Jacqueline Major | Partner

I am a partner and Head of the Family Law team. Described by Legal 500 as giving “supportive and compassionate advice”. I qualified in 1996 and have many years experience in all areas of Family Law. My main areas of practice are:

• Pre-marital agreements (prenuptial and pre-civil partnership)
• Cohabitation agreements and disputes arising from the breakdown of cohabitation
• Divorce
• Finances – all aspects especially mid-high net worth, off shore assets, trusts, and companies
• Variation of previous financial orders
• Children – contact and residence disputes
• Schedule 1 applications – provision for children by unmarried parents
• Enforcement of financial orders
• Contentious Probate – Inheritance Act claims, trusts disputes.

I have trained as a collaborative lawyer, and always try to resolve disputes constructively. Even if litigation is necessary I will continue to offer pragmatic advice on settlement – I have only had two cases go to trial in 10 years of practice.

Career

• Partner at Hodge Jones & Allen
• Senior Associate at Winckworth Sherwood
• Assistant solicitor at Finers Stephens Innocent
• Qualfiied as a barrister
• Qualified as a solicitor

Client comments

• “When I found myself in a situation where I needed legal advice I was recommended to see Jacqueline Major. I have to say it was the best decision I could have made amidst my stressful personal experience. Jacqueline was not only an amazing lawyer but she was also a phenomenal person who was able to help me through a very difficult time emotionally.

  I can’t recommend Jacqueline highly enough and my words really do not feel like they are doing her expertise justice.”

• “Jacqueline picked up my rather tricky divorce case part way through and from our very first meeting gave me a great sense of confidence in her ability. Her skill, detailed knowledge of the law and experience translated into the strong, self-assured, no nonsense approach she took which she achieved without sacrificing empathy for me, my children and even my intended ex. The respect and esteem she clearly commanded from the senior barrister we engaged was further reinforcement for me that she is someone I was pleased to have in my corner. I have already recommended her to a friend. If you are unfortunate enough to be facing marital difficulties and need legal support, don’t look any further.”
• “Jacqueline advised me in the renegotiation of the Financial Order which accompanied my divorce some years ago, at which time I was advised by a different firm of solicitors. She demonstrated from the off an ability to get up to speed quickly with a complicated set of existing arrangements, advising on what was achievable and making clear what was not. Her clarity in explaining legal points was helpful, her problem solving constructive and her resilience in dealing with a difficult counterpart was staggering at times and a massive part in gaining an outcome beyond my expectations. Throughout she provided both legal insights and, with children involved, also compassion and warmth of manner which kept me on track personally. I have no hesitation in recommending Jacqueline very highly.”
• “When my divorce became inevitable, Jacqueline was just about to join a new firm as its head of family law. I was very lucky to be one of the first of its clients to benefit from her skill, drive and great experience. In an area where I had no background knowledge, Jacqueline was especially good at explaining in advance each stage of the process. Her predictions about what would happen and about the eventual financial settlement were spot on. I was facing the loss of the family who were the bedrock of my life and I was in a much more fragile state than even I realised. In the face of considerable delay and, at times, low cooperation from the other side, Jacqueline was always there to provide reassurance, kindness and encouragement as well as bringing to bear her considerable strategic skill in handling the litigation. She also showed a real talent for analysing the financial details. I cannot recommend her highly enough!“
• “I first met Jacqueline when I was in a very distressed state about the state of my marriage, and with a 3 month old baby to boot. Not only did she provide me with sage advice around the steps I needed to take, she was incredibly empathic and supportive so encouraged my welfare too. Given getting divorced is a very lonely process this was so important. Jacqueline saved me many months of time given she anticipated the way my divorce would run, and therefore that we should push for a court timetable from the outset. She was very protective of my interests but in a way that was pragmatic and reasonable. Overall, she helped make that period of time feel manageable, and I was very well supported, and, critically the outcome was absolutely as I wanted.”
• “I moved my divorce case to Jacqueline Major after over a year with another firm during which I felt constantly on the back foot during protracted proceedings where my ex-wife seemed to hold all the aces. Jacqueline quickly re-established the initiative and put us on the front foot! She is calm, supportive and understanding during what is a difficult period in your life, yet she stays focused on the things that matter in the case and that will matter to the court. This focus and drive helped me to not only resolve the legal elements in a timely way but also to get through the emotion aspects of my divorce. Ultimately her judgement, first rate knowledge of the law and skill delivered me a fair settlement which has allowed me to move on with my life as well as providing real value for money. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

Memberships

• Law Society
• Resolution
• ACTAPS (association of contentious trusts and probate specialists)
• South East Solutions Collaborative Law group
• Member of Lincoln’s Inn