Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Estella Newbold-Brown Amphlett Lissimore
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Estella Newbold-Brown, Partner and Head of Family Law at Amphlett Lissimore.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I am a partner and the head of the Family Law team at Amphlett Lissimore Solicitors. In my role, I manage a diverse caseload that includes complex divorce and child custody matters, whilst also overseeing a team of five dedicated lawyers. In addition to my casework, I have cultivated a strong professional network both in and out of the Legal industry and have established a loyal following. This network has become a valuable source of referrals, further enhancing mine and the firm’s reputation and reach in London and its surrounding areas.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I work compressed hours, condensing five days of work into four. While this results in four lengthy workdays (Monday-Thursday), it allows me to enjoy a well-deserved break over the weekend. I typically drop the twins off at breakfast club in the week, log on by 7.40am and work through to collecting them just before 6pm.
I’m meticulous about organisation; I create a detailed to-do list and categorise my emails by colour, linking them to my clients on my list for easy reference. I frequently use dictation, relying on BigHand on my work phone, which streamlines my workflow. I’m fortunate to have an incredible support staff who assist with my dictations and help schedule new client appointments.
Most of my work is done from home, but I make it a point to visit an office once a week, often at our head office in Crystal Place or at one of our central London locations in London Bridge, Victoria, or Richmond. I also prioritise staying connected with my team, whether through a quick coffee catch-up, lunch, Teams calls, or voice notes. I also host regular socials in London for the team. Its so important for a team that remotely to get together regularly in a non-work related capacity and have some fun!
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
These matters are confidential, but the majority of my clients tend to be non-confrontational and aim to resolve disputes in the most amicable way possible. As a member of the family law association, Resolution, I fully support and encourage this approach. Consequently, I rarely have cases that proceed to court, as I consistently advise clients to adopt this collaborative and constructive method of resolution.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Currently, one of the most significant challenges clients face is the extensive backlog in the courts. As a result, hearings that would typically be scheduled within 4 to 6 months are now delayed, often being set for 9 to 12 months or even longer. In light of these delays, I strongly advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a more viable option.
While there are situations where initiating court proceedings is unavoidable, I make it a priority to discuss alternative pathways right from the beginning with my clients. Even after court proceedings have been filed, I continually assess whether private Financial Dispute Resolutions (FDRs), private mediations, or arbitration could serve as effective alternatives. This proactive approach allows clients to navigate their disputes more efficiently and with greater flexibility, ultimately reducing the stress and uncertainty that prolonged court timelines can cause.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
In addition to handling intricate financial cases, I specialize in complex private child matters. My proudest achievement lies in ensuring that children receive the best possible outcomes. One notable case involved unfounded allegations against a father, including serious claims of sexual abuse against his child. After over a year of dedicated work, I successfully demonstrated that these allegations lacked merit. As a result, my client was granted overnight stay contact with his child, a privilege that the other parent had previously denied.
I also find child abduction cases particularly rewarding. In one such case, I successfully argued that a child who had been removed from the jurisdiction and relocated to another country to escape domestic abuse, by their mother, should be allowed to remain there, relying on the defence of acquiescence. These cases, where the welfare of children is at stake, are where I feel I can make the most significant impact. For that child to remain in their new home, providing them the safety and stability they desperately needed, is incredibly rewarding.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
As a leader, I believe in leading by example. I am deeply passionate about my work, and my enthusiasm naturally inspires my team. Each member of my team is highly experienced, which is why I trust them with autonomy in their roles. However, I make it a priority to regularly check in with them and offer support whenever they need assistance with their cases. By balancing trust and support, I foster an environment where they can thrive while knowing they have my guidance when required.
Who do you most admire and why?
My mum. She is someone who faced limited opportunities in her younger years but has spent her life demonstrating remarkable drive and achieving incredible success. I credit much of my own work ethic to the example she has set for me.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
For me, it is really important to completely switch off from work when I am on holiday with my family and concentrate on them and having quality time. Greece is our ‘go to’ place for a family holiday. I am able to achieve this with my amazing team who are always on hand to help out.
However, sometimes work trickling into a holiday is unavoidable and a standout moment in my career, was during Christmas when I was handling a high-value case involving a husband with a history of gambling large sums of money. On Christmas Eve, the other side unexpectedly disclosed a £1.8m buyout of shares, without providing any assurances that the funds would be safeguarded. While I was spending the holiday in freezing temperatures in New York, I drafted a freezing order application from my hotel room and successfully preserved the funds, which had a significant impact on my client’s case.
This year, I’m attending two conferences in Jersey, which will offer a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals in family law, stay updated on legal developments, and enjoy a productive trip away with colleagues.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
If I weren’t in law, I’d be a vet. I was always excellent at science in school and have a deep love for animals. Becoming a vet feels like such a natural fit for me, though it’s completely different from what I do now—almost like a world apart. Though my love for animals has filtered into the legal life as I’m now part of a steering group that is working to change the law that sees pets as chattels (an object, like a microwave) when it comes to divorce proceedings.
How do you relax after a long day?
To manage stress and avoid feeling overwhelmed at work, I practice mindfulness and Pilates. I also work with a personal trainer to stay physically and mentally balanced. At the weekends I do like a good glass of Rioja and nice food from a restaurant. But in the week, it usually involves me collecting my twins (4 years old) from after school club, getting them to bed, having some dinner, watching something on TV (Traitors, Ru Paul’s Drag Race, Masked Singer etc) and then getting an early night!
