At Easter 2007 White and Sherwin closed its doors after 20 years of practice at its central Croydon office. The firm had been specialising in children’s law and had developed a national reputation for its expertise. Regrettably central Government policy on legal aid had made the future bleak for small firms.

The upside is that the combined skills of the partners, Richard White and Michael Sherwin, their Associate Solicitor Karen Davies, and their PA Kim Horner, who together have more than 100 years of experience, have now been put to public service within the Family Law Department of McMillan Williams.

A review of progress after six months suggests that the arrangements have worked well. To its substantial reputation in the field of clinical negligence and conveyancing, McMillan Williams has now added a dominant position in family law in the region.

Large volumes of family work are coming into the practice, especially at the firm’s office in Thornton Heath. As practices with smaller family law departments find the new procedures and legal aid restrictions increasingly difficult to manage, it is probable, perhaps inevitable, that more and more clients will be looking to larger firms to provide advice. That is consistent with government policy. As fewer practitioners are available within the field, it will not just be private clients who have to search out solicitors who have the necessary expertise. Larger organisations will have the same problem. White and Sherwin had a significant practice advising agencies providing services to and for children and families. McMillan Williams will wish to continue that service and look to develop it, while at the same time seeking to coordinate that area with its related work in clinical negligence and other family related fields.

The trick for McMillan Williams will be to ensure that in difficult times the firm can continue to provide clients with a good service, while remaining profitable and at the same time ensuring that their staff can maintain a reasonable work life balance.

Richard White