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Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence in Family Law
Company News
Family law has undergone significant transformation since Purcell Solicitors first opened its doors in September 2005.
Having previously worked together at a large law firm, Mandi, Lisa, and I embarked on a new venture to establish Purcell Solicitors—a specialist family law firm with a bold vision: to provide empathetic, expert legal support to clients navigating some of life’s most challenging moments.
Just two years after our founding, we were honoured to receive the Milton Keynes Small Business of the Year award in 2007, a recognition that affirmed our commitment to excellence and client care.
A Changing Legal Landscape
Over the past two decades, family law has evolved considerably, reflecting shifts in societal norms and legal priorities. There has been a marked transition toward out-of-court dispute resolution, with courts and practitioners increasingly focused on collaborative and constructive approaches.
Some of the most significant developments in family law during this period include:
2006 – Miller v McFarlane: Introduced the principles of “needs,” “sharing,” and “compensation” to achieve fair financial outcomes.
2007 – Forced Marriage Act: Provided legal protection against forced marriage without free and full consent.
2012 – Launch of the Family Arbitration Finance Scheme, offering non-court resolution for financial disputes.
2013 – Legalisation of same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
2014 – Reform of child arrangements law, introducing a presumption of ongoing parental involvement where safe.
2014 – Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) became mandatory in most cases prior to court applications.
2016 – Introduction of the Family Arbitration Children Scheme.
2017 – Launch of the Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) Scheme, enabling children to participate in mediation regarding their future.
2021 – Expansion of statutory definitions of domestic abuse to include emotional, controlling/coercive, and economic abuse.
2022 – Introduction of no-fault divorce, simplifying the process and reducing conflict.
Our Commitment
Helping clients resolve matters outside of court—where appropriate—remains central to our ethos. We are proud to have been at the forefront of these changing times, offering Collaborative Law, Mediation, and Arbitration as effective alternatives to litigation.
As Purcell Solicitors enters its third decade, we remain steadfast in our commitment to evolving with the needs of modern families. We continue to invest in digital infrastructure, expand our services, and mentor the next generation of legal professionals.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who has been part of our journey over the past 20 years—our clients, colleagues, peers, and professional partners. Your trust, collaboration, and support have been instrumental in shaping who we are today. It has been a privilege to work alongside you, and we look forward to continuing these valued relationships in the years to come.
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Senior Family Law Partner & Director – SRA No. 258177
Pauline Purcell is the Managing Director and founder of Purcell Solicitors, a specialist family law firm based in Milton Keynes. She qualified as a solicitor and built her early career at Fennemores, a top-100 legal firm in central Milton Keynes, where she became a partner and head of the family department before establishing Purcell Solicitors in 2005.
She has specialised exclusively in family law for over 30 years. Her qualifications span several disciplines: she is a solicitor, a trained mediator, a collaborative lawyer, and a family arbitrator, and she was among the first collaborative lawyers in England. She holds a law degree from the University of Buckingham, where she also lectured on the part-time undergraduate law programme.
Chambers and Partners has ranked Pauline as a Band 1 practitioner for Family/Matrimonial in the Thames Valley for several years. The 2025 Chambers and Partners Guide describes her as “incredibly astute and excels at getting to the heart of the issue,” “robust and frighteningly clever,” and “a rock and massive support” to clients throughout their cases. She is also listed as a Leading Lawyer by Wiselaw.
Her particular expertise lies in high-value financial cases, including those involving business assets, pensions, and complex or international elements. She is a long-standing member of Resolution and is committed to reaching negotiated agreements wherever possible, though she regularly represents clients in court and family arbitration when proceedings become necessary.
Pauline is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number: 258177). She can be contacted at pauline@purcellsolicitors.co.uk.