Christchurch Solicitor wins top national Family Law Award

Peter Watson-Lee from William Thompson Solicitors LLP in Christchurch was chosen as the winner of the Family Law Partner of the Year Award against some stiff competition. Peter faced tough opposition from other family law experts including partners from large London-based firms and a family lawyer who previously acted for Princess Diana.

Peter was presented with the highly-sought-after accolade at the exclusive Family Law Awards ceremony on London’s Southbank. The award recognises the important work of family lawyers in the UK, celebrating their successes and outstanding achievements. He was selected as the winner by a judging panel made up of the heads of the Family Law Bar Association, Resolution Family Law and the Association of Lawyers for Children, along with Family Law editors and publishing executives.

Peter Watson-Lee, chairman and family partner at Williams Thompson said, “The competition for the Family Law Partner of the Year Award is so strong. To win this award is a huge achievement and one of the highpoints of my career. It is a great distinction for any solicitor from a small firm to be selected as winner and I believe it reflects the high reputation that we have for family law.”

As well as acting as a divorce and family law solicitor for over 30 years, Peter has been a member of the Law Society Council in London and for a number of years was a member of the Law Society’s Family Law Committee in London, becoming Chair of the committee from 2000 to 2003. This role involved monitoring and influencing national developments in family law.

Peter’s numerous publications include the first Family Law Protocol which set the standards for family law when published in 2002, through to being one of the writers of the Family Justice Council’s publication last year Sorting out finances on divorce, aimed as an authoritative guide for the general public going through divorce proceedings. He has written articles for both popular and specialist magazines, as well as advising a well-known TV soap on family law issues.

Peter Watson-Lee joined Williams Thompson in 1983 and instigated the firm’s decision to specialise in the field of family law. In recent years it has also developed a respected mediation and collaborative practice in addition to its established court-based family work.