About Us
WiFL brings together women from across England and Wales, whether solicitors or barristers, judges or paralegals, all of whom have the shared aim of uniting and supporting women in the profession.
About Women in Family Law
Who We Are
Founded in January 2020, Women in Family Law (WiFL) is a collective of women professionals working in family law across England and Wales. Whether you’re a solicitor, barrister, judge, or paralegal, WiFL brings together women at all levels of the profession, united by the common goal of supporting and empowering one another.
Our Founding Story
WiFL was conceived in the summer of 2019 by a pioneering group of women, including Hannah Markham KC, Katherine Rayden, Vanessa Meachin KC, Frances Judd KC (now Mrs Justice Judd), and Simone McGrath. As their vision spread, more women joined, eager to contribute to this unique group. Today, WiFL boasts a diverse and dynamic committee representing all levels of seniority and regions within the jurisdiction.
Our Mission
WiFL is a space where women in family law can connect, share insights, seek guidance, and engage in events that further the advancement of women in the legal profession. We recognise the unique challenges and fears women may face and are committed to providing the extra support and care needed to navigate them.
Our Patrons
Our patrons, Lady Hale, the outgoing President of the Supreme Court, and Lady Justice King pledged their support very early on. They are just two of a number of female judges from the north and the south who have offered to assist WiFL. Others include: Mrs Justice Theis, Mrs Justice Leiven, Ms Justice Russell, Her Honour Judge Sapnara, Her Honour Judge Joanne Vincent, Her Honour Judge Sonia Harris, Her Honour Judge Rachel Hudson and Judge Vera Mayer.
Committee
Meet the team of talented women who form our diverse committee. We are a board created of various levels of seniority and have vast experience across the jurisdiction.
Hannah Markham KC
Co-Chair
Hannah is a silk at The 36 Group who specialises in public and private children law. She is Chair of the Family Law Bar Association.
Simone McGrath
Co-Chair
Simone is a consultant solicitor at Osbornes Law and she sits as a deputy district judge, South Eastern Circuit. She has particular expertise in domestic and international child abduction work.
Leanne Targett-Parker
Treasurer
Leanne is a barrister at 10 King’s Bench Walk in London and 7 Harrington Street in Liverpool, and the chair and founder of Temple Legal Centre. She is a pupil supervisor and advocacy trainer for Lincoln’s Inn; a Bar Council representative; Chair of the Bar Council’s Pro Bono & Social Responsibility Committee, and treasurer for the Human Rights Lawyers’ Association.
Jessica Purchase
Women in Family Law (North) Lead
Jess is a barrister at St John’s Buildings. Before coming to the Bar, Jess was an intern at the Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office via Amicus ALJ, assisting with capital defence trial preparation; a volunteer caseworker with Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research, and a volunteer caseworker for the National Centre for Domestic Violence.
Charlotte Hughes
Secretary
Charlotte is a barrister at East Anglian Chambers, practising in civil, crime and family law.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Charlotte was an intern at the Criminal Cases Review Commission as part of the Kalisher Trust Scholarship Scheme. She is a trustee for Suffolk Rape Crisis.
La-Toyah McKenzie
La-Toyah is a family solicitor at Lamb Brooks and qualified as a solicitor advocate in 2022.
She deals with children, divorce and finances, with a view to building a specialism in children law.
Suzanne Kingston
Education and Training Co-Lead
Suzanne is a consultant at Mills & Reeve. She is a qualified mediator and arbitrator and has been described by the Chambers UK High Net Worth Guide 2018 as the “queen of arbitration”.
Rebecca Cockcroft
Rebecca is a partner at Payne Hicks Beach.
Katy Rayden
Mentoring Lead
Katy is the founder of and senior partner at Rayden Solicitors. She specialises in financial disputes on the breakdown of relationships, and also handles almost all aspects of private children law, including relocation and surrogacy. She sits on Rayden Solicitors’ Resolution Skills and Support Committee.
Attia Hussain-Wooden
Tia is a senior associate and a solicitor-advocate at Crane & Staples. She was President of the Hertfordshire Law Society for 2018/19 and serves on her local Family Justice Board Council as Hertfordshire Law Society’s representative. In 2019, she was a finalist in the ‘Women in Law, 100 years’ category at the National Asian Legal Awards.
Shakira Maynard-Johnson
Membership
Shakira is a solicitor at Morr & Co LLP, dealing with the full range of family matters, including divorce, finances and children.
Barbara Corbett
Education and Training Co-Lead
Barbara is a Jersey Advocate and English solicitor. She is a senior partner at Corbett Le Quesne, which she co-founded in 2017. She is at the forefront of developing family law in Jersey.
Jamila Salam
Vanessa Meachin KC
Women in Family Law (Midlands) Lead
Vanessa is a silk at 3PB Barristers. Her practice spans care, adoption, matrimonial finance, private law children and Court of Protection work.
Vanessa is head of the family group at 3PB and she sits as a recorder (South Eastern circuit).
Malvika Jaganmohan
Women in Family Law (Midlands) and Membership
Malvika is a barrister at St Ives Chambers in Birmingham. Alongside her practice, she is a trustee at Advocate, a Champion for LawCare and she is part of the committee for The Transparency Project. She was shortlisted for Family Law Young Barrister of the Year in the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2022.
Clarissa Wigoder
Wellbeing Lead
Clarissa is a family law barrister at 4PB. Prior to coming to the Bar, she was Director of the School Exclusion Project. She was shortlisted for Family Law Young Barrister of the Year in the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2022.
Samantha McFadzean
Judicial Liaison
Sam worked in private practice as a family solicitor in England until 2012 when she moved to Jersey. She was called to the Jersey Bar in 2015 and was appointed as a Family Division Registrar of the Royal Court in 2018.
Mehvish Chaudhry
Mehvish is a family barrister at Harcourt Chambers. She is a member of the national FLBA committee and a trustee at Reunite International Child Abduction Centre.