Family Law

Throughout her 30 year career as a practising solicitor in Scotland, Family Law has been at the heart of Julia Donnelly’s business life. She has trained as a collaborative lawyer and mediator, and has received specialist accreditation as a Family Mediator by the Law Society of Scotland. She also acted as curator ad litem appointed by the Sheriff Principal to represent the interests of children in complex cases. She has acted in many high value financial divorce as well as complex child-related cases in Sheriff Courts across Scotland, and she regularly instructs counsel in family cases conducted in the Court of Session, Scotland’s Supreme Court. In her role she regularly calls on established associations with a range of specialised family law advocates and forensic experts.

Julia prides herself with having the both the legal skills and interpersonal empathy to help clients navigate the myriad of problems that can impact them on separation, whether emotional or financial, providing strong support and clear guidance throughout. She can offer concise legal advice in way that is readily understandable to ensure that her clients have a clear knowledge and understanding of the legal framework, and are fully equipped when making important decisions. A key element of her family law practise is taking time to get to know her clients and focus on their particular interests and needs, allowing her to develop a plan and strategy along with them to resolve their dispute in the best and most economic way. Her years of experience in this field ensure that her work is conducted with skill and insight, whether in negotiations or in the court setting.

Julia’s practice in family law is very diverse. As well as complex, high value financial provision divorce cases, she regularly deals with Minutes of Agreement including pre-nuptial and pre-cohabitation Agreements. She also conducts child relocation cases,  and other cases involving children, such as residence and contact actions, and paternity disputes, and she regularly acts in a variety of specific issue order claims.

Julia is the practice area head and lead solicitor in our Family Law team at Livingstone Brown and over the years helped develop our in-house family law CPD training program, as well as supervising a team of experienced family law solicitors and trainees. She has regularly issued publications on family law topics which can be found on our website. She is a member of the Family Law Association and Consensus Scotland, as well as being STEP trained. She studied her Law Degree (LLB Hons),at Glasgow University, one of Scotland’s most renowned universities. Prior to that she obtained an MA in psychology at Glasgow University and the University of South Florida, which has given her skills and insights which have proven to be invaluable when assisting clients in the area of family law.

Private Client

Julia Donnelly is a director of the company and the lead solicitor in our busy private client department. She has almost 30 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor and is one of only a handful of solicitors in Scotland who hold a tax law honours degree, which she obtained from Glasgow University.  

She offers her clients an empathetic and dedicated service, handling all their personal legal needs from will writing, estate administration and executry services, to setting up Guardianship Orders and arranging Powers of Attorney.  She regularly assists her clients in relation to planning, or in providing help in administering a loved one's estate. She deals regularly with both testate and intestate estates including larger estates, as well as advising clients on legal rights claims. She is also able to deal with disputes and litigation arising from estate matters, and can advise on the reduction of wills, and actions for count, reckoning and payment.  When it comes to wills and financial affairs such as estate administration, it is important to have an experienced and professional solicitor on your side who will take a strategic approach to ensuring your rights and best interests are protected.

Julia prides herself on her solution-based approach whilst being innovative and putting her client's interests at the heart of her advice. She is down to earth and a good communicator and these qualities are key to the personally tailored service she aims to provide to all her of her clients. Julia is also a member of the Society of Trust and Executry Practitioners (STEP) does regular training to enhance and update her skills.

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