Dianne joins family team

Manchester law firm Stephensons Solicitors LLP is continuing its ambitious expansion plans in the city centre with the appointment of family law solicitor Dianne Skidmore.

Dianne, (39) from Grasscroft, has joined the firm’s children law team.

Immediately prior to joining Stephensons, Dianne was a part-time law lecturer at the University of Huddersfield and formerly a partner at Manchester law firm Tranters, where she worked for 10 years.

Married with two daughters, she completed her training contract to qualify as a solicitor with Wrigley Claydon in Oldham.

She will advise local authorities, parents, children and family members in care proceedings such as adoption, care, contact and residence applications. Dianne also has expertise in divorce and the financial aspects of relationship breakdowns.

Stephensons’ family team is also renowned for its expertise in acting in child-care cases on behalf of local authorities and her arrival will enable the department to take on more of this work.

She said: “The child care team has a very good reputation, as does the firm. It is forward thinking and has adapted to the current challenges that the profession faces.”

Mike Devlin is managing partner of the Family Department at Stephensons. He said: “Dianne’s arrival coincides with one of the busiest periods we have experienced in the area of children law.”