Lisa Milbourn Consultant Family Solicitor (Advanced Accredited)

Lisa is an Advanced Accredited Family Solicitor specialising in children matters, domestic abuse cases and financial remedies. She qualified as a solicitor in 2020 and has since worked across both employed and consultancy roles, managing a wide range of private family law cases from initial advice through to final resolution. Her work regularly involves high-conflict child arrangements disputes, Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders, divorce proceedings, and both negotiated and contested financial settlements. She is experienced in stepping into complex matters and guiding clients through what are often some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

Before retraining as a solicitor, Lisa held senior leadership roles within education and healthcare, including serving as a Headteacher and SENCO. This background provides her with a strong safeguarding foundation and a practical understanding of how schools, health services and social care operate. This insight is particularly valuable in cases involving children or vulnerable families.

Areas of Expertise

Private Family Law

• Divorce and dissolution proceedings
• Financial Remedy applications (contested and consent orders)
• Negotiated financial settlements
• Cohabitation agreements
• Separation agreements
• Enforcement of financial orders
• Pre-nuptial agreements

Children Law

• Child Arrangements Orders
• Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders
• High-conflict parenting disputes
• Relocation cases
• Enforcement of Child Arrangements Orders
• Safeguarding-focused litigation

Domestic Abuse

• Non-Molestation Orders
• Occupation Orders
• Urgent without notice applications
• Responding to domestic abuse allegations
• Fact-finding hearings preparation
• Protective and strategic litigation planning

Safeguarding & Vulnerable Client Representation

• Cases involving safeguarding concerns
• Matters involving SEND and education-related issues
• Vulnerable parties and multi-agency involvement
• Risk assessment and structured case management

Approach to work and clients

Lisa's approach is calm, structured and strategically focused. She recognises that family law matters are rarely just legal issues but deeply personal situations often involving children, finances and long-term stability. She prioritises early identification of key legal and safeguarding issues so that clients understand their position and the realistic pathways available to them. Honest, direct and solution-focused, she remains empathetic and supportive while ensuring clients receive clear advice about what they need to hear, not simply what they may wish to hear.

Where possible, she encourages constructive resolution and negotiated outcomes. However, she is equally prepared to litigate robustly where necessary, particularly in cases involving safeguarding concerns or domestic abuse. Above all, she aims to combine strong legal representation with reassurance and clarity during what is often one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life.

Lisa particularly values the work that allows her to bring clarity and stability to situations that feel overwhelming. She takes pride in being a calm and strategic presence, helping clients move from crisis towards structure and forward planning. She has a particular interest in complex children matters where safeguarding is central, drawing on her education and leadership experience to ensure that children’s welfare remains firmly at the forefront of proceedings. She also enjoys the analytical aspects of financial remedy work, identifying key issues, cutting through unnecessary complications and working towards fair and sustainable outcomes.

Notable cases:

One notable case involved representing a father facing serious allegations of abuse that had resulted in the suspension of his contact with his child. The matter required detailed and careful preparation so Lisa worked closely with her client to prepare structured witness evidence, ensuring that the factual position was clearly presented and supported. The case proceeded to a Finding of Fact hearing before a Circuit Judge. The Court did not uphold the allegations against her client and instead recognised that he had been subjected to abusive behaviour. This significantly altered the course of the proceedings and allowed contact arrangements to be reconsidered from a safeguarding-focused perspective. As the case progressed, further concerns arose regarding the other party’s presentation of the child’s medical needs, bringing the child’s welfare firmly to the forefront. The child is now living in a safe and stable environment where they are able to thrive. This case reflects Lisa’s detailed preparation, balanced safeguarding analysis and structured case management to support informed and fair judicial decisions.

Outside of her professional work, Lisa maintains a strong interest in education, safeguarding and child development, staying informed about developments in SEND provision and safeguarding practice. She is currently learning Welsh with the aim of becoming fully bilingual in her work. She also values maintaining balance to support her professional approach. Recently, she has taken up traditional spinning and weaving,  something completely different from legal practice. She finds the focus and patience involved to be grounding and an effective way to reset.