By: 16 June 2021
Switalskis recruits Sheffield-based family law team from Keebles

Switalskis Solicitors is expanding its South Yorkshire family and child care law department in a move that sees the Keebles Sheffield-based family law team join the firm.

Senior solicitor Joe Bartlett, solicitors Emily Abbey, Emma Stamp and Rebecca Crofts, paralegal Sarah Nixon, and secretary Julie Steade join the Switalskis South Yorkshire family and care team based at the firm’s office on Paradise Square in Sheffield.

They will work alongside Switalskis associate solicitor and child care specialist Jennifer Heckingbottom, who is relocating from York to Sheffield, solicitor Abigail Duffy, and family solicitors Toby Netting and Alison Kitchman. Together, they will form a nine-strong family and care team based in South Yorkshire, with the support of a further 21 family and care lawyers from across the wider Switalskis group.

Bartlett led the family law department at Keebles and said Switalskis is a natural home for the team: “There are very few firms that can offer the full range of family law services, whether acting on behalf of children or their guardians in care proceedings; victims of domestic abuse, dealing with high-net-worth litigation disputes; or using alternative dispute resolution methods such as collaborative family law and mediation to resolve issues between separating couples. Switalskis is one of those firms.”

“Switalskis’s team has an excellent reputation for family and child care law. There is also a genuine focus on client and staff welfare throughout the firm and a real dedication to clients, which is shared by my team. I am looking forward to working alongside such talented and respected solicitors.”

Ruth Coneron leads the Switalskis child care law department. She said: “I am thrilled to welcome the Keebles team to Switalskis. Adding Keebles’s respected lawyers, who are well known for their guardian work, and support staff to our existing team in Sheffield will enable us to significantly expand our care and family provision in the area.”

“I believe that by coming together we are creating a force to be reckoned with in South Yorkshire, and I’m looking forward to Switalskis being a significant player in the area for care and family services.”

The Switalskis group employs around 450 legal professionals and other staff in 14 locations across Yorkshire and is one of the fastest-growing law firms in the region.

Switalskis completed the acquisition of Doncaster firm Atherton Godfrey in January this year, and specialist York-based claimant firm Pryers in April.

Pictured: Ruth Coneron (front right, black suit) and Joe Bartlett (blue suit and green tie) with members of the newly formed Switalskis family and care team