Lucy is a Legal Director in the Chelmsford family team.
Lucy is an experienced family law solicitor. She joined Birketts in June 2024, having previously worked in the London office of a national specialist family law firm. Prior to this, since qualification, she has worked at several leading firms in London and Essex.
Lucy has a down-to-earth approach and a keen eye for detail. She is experienced in advising clients from all walks of life, including modern families, high net worth clients and international clients. She has a particular interest in complex children matters and often advises clients on cases with involving domestic abuse, alienating behaviours and substance abuse. Lucy regularly acts on behalf of grandparents to advise on contact arrangements for their grandchildren and she advises on special guardianship orders.
Further, Lucy is a specialist in private adoption cases and has advised many families on non-agency adoption matters, including step-parents, special guardians and private foster carers. She also advises clients on adoption matters with a foreign element. She has advised clients all over the UK, with knowledge of many local court practices, working with various local authorities and adoption agencies.
Lucy’s cases regularly have an international element, and she has advised parents on complex relocation matters, including successfully representing clients to ensure the return of their child to the UK after abduction to a Hague Convention country.
Lucy also has a wealth of experience in advising clients on financial matters arising from separation. She is experienced in advising on complex financial remedy proceedings, including family businesses, intervenor issues and significant pensions. Lucy advocates for the use of all forms of non-court dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration to try and resolve disputes without the need for litigation. Lucy is also experienced in drafting cohabitation agreements, pre and post-nuptial agreements, often involving cross-jurisdictional issues.
Recent work highlights
Advising adoptive parents in an international adoption case, successfully obtaining a domestic adoption Order in the UK for clients who originally adopted their child from The Gambia.
Advising a husband in a reported case involving significant crypto currency and arguments of material non-disclosure of c£150million, securing a favourable outcome and obtaining a costs order against the wife for unreasonable litigation conduct. DH v RH (No3) (Final Hearing) [2024] EWFC 79 and DH v RH (No4 Costs) [2024] EWFC 114.
Advising a mother in a case involving allegations of parental neglect, covert recordings made by a child and securing a barring order to prevent the father from using the court system to further his abusive behaviour.
Experience and education
2016 Qualified as a Solicitor
2012 – 2013 LPC at University of Law
2008 – 2011 University of Essex
Lucy Birch is a strong advocate for her clients and provides huge support for them as well as excellent legal advice. She wants good outcomes for her clients in the most cost effective way and encourages the use of ADR. Lucy is an excellent solicitor and I will continue to refer work to her and work alongside her
Legal 500 [UK 2026]
Insights
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A warning to international families wishing to adopt in the UKlegal updateA warning to international families wishing to adopt in the UK
Natasha Thompson, Lucy Birch25 Feb 2025
