Beyond Law Group announces the appointment of two new associate solicitors, Jemma Wentworth and Frances Bentley, to its specialist family practice, McAlister Family Law.

Beyond Law Group’s specialist family practice, McAlister Family Law, has appointed Jemma Wentworth  and Frances Bentley to its specialist Divorce and Finance team, following a strong period of growth and success.

The appointments follow the most successful year to date for Beyond Law Group and its niche practices. Its specialist family practice McAlister Family Law has quickly established itself as the go-to family and children law practice in the North-West, having climbed the rankings in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners year on year and, most recently, being recognised by The Times as one of the top 200 best law practices across England and Wales.

Jemma joins Beyond Law Group from Nicholson Jones Sutton Solicitors in Macclesfield, where she worked as a family law specialist. In her 17 years in practice, Jemma has vast experience and expertise in all aspects of family law including the wide-ranging area that is Children Act applications. She has represented clients nationwide on all aspects of children matters including child contact as well as specific issues and prohibited steps applications, complex relocation cases of an international capacity where consideration needs to be given for removal from the jurisdiction.

Jemma is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and is a regular contributor to legal journals as well as local press and media. She is a Member of Resolution and a keen advocate for being committed to her continued knowledge of changes and developments within family law practice and legislation to enable her to apply this to her caseload on a day-to-day basis.

Frances joins Beyond Law Group from Maguire Family Law. Frances has a particular specialism in divorce and division of matrimonial assets, to include cases within financial proceedings and with complex financial arrangements. In addition, Frances advises on private law children matters, including those within court proceedings such as relocation cases and issues concerning arrangements for children generally.

McAlister Family Law is a specialist practice of Beyond Law Group, the disruptive legal business whose strategy is to create, build and manage specialist legal practices under one modern business structure. Beyond Law Group’s concept brings corporate and consumer legal services together, a concept which has rarely been successful in the UK but which Beyond Law Group has achieved.

Beyond Law Group currently has a portfolio of three practices: McAlister Family Law, Beyond Corporate and Beyond Conveyancing.

Jemma comments on her appointment: “I am so excited to join a firm which has such a strong record of growth, innovation and top-quality client service.

Client care is my paramount consideration, and I respect that each individual client requires representation that is unique to them. As a mother of two young children, child law is an area that I have a great passion for and advising and assisting clients through this process is incredibly important to me.

It’s an honour to be joining the hugely talented team at McAlister Family Law and I am very much looking forward to developing my expert knowledge further so that out client can be provided with the best possible advice and service at one of the most difficult times of their life.”

Frances comments on her appointment: “It is a true privilege to be part of the specialist McAlister Family Law team. What I admire about the practice is its absolute commitment to ensuring that a client’s journey is first class from day one and it starts by ensuring that the right lawyer is appointed from the outset. In addition, the fact that the practice is part of the wider Beyond Law Group means that the services that we offer go outside of the family law arena – something that other boutique practices cannot offer.”

Amanda McAlister, managing partner of McAlister Family Law, comments: “Frances and Jemma are welcome additions to the McAlister Family Law team. They have a very firm grasp on the intricacies that are often involved in Family Law, so their experience will lend itself extremely well to the complex and sometimes challenging work we undertake in our specialist practice.

We continue to invest in good, solid specialists who will provide a first-rate service to our clients. In Q1 2022 alone, we have welcomed eight new starters to McAlister Family Law, which comes following the practice’s most successful year to date as we continue to establish ourselves as the “go to” family law firm in the North-West.”

Matt Fleetwood, Chief Executive and founder of Beyond Law Group, comments: “The appointments of Jemma and Frances reinforce our commitment to invest in our people and their career development. Jemma and Frances’ strong client service ethos and proactive approach aligns to the values of Beyond Law Group, and we are very excited to have them on board.

It’s a good time for the Group and its practices. We are continuing to pursue a strategy of investing in great people and career development, which will hopefully see us continue to attract enthusiasm and talent to the Group.

The Group’s continuous investment in people aims to support each practice’s continued growth and provide wider, more fulfilling career opportunities for all of our people which hopefully further cements Beyond Law Group as a leading and forward-thinking North-West law firm.”