Collaborative Family Lawyer | Mary Shaw

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Mary Shaw (Northumberland)

Collaborative Family Lawyer & Family Mediator

About Mary

I am a specialist Family Solicitor, Collaborative Family Lawyer and Family Mediator. Wherever possible I will help my clients and their family to resolve the issues that they face on relationship breakdown without going through Court.

To do this I can offer a number of tools from my family law tool box. Firstly, if you and your partner or former partner can sit in the same room together I can give you information about your particular circumstances so that you can decide together which of the process tools would best meet your family’s needs.

This is an unusual service to offer but we find that some separating couples prefer to hear the same information together. We call this service “Choosing Options Together”. I can also offer collaborative practice and family mediation and I can advise people going through family mediation with another mediation service.

I have been on the Children Panel for more than 20 years and have a lot of experience of working directly with children. I am qualified to have direct consultation with children in the mediation process. I work with a range of different non-lawyer professionals to offer clients and their families a full service to deal with the emotional and the financial aspects of their separation as well as the legal stuff.

No two families are the same and it would be very important that I listen very hard to you about what is most important. Here at David Gray Solicitors LLP we have a large specialist team of lawyers and I will tell you from the outset if I am not the best woman for the job and I will put you in touch with the person who is.

I know that during the time that I am working with you, you are likely to be having a tough time and I will do my best not to make things any worse and to make you feel more in control of your situation. I can offer meetings in Newcastle and Hexham and am always happy to meet online

Testimonial

"Mary is a rare breed of Family Lawyer who resists the predictable lengthy, costly and nasty adversarial path to divorce settlement. She prefers to get there through a real understanding of the situation while encouraging dialogue and compromise in everyone’s best interests; a genuine ‘hearts and minds’ approach. Her integrity, honesty and down-to-earth approach are really refreshing.

The cost of her time is very reasonable considering her seniority and she is adept in good advice for the optimal route forward. No divorce conclusion could ever be described as ‘good’ when children are involved but it was at least fair. I am very glad to have had Mary’s experience, discipline, calmness, objectivity, sensitivity and encouragement throughout such an unpleasant process.

Mary was based in Newcastle while I was in London so, extraordinarily, we never actually met face to face because we never needed to. Nevertheless by the time it as all over she felt like an old friend. I would recommend her support and services to anyone facing separation or divorce and in all matters of Family Law”

“Mary was patient and understanding ,she actively encouraged opinions from both sides and made the meetings a place where I felt at ease and my opinion mattered.”

“Mary Shaw was outstanding and professional at every turn. She was an excellent advocate for my daughter”

How can I help

Initial meetings with you or jointly with your partner to hear about your options for separation and what other services (in addition to a lawyer) can assist.
Improving communication between you and finding ways to overcome your disagreement.
Collaborative Law/Practice.
Family Mediation
Making financial arrangements following divorce or separation.
Arrangements for children to spend time with both parents and wider family following separation