“Jacqueline always prepares thoroughly and provides firm and comprehensive advice. She is an attentive and impressive advocate.”
Legal 500, 2025
About
Jackie’s career as a barrister and mediator has spanned over thirty years. She has sat as a deputy district judge in the family court since 2005 (having been appointed to the Principal Registry of the Family Division). Jackie has also trained as psychoanalytic psychotherapist. She sees patients weekly through an NHS resource. Jackie’s busy family law practice focuses upon family finance cases and private law children disputes. She is regularly instructed in challenging and complex cases. Her unique insight as a deputy district judge, and because of her psychotherapy training, provides an understanding of the complex practical and emotional issues that underpin many cases. Jackie recognises that following the breakdown of a relationship both halves of a couple are faced with an overload of uncertainty and feelings of betrayal and abandonment and fear for the future are common.
Jackie is a qualified mediator and sits as a private FDR judge.
Experience
Jackie began her career in common law, being regularly instructed by the newly formed Crown Prosecution Service, where she learned to think quickly on her feet. She was drawn to family law and found her niche in dealing with cases involving families facing emotional trauma and the need to secure their financial future.
In financial remedy cases Jackie has a vast amount of experience in dealing with the full range of financial issues engaged on separation, including matters involving complex financial structures, third party claims and overseas assets. Jackie balances her commercially minded approach to the fair distribution of assets whilst keeping in mind that where and how to live, following the end of a relationship, is often the cause of anxiety and fear to parties. She is regularly in demand for cases involving medium and high net value assets.
Jackie undertakes all forms of section 8 Children Act proceedings, including leave to remove permanently from the jurisdiction. Jackie recognises that the end of a relationship can lead to anxiety and conflict about child arrangements, that sometimes has more to do with the ending of the parental relationship, than what is in the best interests of the children.
Jackie makes a point of being available and responsive to queries involving cases management decisions. In all her cases Jackie manages client’s expectations sympathetically and adroitly. She immerses herself in the detail and provides firm and comprehensive advice and attentive service.
She is noted for her thorough preparation and robust advocacy. Seeing Jackie in action in court has been described as a “masterclass in cross-examination”. Clients benefit from her well-informed decisions and strategic approach in negotiations. She works tirelessly to secure the best possible outcome for her clients.
Jackie is a trained mediator. She has gained significant experience whilst sitting as a deputy district judge in the family court in managing dispute resolution. Her psychotherapy training also gives her an understanding of the complex dynamics that can be at work between parties, following relationship breakdown, that can be an obstacle to successful resolution.
Jackie can accept instructions on a direct access basis.
Practice Areas
Finance and Private Client
Dispute Resolution
Private Law Children
Education and Professional Memberships
BA (Hons) Law 1983 Manchester Metropolitan University
Diploma in Psychology 2012 Open University
Family Law Bar Association
Middle Temple
Appointments
Jackie was appointed to sit as a Deputy District Judge in the Principal Registry of the Family Division in 2005.
Testimonials
“Jacqueline always prepares thoroughly and provides firm and comprehensive advice. She is an attentive and impressive advocate.” Legal 500, 2025 Ranked: Tier 4
“She has a quiet authority and has the ear of the judge in court.” Legal 500, 2024 Ranked: Tier 4
