Experienced family law Solicitor Bridget Garrood has returned to The Family Law Company in Exeter – where she started her career over three decades ago.
She first came across the company when looking for work experience with a local law firm. Norman Hartnell had just set up his own company, and when she called, he was keen to take her on. Not long after, he invited her to be his first articled clerk.
Bridget remained with Norman for more than five years, going on to work at other local firms, including as a Partner for 20 years.
On her return after 28 years Bridget reflected that she’s come full circle: “This is something of a homecoming and it’s lovely that Norman is still very much at the heart of the company.
“There’s a real culture of positivity and everyone has been welcoming and supportive.”
Bridget is part of the Divorce & Finance team, having specialised for most of her career in the financial aspects of family law. She was one of the first to be accredited by Resolution in Pensions in Divorce, an entirely new specialism in the 1990s, and retains a strong sense of justice for women caught in the gender pension gap and became. She explained: “Prior to that, pension orders and pension sharing were not included in divorces, so it was good to be involved at this early stage.”
She was also an early specialist in cohabitation cases, a necessity for separating LGBTQ+ couples at a time when there was no recognition of single sex relationships. Her pension expertise was called upon during the consultation for the Civil Partnership Bill, when she became involved in law making. “The initial proposals would have produced negligible pension survival rights for civil partners, but we lobbied for this to be changed. MPs from all parties spoke up to support a crucial amendment which I had a hand in drafting. Several MPs came out as gay for the first time, so when it was passed, this was an emotional and proud moment.”
The same year saw the Gender Recognition Act of 2004, and since then Bridget has been privileged to assist many trans clients involved in family law issues. She has provided specialist client experience training to The Family Law Company for this complicated work.
With The Family Law Company growing its expertise in non-court dispute resolution, Bridget brings 20 years’ experience as a collaborative lawyer, helping clients to keep divorce and civil partnership dissolution out of the court, reducing costs and promoting respectful separation.
Bridget is balancing her new part time role with her work as a Family Law Supervisor, which involves working with lawyers on their own wellbeing and development.
Her first employer, Norman Hartnell said: “It’s a real joy to have Bridget back, this time with several decades of experience. She brings with her some really important, useful specialisms and deep understanding of complex situations, which we believe will benefit our client base enormously.”
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