Since my early days as a family lawyer, I have seen time and time again, family law being practiced as a tick box exercise. Clients are all too often denied the supported opportunity to negotiate an acceptable solution to the crisis they are currently facing, creating a poor experience and often an unsatisfactory outcome.
I joined the British Army, Infantry, at the age of 16 years. On the day I reported for duty, my commanding officer told me that he would break me. I just smiled at him. Nine months later I fell to the ground, exhausted, laying there in the rain, beaten but not defeated. My comrades picked me up and looked after me. I am a soldier and a fighter, I never quit. These are the principles I apply to my professional duties as a litigation lawyer, and which are embedded in the ethos of Fullers Family Law.
After leaving the Army my life lacked direction and focus, making poor decisions as I bounced from one situation to another. It was while I was living on the Isle of Dogs in the heart of London’s East End - trying to make some sense out of my circumstances - that I became interested in criminal law. I had signed up to a work program, colloquially known as “working for dole”. They arranged for me to attend an interview as an “outdoor clerk” (post boy) with a local law firm. On 12 February 1988, I began my career in law.
Being dyslexic with no academic experience I initially found it impossible to pass the exams. After three years at night school, I passed my first exam. Entering law was a life saver for me, learning how to study, answer legal problems and pass exams was exciting and empowering. Embedding my philosophy that you can have whatever you want in life, if, but only if, you really want it.
Having qualified as a solicitor, I took some time out. I purchased a 20-year-old camper van and drove to India, exploring Eastern Europe and the Middle East along the way. From India I backpacked to Beijing via Laos and Vietnam. Traveling independently gave me an opportunity to integrate and learn about different cultures first hand. The experience was not without complications, being a stranger in another’s land puts you at a distinct disadvantage. However, I came to understand that wherever you are in the world: it is never the problem; but the solution that counts. And you must find a solution to every situation because conflict can and will escalate regardless of who is right or wrong. This solution-based approach has followed me throughout my life and career.'
I founded Fullers Family Law in 2003, to provide client focused support to anyone experiencing relationship breakdown and all that that entails, with the knowledge that I and my team will always deliver unwavering, trustworthy, and unfailing advice and representation to them throughout.
Fullers is successful because we first understand your problem before focusing on the solution. Then and only then do we construct the tactics to achieve the required outcome. Negotiation is always designed to suit the situation. Negotiation is about persuasion and diplomacy; it is intuitive and contrary to litigation it is always about mutually acceptable solutions. Whilst litigation is always about winning, it can also assist the negotiation process.
As an experienced trial lawyer, negotiator, mediator, and collaborative lawyer, I know how to help clients identify the problem and formulate an effective strategy to achieve their preferred outcome, avoiding the default position of just “meeting in the middle”. It is this strategic approach to family law that underpins our success making Fullers the family law firm of choice and has seen us grow into one of the largest private family law firms in the country. In addition to managing the direction and growth of the firm, I remain a practicing solicitor, regularly advising on strategy and tactics, selecting the team, formulating strategies, and directing the case to achieve our clients’ objectives.
At Fullers we like to embrace and enhance lateral thinking, as a team we have a wealth of experience in a wide range of private family law situations. We have collective expertise and experience that covers the straightforward to the complex, including children, domestic abuse, and financial matters up to and including multifaceted high net worth, with multiple business interests, property portfolios etc.
I am very proud that everyone at Fullers is committed to continually improving their expertise to ensure we provide an outstanding bespoke customer service, strategies, and legal advice, to suit your individual requirements which is the very core of our company values.
If you are facing or considering legal action, please contact us for an initial consultation. Whether you opt for a free consultation or one of our fixed price consultations you will not be disappointed. To demonstrate my confidence in Fullers I guarantee you a full refund, no questions asked, should you opt for a paid consultation in respect of negotiation, strategy or conflict management and leave feeling less than satisfied.
Our highly qualified lawyers are members of Resolution, working to their code of practice, encouraging sensitive and cost-effective solutions that consider the needs of the whole family, including the interest of any children.
We have offices in Bedford, Milton Keynes and are currently looking to relocate our office in Northampton. We also have offices in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk and London.