Role at Major Family Law

Already an experienced family-law solicitor of many years’ experience, Lewis joined Major Family Law in Spring 2016 as a consultant working on cases in the South East/Surrey as well as remotely for their North East clients. Having trained in mediation in the 1990s and worked as a mediator alongside his work as a solicitor, he is well-placed to advise on resolving disputes outside of the court process and alongside mediation.

Lewis has a wide experience of family law, but particularly dealing with matrimonial finance, including property, pensions and family business issues.

As well as being able to explain the application of the law to his clients in ways they can understand, drawing on real-life examples, he is regarded as approachable and unfussy. His skill at turning amicable agreements into binding settlements without damaging what can be a fragile peace between separating people is recognised by his colleagues as a particular strength as well as his accuracy of expression.

In addition to domestic financial arrangements, Lewis also has experience of trans-national finance, multi-jurisdictional divorce and children cases. Lewis also advises on TOLATA claims between unmarried couples and advising on Schedule 1 proceedings when there are children.

Lewis is flexible and appreciates that the traditional ‘all or nothing’ role of representative does not suit every situation and is willing to accept a limited retainer. With his considerable experience he can explain what appears to need to be done and if instructed can just “do what is actually needed”. Lewis is happy to give paid advice to assist Litigants in Person with specific or unusual family law queries, assist in drafting statements, give advice regarding proposals for settlement or offer a second-opinion/explanation. Particular pieces of advice or drafting can be carried out at an agreed fee, rather than being appointed on an open-ended hourly rate retainer.

Email Lewis

Expertise

As part of law reform, Lewis was invited to assist with the ongoing work of the Pension Advisory Group as an experienced family law practitioner and has been involved in several books on law, practice and precedent – his work finding its way into The Law Society’s “Family Finance Toolkit”. As an experienced solicitor, part of his consultancy portfolio has been involvement with training and working as an assessor with such institutions as the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILeX) who provide an alternative route to legal practice.

Lewis is regarded by both his peers in the Southeast and his longstanding client base as being a straight-talking, perceptive Family Lawyer who adopts a pragmatic, yet principled approach in all family matters.

Outside of work

Lewis has a wide variety of interests, having been involved in community theatre as writer, director, performer and organiser, been a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers, founded both a Community Mediation Service and football supporters trust and immersed himself in high art and popular music.

Lewis qualified in 1988.