A law firm is celebrating its recent success and expansion to its team.

Cartmell Shepherd’s Family Law team has announced a new appointee after seeing the business go from 'strength to strength' with increasing customer demand.

Newly appointed Jo Grey, who lives at Newbrough, near Hexham, is one of the latest team members to join and will be based out of the legal firm’s Haltwhistle office, supporting clients across Northumberland and Cumbria.

Jo has previously worked for respected legal firms in the North East and Cumbria and is currently studying to become a child and adult psychotherapist which will support her work as a family lawyer by providing understanding and insight into the trauma and distress which can be experienced by clients.

Her appointment is part of the ongoing expansion of Cartmell Shepherd’s Family Law team, which deals with all aspects of marital law, divorce, children, cohabitation, and domestic violence.

Carlisle-based Sara Budniak also recently joined the team and will work from the firm's office at Viaduct House in the city.

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Amy Fallows, Head of Family Law at Cartmell Shepherd, said: “We have seen an increasing demand from clients seeking quality legal advice, and strengthening the family department with the appointment of Jo and Sara is helping us to meet that need.

“Our Family Law team is now the largest it has ever been, made up of five solicitors, a paralegal, and three legal secretaries.

"The sheer depth of experience and skills enables us to support clients who are often experiencing some of the most difficult times in their lives with calm, professional legal guidance.”

Jo began her career in law in 2008 when she left her role as an area manager with Boots to retrain as a solicitor.

After completing her legal training with LegaCare UK, a charity that provides free legal help for terminally ill patients, she specialised in Family Law in Cumbria then the North East before embarking on her child and adult psychotherapy studies.

Once qualified, she will offer professional psychotherapeutic services.

She said: “Although my role as a solicitor is separate from my psychotherapy, it enables me to adopt a holistic approach with my clients helping them get to a position of understanding and acceptance of the reality of their circumstances and the options available to them. This often means that they are then able to make decisions and provide instructions which help us navigate their case more effectively with less stress and trauma.”

Originally from Liverpool, Jo is married to Andrew, an engineer, and has two teenage children, Beck and George but have lived in the Tyne Valley for more than 20 years.

Jo is a former governor of Queen Elizabeth High School and Hexham Middle School, and was a member of Newbrough Town Hall committee.

Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors works with clients across Northumberland, Cumbria and nationally. It has six offices at Haltwhistle, Brampton, Rosehill Carlisle, Carlisle city centre, Penrith and Cockermouth.