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Corbett Le Quesne

Corbett Le Quesne was established in November 2017 by Advocates Barbara Corbett and Nicholas Le Quesne. In addition to being experienced Jersey lawyers both Barbara and Nick are qualified English solicitors, able to advise and represent clients in both jurisdictions.

Barbara Corbett

Senior Partner

Biography

Barbara Corbett is a Jersey Advocate and English Solicitor with over 25 years’ experience as a family lawyer. She is the Senior Partner at Corbett Le Quesne. Barbara is a collaborative lawyer, mediator, family arbitrator, international family lawyer and a specialist children’s lawyer.

Barbara has expertise in all areas of family law and is committed to helping clients resolve problems in a positive and conciliatory manner wherever possible. In addition to her considerable experience dealing with divorce and financial settlements Barbara also advises clients on the preparation of pre-nuptial and other relationship agreements.  Many of Barbara’s cases have an international element, she frequently advises foreign lawyers on Jersey law especially in respect of cross jurisdictional pre-nuptial agreements and cases involving trusts and business assets in Jersey. Barbara is also well-known for her significant children law practice. She represents both adults and children in private and public law cases and has expertise in international relocation cases, financial applications by and on behalf of children, child abduction, surrogacy and adoption in addition to the more usual applications in respect of who children live with and have contact with, including grandparents and wider family members.

In addition to being recognised as being one of the leading family lawyers in Jersey, Barbara is also at the forefront of developing family law in Jersey, particularly the separate representation of children and divorce reform. Barbara is also closely involved in exploring changes in the law relating to surrogacy in her role as a Jersey Law Commissioner. Barbara has had articles published in Family Law, International Family Law, the Jersey and Guernsey Law Review. She has also contributed chapters on Jersey law to Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons (Thomson Reuters) and International Relocation of Children (Practical Law). 

Barbara is married with five grown up children.

  • "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! This is truly wonderful news. I am so happy to hear this. I feel I am finally free! It means so much to me. Best wishes and again many thanks!"

    Family client

  • "I wanted to thank you very much for all your help during the past year. You have always been so approachable and empathetic and that was so reassuring."

    Family Client

  • "Thank you ever so much for all your help these last 8 months. I've really felt looked after and cared for whilst navigating totally new concepts and processes. I really have got the best of the best fighting my corner."

    Legal Aid Client

  • “I remember my very first appointment with you, I was trembling & emotionally in a very bad way - how far I have come since then & I have so many reasons to thank you.”

    Family Client

  • "Thank you so much for seeing me this afternoon. I left your office feeling completely in charge again."

    Family Client

  • “You have steered me through the past year with calmness and professionalism yet with a personal and amazingly responsive service. I am very grateful to you.”

    Family Client

  • "Thank you so much to you and your team for everything. You were such a pleasure to deal with and so efficient that I have already recommended your firm to a friend who has now also engaged you."

    Family Client

  • “Barbara is wonderful and is the voice of common sense.”

    Mediation Client

  • "I would like to thank you very much for your help, your empathy and your time. Having you by my side from beginning to end of my divorce procedures has been like having a friend accompanying me all along that torturous road that a divorce is."

    Family Client

  • "Barbara, I just want to say thank you for all your help, support, advice and your compassion during my troubled times... I now feel ready to start a new chapter in my life. Thank you once again."

    Family Client

  • “She is a person with the greatest of integrity and honesty."

    Family Client

  • "Your compassion and caring nature helped me to feel at ease during our meetings. Your sense of fairness - you often talked about what was fair not just for me but for [my ex-husband] too & for that I'm grateful.”

    Family Client

  • “From the very beginning of our break up, you encouraged us to mediate & work together”

    Family Client

  • “I sometimes found the documentation & process overwhelming & complicated, you never rushed our meetings and nothing was ever too much trouble - you took time to explain.”

    Family Client

  • Barbara Corbett stands out as a well-regarded leader in her field and is at the cutting edge of family law developments in Jersey.

    Legal 500

  • "Barbara Corbett is the best Lawyer. I have used 5 lawyers and spoken to many others. Barbara is the best. She is a Force of Nature: compassionate, driven, outspoken and she knows the Law in Jersey and the UK inside out. I wished I had her advice at the beginning of my case. Barbara has won many awards including Woman of the Year, not just once. She is an inspirational human being. In the time I have worked with her, she has shown her philanthropic nature again and again. I would recommend her highly."

    Family Client

  • "Thank you for all your help and support. You helped me survive divorce with minimal (ish!) fuss and then helped build my confidence so I could thrive as a single parent, have a fresh start and give life a massive reboot by daring myself to dream! You are an amazing law firm and I sing your praises every chance I get!"

    Family client

  • "Thank you so much for dealing with my divorce, so quickly. It has been a very tough time emotionally for me and you made it very smooth and easier for me to cope with. I can now begin to settle into my new life and look forward."

    Family client

  • "You have both made us feel very comfortable and welcome in what can be a stressful time. To know that your company is ‘on your side’ in regards to the current laws means a lot and we appreciate your kindness."

    Family client

  • "Barbara has been a wise counsel shifting through the fact from fiction and a steady influence in this process."

