Major Family has promoted two of its 14-strong legal team in recognition of outstanding recent work.
Family solicitor Sam Carter is now a Senior Associate, while his colleague Calvin Walker has been made an Associate. Managing Director Joanne Major explained:
“These promotions follow Sam and Calvin’s stellar client and litigation work and their overall contribution and commitment to the development of Major Family Law. Both appointments are richly deserved and recognise their success as senior members of the team. My congratulations to Sam and Calvin.”
Joanne founded Major Family Law, based in Ponteland near Newcastle, in 2009. She now manages a 26-strong team, including 14 specialist family lawyers. Joanne is especially proud of the many younger lawyers, like Sam and Calvin, who have joined the team in recent years.
Joanne explained:
“They are great representatives of the next generation of lawyers – and frequently represent their clients in courts across England and Wales.”
Sam Carter trained and qualified at a Central London practice before moving to the North East in 2017. He has built up a formidable reputation amongst clients and peers alike during his seven years in practice. Sam specialises in cases involving children and often undertakes his own advocacy, representing clients in court.
Sam has had many litigation successes while at Major Family Law. These include successfully representing a mother who had applied for permission to move to Spain with her children. This case took place at the height of the pandemic when a successful outcome seemed unlikely. Sam was also involved in a recent case in which senior High Court family Judge Mr Justice Mostyn issued a ruling clarifying the law on the ‘habitual residence’ of children – an important legal concept in many family law disputes.
He said:
“I took the decision at law school to practise in family law as a way to truly make a difference and support my clients. Although this area of law is challenging and demanding, it is equally rewarding to have the opportunity of helping my clients through what is commonly accepted to be some of life’s most challenging moments: family breakdown, divorce and separation”.
Sam added:
“I have been at Major Family Law now for five years and during that time I have seen the firm progress and expand to what it is today. We have a lovely team of dedicated and respected lawyers and a first class support team. Everyone here strives to give one hundred per cent to each and every client and case”.
Meanwhile, Calvin Walker has now been a practising solicitor for three years, following four years as a trainee and paralegal in the North East. He has amassed a broad range of legal experience, including disputes concerning children, care cases, divorce and financial disputes, which are his current focus. He particularly enjoys courtroom advocacy.
Calvin said:
“I’ve never been able to see myself practising in an area of law where there’s no obvious sense of justice being done. I gravitated towards family law in general, and matrimonial finance work in particular, because there’s a definite sense that what we’re pursuing is a fair outcome for our clients.”
He added:
“I am delighted to have been promoted to Associate. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Major Family Law this past 3 years and am grateful for the support, guidance and training I have received from such an experienced team. I am privileged to work for this leading family law firm.”
Major Family Law has earned a sterling reputation for expertise and quality service across the north of England and beyond. It is an ambitious firm going places.
Photo shows Sam Carter (left), Calvin Walker (right)