Purcell Solicitors Team
Meet Our Specialists
More About Our Team
I am an experienced Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, having specialised exclusively in family law for over 30 years. I have considerable expertise in high-value financial cases with a particular interest in businesses and pensions. I have been a member of Resolution for many years and am committed to helping you, my client, reach an agreement if possible, using my experience and skills. Always focused on what is best for you.
If an agreement cannot be reached and Court or family arbitration proceedings take place, I will robustly represent you in these. I have lectured in Family Law at Buckingham University for the part-time undergraduate law degree, which was a privilege and pleasure as this is where I undertook my law degree many years ago.
I am a keen football fan and regularly attend Premier League games and enjoy singing.
I have been ranked as a Band 1 “Notable practitioner” in the Chambers & Partners UK Guide for several years. Here, I am described as “a pragmatic, diplomatic, and professional individual who still keeps that personal touch to her business in very emotional situations”, which I am very proud of. Looking after you, my client, and the people I work with is extremely important to me.
The most recent research for the 2025 Chambers and Partners Guide describes me as “incredibly astute and excels at getting to the heart of the issue”; “robust and frightening clever” and ” a rock and massive support to me throughout the case”.
I am also listed as a Leading Lawyer by Wiselaw from independent research.
Mandi is a Family Law Solicitor and a Director of the firm. She has over 25 years of experience in Family Law.
Mandi became a solicitor thanks to one of her lecturers recognising her talent and suggesting she do a law degree. She now specialises in all aspects of family law, including divorce, financial settlements, children, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and non-legal aid domestic abuse cases.
As well as acting as a Collaborative Lawyer, Mandi has extensive experience in advising and representing clients in family law proceedings. She is ranked in Band 2 in Family/Matrimonial in the Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2026. She has been described as “meticulous and very thorough with her preparation” and as “incredibly competent and genuinely a delight to work with.. provides spot-on advice”
When advising clients, Mandi is a careful listener who explains matters straightforwardly and truthfully. She helps clients understand that no two cases are the same and that the law must be applied to their specific situation. She is passionate about ensuring her clients know what to expect and have the support and encouragement they need to negotiate their futures calmly. However, if court action proves inevitable, she has the knowledge, tenacity, and sheer intelligence to prepare her clients’ cases strategically and persuasively.
Notable Cases
Mandi advised, Z (Embryo Adoption: Declaration of Non-Parentage) [2018] EWFC 68 (10 July 2018). This case concerned a British couple who used “embryo adoption” in the USA to conceive a child, Z, carried by the female applicant. Under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008), the woman who gives birth is the legal mother, but the status of the male partner was unclear due to the absence of his genetic material. In giving the decision, Sir James Munby declared that the male applicant is the legal father because he consented to the embryo transfer treatment. The judgment clarified that for married couples, the husband is the legal father unless it is shown that he did not consent to the treatment.
Membership
Mandi is a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel. She is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer and can offer her clients a choice regarding how they wish to deal with matters such as the financial settlement and arrangements for children.
Outside of work
When not in the office, Mandi enjoys spending time with friends and family and travelling, especially exploring the delights of the Greek Islands.
Lisa is a Director at Purcell Solicitors and is a highly experienced Family Law Solicitor, Collaborative Lawyer, and Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator. She is also fully qualified in Child Inclusive Mediation.
Lisa handles all types of family law matters, including divorce, financial settlements, children, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and cohabitation disputes. She is ranked in Band 3 of Chambers and Partners, who comment:
“Lisa is an excellent solicitor who robustly and effectively represents her clients’ interests and is understanding, empathetic and extremely hard-working.
Lisa is clearly knowledgeable and confident in what she does: she is able to talk clients through the process, options and outcomes.”
Chambers and Partners have also spotlighted Lisa in Family/Matrimonial Mediators – Thames Valley, who describe Lisa as “an outstanding solicitor with excellent legal knowledge and brilliant communication. She goes above and beyond for her clients and provides realistic and practical advice.” In addition, she is noted as being “incredibly clever and she is able to construct cases perfectly”
Lisa obtained her mediation accreditation in 2022 and handles complex and challenging mediations. She is trained to offer hybrid mediation and is one of the few lawyer mediators able to offer child-inclusive mediation.
With referrals mainly come from solicitors (including some London-based), the local judiciary, and client recommendations, Lisa is trusted for her warm, sound, empathetic, and commercially astute approach. She has worked on complex cases involving issues such as a terminal health diagnosis and one party being a specialist family law barrister going through a divorce.
