Qualifications and experience

Leesa has considerable experience as a Lawyer and has been working in Family Law since 1993. She qualified as a Chartered legal Executive as a Fellow in 2000. In 2026 she was granted Chartered Legal Executive Litigator status.

Leesa joined the firm in February 1998. She has been dedicated to her role and was made a Partner in 2019. Leesa is the Head of Churchers Family Team consisting of three Solicitors, two Chartered Legal Executives, two trainee Solicitors and seven assistants.

In 2014 Leesa became a Resolution Accredited Specialist showing her specialism in financial proceedings in divorce, as she has achieved the high standards set by Resolution to achieve accreditation as a specialist family lawyer with particular focus on complex high net worth cases. Leesa has continued her commitment to high standards of work and her aim to negotiate on amicable terms to avoid court proceedings.

Areas of Family Law Leesa enjoys

Although the majority of Leesa’s work relates to financial claims following separation Leesa loves drafting pre-nuptial agreements. Leesa feels that these documents make the parties financial positions clear as they start their married life. Contributions become more relevant in short marriages so such agreements will be considered by the Court.

Leesa finds negotiating financial settlements and having them approved in Consent Orders really satisfying. Leesa enjoys preparing cohabitation and separation  agreements.

More recently Leesa has shown in an interest in resolving matters through the Arbitration process as an alternative to a Final financial hearing. Private Financial Dispute Resolution (FDR) hearings are fastly becoming a popular alternative to Court FDRs. Leesa’s ethos is to avoid unnecessary costs, delay and ultimate stress for the parties so supports this move away from the courts valuable time.

Despite Leesa’s emphasis on settlement Leesa does enjoy preparing plus opposing financial conduct cases and Legal services order applications.

Leesa’s commitment to the community

During her many years with the firm Leesa has set up a community drop-in service (now re-branded to Churchers Family Law Advice Clinic) providing free advice to those clients in need of Family Advice understanding the impact of changes to Legal Aid eligibility. Leesa grew this service over the years from an initial drop in at Portsmouth encouraging the Churchers Family team to offer the same service. Now the service is offered by all the Family team at each of their offices. Leesa’s commitment to pro-bono work has granted her recognition for the past two years by appearing on the pro-bono recognition list.

Leesa has provided guidance and support to a local domestic abuse charity. Despite no longer being a trustee of the Charity Leesa continues to support.

Leesa provides training on financial applications to local accountants and financial advisors to enable them to support their business clients when financial claims are made against their business clients.

Leesa’s desire to train future lawyers

Leesa has mentored law students at the University of Portsmouth. She has provided work experience to graduates seeking a career in the law. Leesa encourages future lawyers to maintain the same ethos in respect of resolving family disputes in a non-confrontational way.

During her time with Churchers Leesa has trained 8 junior members of the firm who have gone on to qualify as Solicitors with 5 remaining at Churchers as Solicitors with one becoming a Partner. Feedback from trainees has been always you hit the ground running during your time with Leesa.

Leesa enjoys the rewards of watching trainee Solicitors adapt to the fast pace which Family Law requires. Leesa’s organised and efficient working practices have been passed on to her trainees.

What do Leesa’s clients say

Leesa’s reviews on Review Solicitors echo her commitment to providing efficient and high quality work.