Southampton: Clarke Willmott appoints new partner

The Southampton office of Clarke Willmott LLP has appointed a new partner to its family law team.

Sarah Wood-Heath joins the team and has many years’ experience advising on family law matters, and particularly on ‘modern family’ law, a new offering for Clarke Willmott.

Wood-Heath is one of the few lawyers in the UK who specialises in modern family and fertility law, helping clients build and create their families. She advises her clients on navigating the legal minefield that exists in areas such as surrogacy, fertility, donor conception and co-parenting arrangements.

Wood-Heath’s expertise also includes family breakdown, advising and representing clients through divorce proceedings, civil partnership dissolutions, co-habitation disputes and the associated financial negotiations, and settlement. She also specialises in disputes involving children.

Kelvin Balmont, head of the Clarke Willmott Southampton office, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sarah on-board especially with all the new and exciting expertise she brings with her.

“Her ‘modern family’ offering is very niche and completely new to Clarke Willmott. There are many ways to start or grow a family and family law has evolved rapidly in recent years to reflect this. Sarah will be on hand to assist clients through the process to parenthood as simply as possible, dealing with matters such as surrogacy, donor conception, adoption and fertility law.

“She also advises and represents clients in relationship breakdowns where there are children involved. Her work includes assisting clients with those arrangements and representing them in court if required. Sarah always has in mind the family as a whole and approaches her cases with sensitivity and with the welfare of the child at the forefront.

“Sarah is known for her practical approach towards her cases and for her empathy and understanding.”