Smith Partnership’s Leicester team celebrate a double Law Society endorsement

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 25 April 2022

UPDATED: 26 April 2022

A Leicester law firm is celebrating a double endorsement from its own industry after it was shortlisted for a prestigious legal award and was recognised for their work representing some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Smith Partnership, based on New Walk, received two sets of good news this month after it reached the shortlist of the Leicester Law Society’s Large Law firm category for the second year running.

The announcement followed that of childcare solicitor Sarika Parmar, a member of the firm’s family law team, receiving her Children Law Accreditation from the Law Society.

The accreditation, previously known as the Children Law Panel, and was awarded in recognition of Sarika’s expertise and experience of dealing with children cases and care proceedings. It means that she can now represent children in court proceedings and take instructions through the court appointed guardian.

Smith Partnership, which also operates offices in several locations including Derby and Burton, has one of the largest family teams in the East Midlands and now with seven lawyers who hold the Children Law Accreditation.

Della Phillips, partner at Smith Partnership, said:

“We are delighted to once again be shortlisted as Large Law firm of the year against some very strong competitors. These two accolades are a wonderful recognition of our expertise and endorsement of our work.”

“The work that Sarika carries out on behalf of her clients affects the lives of the most vulnerable people in society and now she is able to represent the interests of children themselves as well as their parents.”

“It’s an extremely specialised area of law that requires a unique set of skills and qualities and this accreditation is very well deserved.”

Sarika has over 10 years’ experience in advising and representing parents and grandparents in care proceedings and child protection matters, having qualified as a solicitor in 2009.

She said:

“The accreditation means that I can now represent the child when they have been subject to neglect or abuse in order to obtain the best possible outcome for them.”

“It is not for everybody but it’s an area of law where you’re more than a lawyer, and we often need to provide emotional support to our clients, and I enjoy that aspect of it.”

The Leicestershire Law Society Annual Awards will take place at Athena, in Queen Street, Leicester, on May 20.

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