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Melanie Hamer
Melanie was one of the
original two partners in the firm in 1996 having qualified
as a Solicitor in 1989 with Eversheds, Cardiff. She is a
leader in her field in Chambers where the firm is in the
top band and she has considerable experience of big money
divorces.
Melanie has been a member of the Law Society’s
Childrens Panel since 1996, enabling her to represent children.
She was one of the first two solicitors in Wales to gain
entry to the Solicitors Family Law Association ( Resolution
) specialist panel.
Melanie is regarded by her peers as one
of the leading family law solicitors in South Wales. She
is legal adviser to Foster Care Group Wales; an associate
of the Lady Taverners; an active member of the local business
community.
She is regularly interviewed on
the radio about topical family law matters.
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Thea Hughes
After beginning her legal
career in Eversheds, Cardiff, Thea moved to head the family
department of a branch office of Hugh James, before joining
the firm as an Associate in 1997. She then became a Partner
in 1998.
Thea is considered by her peers to be
one of the best family lawyers in South Wales. Thea is able
to advise upon the breakdown of a relationship, whether
the parties are married or unmarried, and provides a well-balanced
viewpoint to achieve a fair outcome.
Thea deals with all aspects of family
law and is on the Law Society Family Law Panel. She specialises
in the financial issues arising upon separation/divorce
and has a wide breadth of knowledge and experience in this
area. She also deals with high net worth cases, including
cases involving lottery winners.
Thea regularly contributes to topical
news stories on the radio and tv.
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Rhian Howells
Rhian joined the firm in 2006 as a Partner.
Rhian qualified as a solicitor in 1988 and has been a member
of the Advanced Family Law Panel since 2002. She is also
a member of Resolution.
Prior to joining the firm, Rhian was a
partner and head of the Family Law Department in David &
Snape. Rhian is an Accredited Mediator and deals with all
aspects of Family Law.
Rhian has many years experience in dealing
with complex private Children Act cases and High Asset ancillary
relief work
Rhian is a member of the Vale Business
Women’s Network.
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Dianne Evans
Dianne joined the firm in May 2003. She
is one of Cardiff's most experienced wills and probate practitioners.
Dianne previously worked with two of the firm's partners
at Eversheds where Dianne was head of the Probate Department.
She is a founder member of the Society of Trust and Estate
Practitioners and a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.
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Tom Allen
Tom qualified as a solicitor
in 2001. Since 2002 he worked within the family law team of
Leo Abse & Cohen in Cardiff. He specialises in divorce
and ancillary financial matters and also deals with Children
Act cases.
He joined the firm in September 2006 as
an Associate and is a member of Resolution.
Tom regularly contributes to topical
news items on local radio and tv stations.
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David James
David qualified as a solicitor
in 1991 and has, since then, specialised in family law.
He has been an advanced member of the Law Society Family
Law Panel since 2002.
David specialises in all aspects of family and matrimonial
law to include divorce; financial matters ; cohabitation
disputes; all children issues ( including adoption ) ; domestic
violence issues.
Prior to joining the firm as an Associate in October 2006
David had been head of the family law department at Merrils
Ede, Cardiff for a number of years.
David is a Trustee of Relate Cymru and regularly attends
its board meetings to assist in policy decisions and the
development of Relate services through this all Wales organisation
David was previously involved in assisting the Cardiff Family
Contact Centre.
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Anna Weaver
Anna qualified as a solicitor
in 2004. She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2002
after completing her Legal Practice Course and Law degree
at Cardiff University.
She is a member of Resolution
and specialises in divorce, ancillary financial matters and
Children Act cases.
Anna regularly contributes
to topical articles in the local and national newspapers and
also is a keen fundraiser for both local and national charities.
Anna became an Associate
in the firm in January 2007
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Kate Edwards
Kate joined the firm in
September 2006. She qualified in April 2006 and since then
has specialised in family law. Her training was primarily
in family and social welfare law.
Kate has strong links with several local
Women’s Aid charities ( being Vice Chair of one) and supports
victims of domestic abuse. She regularly lectures on the
subject at a national level.
She also deals with other family law matters
undertaking contact disputes and divorce cases.
Kate is a keen and enthusiastic
fund raiser for charity.
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Jane Baker
Jane joined Wendy Hopkins
Family Law Practice as an Assistant Solicitor in the Wills
and Probate Department in September 2007.
Jane trained with John Collins & Partners in Swansea having
graduated from Cardiff University in 2004.
Jane gained a distinction in her Legal Practice Course. Jane
is a fluent French speaker and has studied in France. She
is a former pupil of Howells School, Llandaff, Cardiff.
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Lorraine Watts
Lorraine joined
the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in 2005 and qualified as
an Assistant Solicitor in the family law team in 2007. Lorraine
specialises in all aspects of family law.
She graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a law
and history degree and then travelled around South East
Asia and Australia on her year out. She attended law school
at the College of Law in Guildford, Surrey.
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Elizabeth Williams
Elizabeth graduated
from Exeter University in 2004 after having read law. She
then attended the University of the West of England to undertake
the Legal Practice Course, passing the same in 2005.
Elizabeth began her employment with Wendy Hopkins Family
Law Practice in 2005 as a trainee solicitor and qualified
as a Solicitor in 2007. She specialises in all areas of
family law which includes co-habitation, separation, divorce,
finances and Children Act matters.
Elizabeth is a fluent Welsh speaker.
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Nia Roberts
Nia graduated from Cardiff
University in 2003 having read Law and French. She also
studied at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne,
Amiens, France. Nia then undertook the Legal Practice Course
at Cardiff University, obtaining a distinction in family
law. She worked for two large law firms before joining Wendy
Hopkins Family Law Practice as a trainee solicitor in 2006.
Nia qualified in January 2008 specialising in all areas
of family law.
Nia has lectured at a national level on domestic abuse matters.
Nia is a keen swimmer and also enjoys tennis and rugby.
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Claire Cooper
Claire joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor
in September 2006 having graduated from Swansea University.
Claire trains in Karate and is a keen fund
raiser for charities.
Claire went to Whitchurch High School
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Adam Frewen
Adam joined the firm in September 2007
as a Trainee Solicitor having graduated from Aberystwyth
University.
Adam was educated at Llanharry Comprehensive
School and is a fluent Welsh speaker.
Adam is a keen rugby
and football player and he has previously participated in
a Welsh medium TV series.
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Eimear Kane
Eimear joined the firm as
a Trainee Solicitor in January 2008 having graduated from
Queen’s University, Belfast with a Law and Politics degree
and a Masters in Human Rights.
Eimear then undertook the
Legal Practice Course at De Montfort University, Leicester
obtaining a distinction in Family Law.
Eimear has a keen
interest in Music and Drama.
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