Testimonials

I have known Angela for a number of years, as an “opponent”, acting as solicitor for the former partner of clients of mine in several cases.

Whilst always keen, as is right, to protect her own clients’ interests, Angela has nevertheless; consistently adopted a helpful and conciliatory approach, so vital, in my view, in modern day family law.  Never an aggressive litigatior, Angela prefers to explain her client’s position in an effort to find a way forward that will achieve justice for both parties.  This approach has been adopted both in correspondence and face to face dealings at Court……………………..

Helen E Prins - Partner,
Chambers and Hind,
Stapleford,
Nottingham.

I have known Angela Henry for several years, and she has always impressed me as being thoroughly professional and in my view, particularly suitable for family law.

She has a very good grasp of cases and statutes and procedure, and she is up-to-date with all the changes.

We are required to be non-confrontational, wherever possible and to put the interests of the children first, and to negotiate and mediate instead of being confrontational and Angela has all of those qualities.

She is also an engaging person who has a bright character, and I am sure that clients felt very comfortable in her company and confide their personal details.

Angela and I have had a major case on over the last four years.  We commenced a contact application in the Nottingham Family Proceedings Court, which produced four CAFCASS reports, Contact Centre contact and all sorts of other proposals were considered.  There was medical evidence relating to one of the client, and basically this case, had everything that you could experience in a contact application case, including Parent Responsibility issues, but eventually the parties could not resolve their differences, and their had to be a hearing, which lasted approximately 4 days.

Angela appealed the decision to the High Court before Justice Kirkwood, who allowed the appeal and issued further directions.  The parties still could not agree and the matter was set down for hearing before the President of the Family division, who happen to be visiting Nottingham County Court and was interested in the case.  This was a great experience for everybody concerned, given that it would be one of the President’s last cases before retirement, and it was encouraging to receive thanks from the President to both Counsel and Solicitors in the way that the case had been conducted with throughout.

An Interim Order was made by consent and CAFCASS was brought back onto the case, and it was transferred to the County Court.

It was a very difficult case, and all methods of settling the case amicably were explored including post CAFCASS report mediation between the adults to try and settle their grievances with each other.

Both Mrs Henry and myself were conducting Solicitors throughout the case and the experience that we have both gained from this case has been invaluable.

I have therefore no hesitation in recommending Angela Henry as a family lawyer.
 

14th June 2005

Testimonial for Angela Henry LLB (HONS)

My name is Leonora Gayle I am 40 years old; my profession is a head housekeeper based in the hospitality industry.

After being married for 16 years I had to make a very life, changing decision and that was to divorce my husband.
Although the marriage had broken down the decision was still a very difficult one.

I decided to speak to Angela Henry knowing that she was the best-qualified person that could seek advice.

Angela reassured me that my divorce would be dealt with as a sympathetically as possible.

I have known Angela for a very long time but I had never worked with her in a professional capacity.

Angela’s assurance, communication and dedication to my situation was second to none, explaining all the possibilities that didn’t even occur to me at the time.
It was very important for me to know that everything was explored, highlightning any issues that may have arisen.

Although remaining very professional Angela showed compassion and empathy.

I would highly recommend Angela to anyone, as they can rest assured that they would be given the best attention and care to any delicate situation.

Angela is an asset to her profession and I sincerely wish her all the very best in the future.

Leonara Gayle

My name is Ceri Thomas.  I am 42 years old.  I have worked as a school teacher for the last 15 years. I work at………………

I met Angela in 2000.  She was and remains a long-standing friend of my wife.  At the time I was in the early stages of trying to maintain contact with my two sons who lived with their mother….

Since then I have been through around 30 court appearances.  I would not have been able to continue with this ordeal without the support and advice of friends and family. Angela has been one of the friends whose help has been most valuable.

Angela has shown a rare combination of legal expertise, generosity, common sense and honesty in her advice - a combination I am afraid to say does not seem to thrive in the legal profession. 

From early in the proceedings I have acted in person, so Angela’s legal knowledge has been invaluable.  This advice covered detailed understanding of the law regarding children but also practical experience of court procedure, the possible outcomes in various hearings and reassurance about my acting in person.

In advance of my final hearing in March last year Angela looked over reports by Cafcass and the child psychologist appointed by the court.  There was nothing that could be done to offset my sense of fatalism after 4 years of proceedings but Angela’s detailed analysis of the court reports and her understanding of current case law at least allowed me to go into court better prepared.  The written materials Angela had provided me with were tailor made and I had not regrets about acting in person.

No doubt there are many solicitors who could have provided me with the necessary knowledge of family law.  There is something more valuable I should include about Angela’s advice.  At every stage she has sought to offset the adversarial nature of the proceedings.  She has constantly given me cause to re-examine my approach to the situation.  When we have talked about my sons and the court, Angela has always raised the question of the interests of all parties.

I know angela feels very strongly about the need for changes in the way family disputes are dealt with.  It is difficult to imagine someone better equipped to play a role in these changes.

In March last year the ….Family Court moved moved my boys to live with me and my wife.  Angela was instrumental in bringing this about.”  However, problems persist and I am convinced that in my case and many like it, relations between parents would be easier if there were more people like Angela involved in trying to resolve matters from an early stage.

Ceri Thomas.