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Partner
Derek is a very experienced family lawyer with over 35 years in practice. He has a particular focus on Child Law and is a recognised expert in International Child Abduction Law and he is accredited by the Law Society as an Advanced Family Law Practitioner in this area of law.
Dealing with child abduction and relocation gives an international aspect to Derek’s work, and he works with clients from all over the world, including as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Several of his cases have been reported in the English Law Reports, including one high-profile case in the Court of Appeal concerning the abduction of a child.
Derek’s expertise in Child Law has made him the go-to lawyer in this area and his clients include a former Chief of Defence Staff and a Minister of State of a previous UK Government.
Alongside his specialism in Child Law, Derek advises on divorce and separation and the associated financial matters. He takes a sanguine approach to these cases, recognising that families are not broken by separation and divorce; they simply change. Derek helps parents to manage that change. He works hard to find solutions without going through the stress and expense of a court process.
Derek also has a wide understanding of the impact of domestic abuse and substance misuse on many aspects of family law. He is experienced in seeking protective measures where necessary, to make sure vulnerable members of the family are kept safe.
Derek is one of the most experienced members of the team at KJ Smith and his vast knowledge helps us on many of our complex cases.
Derek is based at our Southampton office.
023 8200 2111
Get to know Derek
Q: Outside of work, what are your hobbies and interests?
A: I am a musician, writer, and film producer
Q: Who would be your dream dinner party guests?
A: Anyone from the original Ghostbusters film. Donald Sutherland.
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All our offices are easily accessible by road, rail or bus and we are open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm.
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If you would like to visit our team of family solicitors, we have offices in Henley-on-Thames (Head Office) Reading, Basingstoke, Guildford, Beaconsfield, Ascot, Oxford, Newbury & Winchester, St Albans, and Southampton. We serve a wide range of other areas including Abingdon, Bracknell, Gerrards Cross, Maidenhead, Marlow, Reading (central), Slough, High Wycombe and Wokingham.
Why not contact our team of divorce solicitors for a free initial consultation today? We offer a free initial consultation that can take place in any one of our offices or over the telephone.
We are proud to have represented many excellent clients. Below are some comments our clients have made about us.
We are always looking for exceptional people to join our team.
Whether you are considering a move now or at some point in the future, we would love to hear from you and learn more about your career goals and motivations.
At K J Smith we pride ourselves on our commitment to offering support, guidance and career development across all roles. You will receive a competitive salary along with a comprehensive range of benefits.
Partner at our Ascot office
"I joined K J Smith with an open mind and with the expectation of developing and adding diversity and challenge to my career, having spent 23 years in a comfortable position with a traditional high street practice.
I can honestly say that K J Smith have exceeded my expectations. Since joining, I have felt supported and encouraged by the firm’s continued commitment to growth and improvement. The company allow staff at all levels to have a voice and recognise the importance of investment in their employees at every level."
