Meet The Team Tuesday Ft. Helen Greenfield

Meet Helen Greenfield,  a director at Family Law in Partnership. Helen advises on all matters relating to family breakdown, divorce and cohabitation. She has a particular interest in helping those who have been affected by domestic abuse. Helen recognises that the legal implications of domestic abuse are accompanied by a plethora of emotional and other issues, and she aims to ensure that clients are able to work through them with the right advice and support. 

1. So, Helen, how long have you been at FLiP?

I have been at FLiP since 2004 although my role there has changed over the years.  I started as a paralegal having just been called to the Bar.  Having worked at FLiP for about a year I decided I would prefer to be a solicitor so took the necessary exams and then started part of my training contract at FLiP.  I then completed it at another firm to incorporate the necessary variety of seats.  However, they couldn’t get rid of me for very long so I returned to FLiP in 2006 when I qualified as a solicitor.  So, I have been in or around FLiP for nearly 20 years now!

2. What does your role entail at FLiP?

I am one of the directors at FLiP and undertake the full gambit of family law from financial remedy to children to cohabitants to surrogacy.  My chosen specialism and the cases I find the most rewarding however are those involving domestic violence.

3. What is the best thing about your job?

I think the best thing about my job is the huge variety of people I meet everyday.  I also feel hugely proud and take great satisfaction from helping people find their way through one of the worst experiences of their lives and ensuring they can come out the other end with their relationships and mental health intact.

4. Are you a tea or a coffee drinker?

Tea although I am partial to an espresso martini!

5. What is the hardest thing about your job?

Knowing that I can’t solve all the problems I’m faced with.  Whilst I do volunteer and sit on the board of a couple of charities it is impossible to ensure that everyone has the access to justice that they deserve.  Even those clients who can afford private representation suffer from the lack of funding in the legal system with crumbling courts and long delays.  A very frustrating system to work in sometimes.

6. What motivates you at work?

Knowing that with the right guidance and support the process of divorce/ separation does not have to be something that completely ruins lives and family relations.

7. When you are enjoying some well-deserved leave, describe your perfect day?

Sitting anywhere near the sea with a cold glass of something in hand maybe after a couple of hours messing around on boats.