We have a very clear philosophy.

Our first rule is to protect and act in our client’s interests. Occasionally this can only be done by a very swift application to the courts, but such instances are rare.

Since coming together to found Turner Nicholson we have welcomed Sarah Whitten, formerly a partner at Charles Russell Speechlys and Emma Easton, originally an insolvency specialist and now a leading family lawyer, into the partnership.

Brigid Turner

Partner

Brigid has 25 years’ experience in family law. She inspires confidence in clients and is efficient and strategically strong. She provides the assurance of a London lawyer, at a more affordable rate.

Clients find her very approachable and easy to work with; almost all of her work comes through the personal recommendation of her former clients.

Brigid graduated in English before converting to Law; outside the office she practises negotiation with her household of teenage boys.

Brigid Turner

Partner

John Nicholson

Partner

John read Law at Oxford and spent some time in business before being called to the Bar and then joining Manches, where he qualified as a solicitor.

He is a trained Collaborative lawyer and co-mediates with the couples’ psychotherapist Dr Sara Riley.

John is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is often called upon for his international expertise. John is mainly based in London but, like Brigid, he is happy to travel to meet clients based in other parts of the South East.

Almost all John’s clients come through personal recommendation.

Away from the law, John is a long-standing governor of his old school, enjoys the theatre, and cooks enthusiastically from the less demanding end of Nigella’s repertoire.

John Nicholson

Partner

Sarah Whitten

Partner

Sarah has specialised in family law for over 20 years. Before she joined Turner Nicholson in 2020, Sarah was a partner at a top ranked City firm for 12 years.

Sarah read History at Oxford after which she qualified as a family lawyer.  She has been a member of Resolution throughout her career.

Sarah advises her clients on how to resolve arrangements for their children and finances where they are separating, divorcing or dissolving a civil partnership.   She has a wealth of experience in dealing with complex financial arrangements including trusts and business interests. She also advises those who are planning to marry on pre-nuptial agreements. She regularly advises parents on living arrangements for their children and is very experienced in children with cases of international aspects.

Sarah’s approach is to focus on her client’s objectives and achieve the best that she can for them in the most constructive way. If a settlement can be negotiated, she will negotiate it and if litigation is required Sarah is extremely experienced at obtaining the best outcome for her clients.

Sarah has been a mediator since 2011 and regularly assists in helping clients resolve arrangements from finances and children.

Outside the office Sarah is busy spending time with her family.

Sarah Whitten is co-author of Child Contact:Law and Practice published by the Law Society in 2006. She has written various articles on financial applications, contributed to webinars and been quoted in the national press

Sarah Whitten

Partner

Emma Easton

Partner

Emma helps divorcing and separating couples resolve the legal, practical, emotional and financial challenges of divorce/separation fairly, including child arrangements.

No two relationships are the same. Emma takes time to understand an individual’s situation both practically and financially; and work to achieve a fair and realistic settlement or outcome by looking at the circumstances of the relationship breakdown as a whole. Emma approaches situations with a pragmatic viewpoint, seeking sensible and commercial solutions whether she is dealing with the children of the relationship or the financial settlements. Emma will not be deterred in achieving what is fair, but will also be candid if objectives are unrealistic.

Emma is used to dealing with complex, high value settlements culminating in a fair division of capital and income. Emma’s previous experience as a contentious Insolvency lawyer means she can unravel complicated financial arrangements and structures and apply sophisticated forensic skills to trace and recover hidden assets.

Emma’s empathetic nature towards individuals and families who face financial problems enables her to deal effectively with the practical aspects of the finances during separation, alongside the emotional challenges faced with any children of the relationship.

Emma in her spare time enjoys spending time with her three children, keeping active and travel.

Emma is a Partner in the Banbury office.

Emma Easton

Partner

Victoria Goodhall

Senior Associate

Victoria joined Turner Nicholson from another London based practice in September 2020. Prior to that, she had gained valuable experience working for firms in East London and Essex since qualifying as a solicitor in 2009 and having trained at a specialist family law practice.

Victoria specialises in all aspects of family law including divorce/dissolution and associated financial proceedings, child arrangements, cohabitation issues and pre/post nuptial agreements.

