Q: What can you do for me?
A: Dealing with matters concerning your personal relationships can be difficult and unsettling, whether you are planning ahead and contemplating a pre-marital agreement or you are facing the breakdown of a relationship. This is particularly the case when children are involved. For almost 20 years I have been helping people to address these issues and work out a way forward that suits them, their family and their particular circumstances.
I advise people on all aspects of relationship breakdown, from finances to arrangements for children. Many of the cases I deal with have financial issues involving substantial assets and complex issues such as trusts, pensions, family businesses (including farms) and other business interests.
I also advise on aspects of wealth protection such as pre- and post-marital agreements.
I am a partner and head of the family team in the Eastern Region. My clients are based in many places: often in London, Cambridge, East Anglia and overseas. I joined Mills & Reeve in Cambridge in 2003 after spending nine years as a family lawyer at a top firm in London.
Q: What makes you different from other divorce lawyers?
A: I understand that everybody’s situation is different. I adapt my approach and advice to the individual circumstances and wishes of my client. My approach is client led and client focused, whether that be in mediation, collaborative law, solicitor lead negotiation or litigation. In whatever way a client wants a case to be dealt with, my approach is always to work with clients to try and find a solution to the issues they face.
Providing my clients with the type of service that they want is very important to me and the rest of our team.
I am always transparent with my clients about the legal costs of the advice they are seeking or options they are considering and give them clear and understandable estimates of their costs at every stage.
Q: What do clients say about you?
A: The legal directories have said the following about me, based on feedback they have taken from my clients and other professionals:
Legal 500 2008: “Indispensable, sensitive, highly effective.”
Chambers 2008 and 2009: "Highly efficient operator with great interpersonal skills. She is well liked by clients and peers for her no nonsense practical approach.”
Chambers 2010: “Caitlin Jenkins is team leader for the Eastern Region and frequently receives referrals from magic circle firms. "She has the perfect balance of litigation and negotiation skills to achieve the best outcome for her clients.”
My clients have said about me:
"More than just a lawyer when it's helpful at difficult times…"
"I appreciated your manner as well as your competence."
"I can't thank you enough for all your guidance and support."
Q: What involvement do you have in the Cambridge and London communities?
A: I have strong professional and personal links with both Cambridge and London.
I was at University in Cambridge and now live in the city, having been part of the Cambridge family community for almost a decade. I am a member of the local Resolution group and the committee which runs the Cambridge Collaborative Family Law group and was in charge of their training for many years. I am active in the development of mediation locally and am a Trustee of The Cambridge Family Mediation Service.
I spent the first 10 years of my career living and working exclusively in London, during which time I was a member of the London Regional Group Committee of Resolution and co-founded the Young Solicitors Family Law Associations Group in London, which has now become a national network of young professionals within Resolution. I have retained my professional links and contacts in London, which includes membership of Collaborative Partners, a group of collaboratively trained London professionals.
As well as being trained as a family mediator I am also one of only around 12 family lawyers in the country (most of whom practise exclusively in London) who are trained and qualified to deal with other civil and commercial disputes.
I have lectured both locally and nationally on matters relating to family law and have written articles for the local and national press on family law and relationship breakdown. In 2010 I was interviewed on Radio 4's You and Yours programme about the advantages of the collaborative approach to relationship breakdown. I have also appeared on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire several times.
Q: What else should I know about you?
A: I am passionate about helping my clients, as is our whole team. I work hard to understand what it is that a client wants from me and how best I can help them to achieve the outcome that they want.