Deborah is the founder and head of our Divorce and Family department. She advises on all aspects of family law with particular emphasis on asset protection for wealthy individuals, often with international financial interests.
Deborah's work includes preparation of pre-nuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements and the resolution of complex financial issues within divorce. She also advises on relationship breakdown outside of marriage or civil partnership and has extensive experience of children law matters, including international relocation.
She acts for clients from a variety of sectors including public figures and musicians. Deborah is particularly known for her understanding of the psychological impact of relationship breakdown and is respected by mental health practitioners.
Deborah’s breadth of work involves close liaison with other specialist practice areas at Simkins including the corporate, litigation, property and private client teams.
Deborah is a trained collaborative lawyer and has been described in legal directories in recent years as ‘utterly committed to her clients and has a steely and calm approach’ and ‘…a tough negotiator, who you’d want on your side‘. Spear’s have ranked Deborah as ‘Outstanding in the Field’ of family law and a ‘Top Recommended Family Lawyer’.
Career highlights:
Acted for the husband in the reported case of OS v DS [2004] which set a precedent for the use of an oral disclosure hearing for preliminary discovery in financial remedy proceedings within divorce.
Acted for the wife in the reported case of SS v NS (Spousal Maintenance) [2014] which established the key principles now applied in determining an application for spousal maintenance.
They take a sensible pragmatic approach to a contentious situation. Their legal analysis of the issue is good and they provide a number of options to me as the client as to how to move forward.
The team are first rate, knowledgable, easy to deal with and client-friendly.
Highly experienced operators with the ability to think outside the box.
Deborah Jeff is excellent – she is clear in her advice (even when what she is saying is difficult for her client to hear) and always aims for the best, most realistic outcome. She’s also a tough negotiator who you’d want on your side.
Deborah is a hugely experienced solicitor whose expertise is very impressive. She offers clients the wisdom of her considerable experience with a no-nonsense approach to cases. She will fight for her clients but also knows when to settle a case.
Deborah was my lead solicitor with intelligence and honour. I was treated with respect through all the ups and downs. I felt safe and secure in her knowledge and experience, which is exceptional.
Clients warm to her down to earth manner whilst respecting her attention to detail and ability to strategise a case from the outset.
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