As part of the Turner Nicholson team based in London, Victoria often assists her London based colleagues and in particular, John Nicholson and Sarah Whitten. Working collaboratively, Victoria recognises the importance of giving each individual and their family the advice and tools they need to have as much autonomy over their future, and what that might look like, as possible and this often leads to better, more acceptable, outcomes than a court-imposed decision.

Victoria gives pragmatic advice and always looks for a way to resolve matters in a way which best suits the situation. For lots of people, that may include an element of dispute resolution including mediation or the ever-popular arbitration process (where cases are litigated outside of court before a ‘judge’ – usually a barrister – paid by the parties to resolve their dispute). Where that is not appropriate or does not elicit results, Victoria is a skilled litigator and negotiator and makes every effort to achieve a fair result for her clients.

Victoria Goodhall

Senior Associate

Kathryn Sleight

Senior Associate

Kathryn has practised family law since her qualification as a solicitor in 2013. She is focused on helping families through difficult times and looking at the bigger picture.

Kathryn joined Turner Nicholson in 2022, having previously worked at a regional firm in Oxfordshire following her training contract in Wimbledon.

Recognising that it is important to be realistic with clients from the outset, to guide them through the financial and emotional challenges encountered during the separation process, Kathryn seeks to resolve matters out of Court by negotiation, but is also experienced at litigation when it is needed.

Kathryn deals with all family matters including divorce and separation, related financial matters (including Court proceedings), pre and post nuptial agreements and arrangements for children.  

Outside the office Kathryn is busy with family life, mostly keeping up with her two young daughters.

Kathryn works alongside Brigid and Emma in the Banbury office.

Kathryn Sleight

Senior Associate

Charlotte Hayes-Sennett

Associate

Charlotte trained at a London West End firm before joining Turner Nicholson in 2019. Charlotte assists with most aspects of family law including divorce, financial remedy proceedings, prenuptial agreements and private children law matters. She also has experience of cases involving high-net worth individuals, complicated trusts structures and of an international nature.

Charlotte aims to provide clients with clear, empathetic and constructive advice and guidance to assist them in achieving the best outcome.

Charlotte volunteers as a legal adviser for Rights of Women in her spare time.

Charlotte Hayes-Sennett

Associate

Karen Murphy

Personal Assistant

Karen joined Turner Nicholson prior to formation providing PA support to Brigid and has many years’ experience as a legal secretary, working at barristers’ chambers and Penningtons Manches in Oxford.  

Outside of work Karen likes to spend time with family and friends and is a passionate and successful fundraiser.

Karen Murphy

Personal Assistant

Kay Glen

Personal Assistant

Kay worked alongside John many years ago, and to his relief agreed to work with him again to keep the London office in order.

Kay is a highly experienced administrator and particularly enjoys her role as part of every client’s support network.

Away from her desk, Kay’s principal occupation is ferrying her son to and from cricket matches.

Kay Glen

Personal Assistant

Antoinette Juniper

Personal Assistant

Antoinette joined Turner Nicholson in February 2017 having worked for another family law firm in Central London for 10 years.  She has joined the team to provide additional secretarial and administrative support.

When Antoinette is not working, she enjoys travelling abroad and hopes to discover more beautiful and interesting places in the UK.

Antoinette Juniper

Personal Assistant

Natalie Bell

Finance Manager and PA

Natalie is our Finance Manager and also provides PA support for our Partner Emma Easton.

Away from work Natalie enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.

Natalie Bell

Finance Manager and PA

Family lawyers Turner Nicholson

The partners have worked with leading specialists in other disciplines for the last twenty-five years.

We can call upon a network of financial advisors, corporate and private client lawyers and therapeutic consultants and through the International Academy of Family Lawyers can access with speed and ease, the best advice on family law world-wide.

Testimonials:

“I will write to John, too, but thank you so much for your help with this divorce during such extraordinary times.”

“I would like to say a big thank you to you and Sarah for your help so far.”

“I’m happy we can end this as soon and as amicably possible. I trust you and John completely.”

“Thank you for being so kind and supportive. You have made a difficult process much easier to deal with.”

“I cannot thank you enough for your perseverance and patience. You have guided me through a very stressful process with on focus on fairness.”