Who? Lesley Landsberg, 55, founder of Enfield Family Law and member of the Law Society’s children panel.

Why is she in the news? Landsberg won a legal battle against a client who sued her for negligence over advice during divorce proceedings.

She had been instructed by Sharon Minkin to draft a financial settlement order, but was then sued after Minkin later claimed that she should have advised her against entering into the agreement.

Landsberg maintained that she had not been instructed to advise on the contents of the settlement, which had already been looked at by another firm of solicitors.

The Court of Appeal ruled in her favour and stressed the importance of lawyers being able to offer unbundled advice.

Thoughts on the case: ‘If this issue had not been settled it would have left solicitors up in the air. No one would take on just a single issue – and if they did the fees would have to be very high. If the case had gone the other way lawyers would have said: “That’s it, I’m not touching anything [on a limited retainer].” That’s what I would have said.’

Dealing with the media: ‘I agreed for the judgment to be published as I felt it would have a wider interest for lawyers given that the issues raised in court were limited retainers and the comments of Lady Justice King about the inevitable effects of LASPO.’

Why become a lawyer? ‘I came to law very late, as I was a travel agent before. I just wanted to do something I could get my teeth into and where I could help change people’s perceptions.’

Career high: ‘Dealing with care proceedings when I can turn the whole thing around and the children are allowed to return to their parents when that is the right decision.’

Career low: ‘When my client decided she was going to sue me. I thought that I had done everything I could possibly do.’

 

This article was amended on 23 November 2015 to correct the name of Lady Justice King. 

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