Lisa provides her clients with clear expectations and pragmatic advice in a kind, friendly manner. With over 20 years of experience in family law, clients quickly gain the confidence that Lisa understands exactly what she is doing and can expertly handle the other side, regardless of their initial approach to the legal issues.
| Notable cases
Re R(a child) (2009) EWCA Civ 35 The appellant mother appealed against a decision granting a residence order in respect of her son (L) to the respondent father. The parents had agreed that L would temporarily stay with the father when the mother became exhausted, but the father then sought a Residence Order after seven months. A CAFCASS officer recommended that L return to the mother, noting his stated wish to do so and his need to feel secure around the birth of his half-sibling. The judge neither heard from L nor from the officer and focused mainly on L’s settled life with the father. The Court of Appeal held that L’s wishes had not been properly evaluated and that, absent strong reasons, a judge intending to depart from an experienced CAFCASS officer’s recommendation should generally hear and test that evidence before rejecting it. The Court of Appeal allowed the mother’s appeal, holding that the judge erred in granting the residence order to the father without properly addressing the child’s wishes or the CAFCASS recommendation. Scotching and Birch [2008] EWHC 844 (Ch) This case concerned a dispute between divorced parents over who should control the burial arrangements and administration of their deceased son’s estate. The father applied for letters of administration and wished to bury his son in one location, while the mother opposed this and sought control herself. The Right Honourable Sir Nicholas Patten held that, although the court has no power to dictate funeral arrangements in the abstract, it can determine who is entitled to administer the estate, and that person’s decision on burial will prevail. The father was granted letters of administration and therefore decision‑making authority. This case has gone on to be cited in several academic papers and journal articles.
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Memberships
Lisa is a member of Resolution, a trained Collaborative Lawyer, and a Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator offering the full range of family mediation including Child Inclusive Mediation.
Outside of work
When not in the office, Lisa loves spending time with family and going to the cinema and theatre as often as she can. She is also a keen baker and occasional amateur actor with local theatre companies – even trying her hand at Shakespeare.
I joined Purcell Solicitors in March 2023 having qualified as a Solicitor in May 2013 and have specialised exclusively in Family Law since that time. I am a Law Society Family Law Accredited Specialist, meaning I am recognised as having a high level of competence and knowledge of Family Law.
I advise on divorce, financial settlements upon divorce or the breakdown of a cohabiting relationship, domestic abuse injunctions and matters relating to the arrangements for children.
I am a member of Resolution and as such, seek to resolve Family Law disputes in the most amicable and pragmatic way possible. However, where necessary, I have copious experience in representing clients in Court.
I joined Purcell Solicitors in January 2025 having trained at Family Law in Partnership, a boutique family law practice in London.
I have specialised exclusively in family law since 2019 and advise clients in relation to divorce, financial settlements, children matters and breakdown of cohabiting relationships.
I am committed to the guidelines set down by Resolution which advocates, where possible, a non-adversarial approach to issues arising from the break-down of a marriage or a relationship and aim to deal with matters as cost effectively as possible.
I was a competitive gymnast until 2017 and am qualified to coach and judge gymnastics which I enjoy. I also enjoy running and ran a half marathon in 2023 for charity.
I joined Purcell Solicitors in March 2024 having completed my Law degree at the University of Leicester where I achieved a 2:1. Upon studying law I had a keen interest in family law and knew that I wanted to seek a career in that field.
My role includes assisting the solicitors with all aspects of family law, specifically divorce, financial issues upon separation and child arrangements. I accompany clients and counsel to court or private FDR/Arbitrations and assist with both the preparation for these and the steps taken afterwards.
In the future, I intend to complete my training and qualify as a family solicitor. In my spare time, I enjoy travelling and spending time with my family.
Peter Beck
Non-Executive Director
Peter is a non-executive Director advising the Board in respect of financial issues, strategic planning and business development. Peter is a retired Regional Manager for RBS and his financial background and common sense approach has been invaluable to the firm for some years.
See What Our Clients Say
I just would not have coped without Pauline’s expertise at all times
"I just would not have coped without Pauline’s expertise at all times, her professionalism, her patience and her kindness too. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Thank you Mandi for all your help and advice during a very difficult time in my life. I realise how important it is to have a reliable professional on my side and I can't thank you enough
"Thank you Mandi for all your help and advice during a very difficult time in my life. I realise how important it is to have a reliable professional on my side and I can't thank you enough"
I really wanted to thank you, Lisa, for all of your help and support throughout. I know you did everything that you could to assist and I appreciated your kindness, patience and all you have done for me. You took a personal approach to my case for which I am very grateful.
"I really wanted to thank you, Lisa, for all of your help and support throughout. I know you did everything that you could to assist and I appreciated your kindness, patience and all you have done for me. You took a personal approach to my case for which I am very grateful."
I hope I can convey how much reassurance, courage, strength and importantly - professional legal advice on family matters including divorce, financial and child arrangements, that the team at Purcell's provided to me at such a difficult, emotional time.
"I hope I can convey how much reassurance, courage, strength and importantly - professional legal advice on family matters including divorce, financial and child arrangements, that the team at Purcell's provided to me at such a difficult, emotional time."
Why Use Purcell Solicitors?
Specialists in complex matrimonial cases
Exclusively covering all areas of relationship breakdown including divorce, civil partnership dissolution and separation.
Experts in the field of Family Law
We deal with your unique circumstances with experience, empathy and efficiency.
Speak to us in confidence
Consultations at our Milton Keynes office, or remotely on zoom or teams.
Open communication and guidance
You will be assigned a legal specialist to find the most cost-effective, fair and lasting solutions for your situation.
Skilled in Dispute Resolution
We offer all alternatives to Court and work with you to find the best outcome for you and your family.
Friendly and supportive environment
We are on hand to alleviate your concerns and provide professional advice on your next steps.
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