Nicola MATTHEWS

About

Nicola is a Partner and head of the Family department at our Newcastle office. With over 20 years’ experience, Nicola has a high level of knowledge, skills and experience in the area of family law, her specialism being high value & complex divorce cases. She assists clients to find practical solutions to problems that arise when relationships break down by considering the case from both points of view thereby reaching an amicable agreement with as little animosity as possible.

Nicola is a Law Society Family Law Advanced panel member with specialisms in Ancillary Relief and Complex Assets. She is a former local chair of “Resolution”, an association of specialist family lawyers who adopt a firm yet conciliatory approach to family cases. She is also a qualified collaborative family lawyer, so can advise and assist clients who wish to try and reach agreements with the other party by a series of round table meetings.

Nicola is named as a “leading individual” in this area of law in Chambers Guide and recommended in The Legal 500, both independently researched guides to the UK legal profession.

Nicola is a Court of Protection appointed Deputy who looks after the property and finances of persons who do not have the mental capacity to manage their own. She also advises on Lasting Powers of Attorney which can be put in place to safeguard in case one loses capacity to manage finances. When someone has lost capacity without the safeguard of a Lasting Power of Attorney, she helps family and friends with applications to the Court, to become legally entitled to deal with the incapacitated person’s finances.

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT NICOLA:

On handling divorces:

• “Nicola Matthews is calm and sensible and provides excellent representation in high-value divorces. Her particular strength is in the financial aspects of divorce where she helps to demystify the process.”
• “I found my dealings with Nicola Matthews in particular of a very high standard through my difficult divorce. Nicola was very approachable and easy to talk to but always maintained a professional manner throughout my dealings with her.”
• “Nicola Matthews provided an excellent service throughout my divorce. I will have no hesitation in recommending her and your firm to others.”
• “Nicola proved unfailingly polite, approachable, efficient and compassionate throughout my divorce. Nicola guided me with care and attention to detail through the various steps. I can’t think of any improvements that are necessary.”
• “Nicola was very approachable, easy to talk to and her services were to a very high standard.”

On Court of Protection:

• “I was very happy with the handling of our needs”.