the development of innovative solutions to family matters. Specialising in both Family Finance and Children matters, both nationally and internationally, the team offers a broad range of services to support clients through what can be highly emotional times.
Megan’s nomination for Young Solicitor of the Year is also deserved recognition for her brilliant client work. This has included securing a place in a refuge on Christmas Eve for a client who was a domestic abuse victim, and assisting a client in securing an emergency prohibited steps order with a turnaround time of 24-hours from meeting the client to receiving the order from the court. She has also opposed an Improving Child & Family Arrangements (ICFA) report so strongly and against usual protocol, that she convinced the court to call the service provider to give evidence at a final hearing, which resulted in Cafcass dropping the specific provider from future use. Her campaigning meant the process became fairer for parents, which in turn leads to the most informed and correct outcome being achieved for the children who are impacted.
Andrew added, “This is no mean feat and something of which she, the team, and the wider firm should be extremely proud. Really well-done Megan!”
Speaking about her nomination, Megan said, “Thank you to the team for putting me forward, it’s my first shortlisting and I’m feeling very grateful.”
Finally, the shortlisting for Workplace of the Year Award recognises the unique ethos and culture at Stephens Scown, built on the foundations of placing wellbeing at the heart of decision making, empowerment through its employee-owned structure, sustainability credentials through its B Corp™ accreditation and dedication to providing a supportive and outstanding place to work, as one of the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work.
With the ceremony scheduled for the 20 November, here’s to hoping for a successful night and to bringing home a slew of well-deserved trophies.