    Private client

Nicholas Le Quesne

Partner

Biography

Nicholas Le Quesne is a Jersey Advocate, a qualified collaborative lawyer and an experienced English solicitor.  He is one of the founding partners of Corbett Le Quesne having established the firm with Advocate Barbara Corbett in November 2017.  

Nicholas advises on all areas of family law, specialising in complex matrimonial finance work and has a particular interest in pre and postnuptial agreements. He also has experience in children matters, including cases involving intractable contact and parental alienation.

Nicholas works with a wide range of clients, both domestic and international.  He builds strong relationships with his clients by listening to them and offering them pragmatic, solution focused advice. He aims to work together with clients to reach a negotiated settlement out of the court arena wherever possible. When proceedings (whether in court or arbitration) are necessary, he is used to litigating to achieve the best possible outcome for his clients.

Nicholas has been published in the Jersey and Guernsey Law Review and is a former winner of the Law Society of Jersey Prize for the Jersey Advocacy constitutional law examination.  He is also a member of the committee of the Jersey Family Law Association. 

  • "Thank you for all your advice throughout the worrying time I experienced this year. Your support and encouragement were invaluable to me."

    Family client

  • "Thanks so much for all your patience and help throughout this. You have been a steady presence and always on hand to offer advice and guidance."

    Family client

  • "Nicholas Le Quesne provides timely, excellent, pragmatic and useful advice."

    Legal 500

  • "Getting divorced is always going to be stressful and a difficult time but Nick made the process as straightforward and painless as possible. He saw the bigger picture for myself and my children and he was great at making sure that the process and the related costs were fully explained. Nick was also really quick at turning round documents or responding to issues promptly as they arose and was a great support as well as an adviser. I'd wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone else who needs an adviser on family law matters."

    Family Client

  • "Compassionate and thoughtful throughout difficult circumstances."

    Legal 500

  • "Nick and Barbara are both very approachable and I have every confidence in their knowledge, advice and common-sense approach. I needed honest, practical advice provided in an efficient and thoughtful manner and I am pleased to say that is exactly what I received. Nick managed challenging conversations in a professional and honest but empathetic way, which I really appreciated."

    Family Client

  • "Thank you and the team so much for your time and patience I would not have been able to get to this point without you."

    Family Client

  • "Barbara Corbett and Nicholas Le Quesne are both consummate professionals with excellent client skills. They are strategically strong and think around the issues."

    Legal 500

  • "You have been extremely professional and a huge help through what has been a difficult period. You have made the whole process seamless and as simplified as possible. Huge thanks to you and your team."

    Family client

  • "Nick has acted as my lawyer on two occasions. Both times he has shown extreme professionalism whilst being very understanding. I would always feel at ease and reassured after my communications with him. Always quick to respond to any queries and in dealing with any matters that arose quickly. I would not hesitate to appoint him on my behalf and would highly recommend Nick as a family lawyer."

    Private Client, Citywealth Leaders List

  • "I recommend Nicholas Le Quesne as a family lawyer to anyone. I found Nick to always be professional and supportive. I found the process of getting a divorce both painful and challenging and I’m so grateful to have had Nick to help guide me through the process. Nick was always patient and good at listening. When I needed time , Nick gave me time. While Nick was understanding I always knew he was making sure mine and my children’s needs were being looked after. I feel very confident that Nick got the best outcome for me. The whole team at Corbett Le Quesne were very supportive and I was made to feel very welcome."

    Private Client, Citywealth Leaders List

  • “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. I am very grateful, and pleased that it all went so smoothly. I would add that that the personalised service was excellent, reassuring that I felt valued as a client.”

    Family Client

  • “Many thanks for the efficient and diligent attention afforded to dealing with my case. I would be delighted to recommend your services to anyone with regard to Family Matters in the future.”

    Family Client

  • "Many thanks for all your help. Throughout the tough process you have been incredibly approachable and understanding. Even when off Island nothing was ever a problem and knowing that I could contact any time of day or night was immensely reassuring from the beginning. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to anybody who unfortunately has to go through this tough process."

    Family Client

  • "Both Barbara and Nick are exceptionally talented and have taken Jersey by storm. They are all round good family lawyers and have created a niche firm supporting their clients well and providing top notch legal advice."

    Legal 500, 2020

  • “Excellent expertise and impeccable attention to detail with my case. Nick was very efficient and responded immediately. I would be delighted to recommend Nick to anyone with regard to Family Law Matters”

    Family Client

  • "I can't thank you enough for all your help and advice"

    Family client

  • "A big thank you to Nick for holding the baton in the mediation and for his thoughts and expertise in the matter."

    Private client

Simon Lofthouse

Head of Private Client

Biography

Simon qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2012 and has been practising in Jersey since 2016.

Simon joined Corbett Le Quesne as Head of Private Client in March 2021. He specialises in Wills and Probate and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

Always on hand in times of grief or illness, Simon compassionately guides clients through the potentially complex legal issues that need to be dealt with when a loved one or friend dies or loses capacity. Simon has a down to earth approach and strives to provide clients with peace of mind through clear advice and pragmatic solutions.

Simon is one of only a few advisers in Jersey to hold the STEP Advanced Certificate in Cross Border Estates. He received the highest mark ever awarded to anyone in any STEP qualification anywhere in the world and was therefore also given a STEP Worldwide Excellence Award and a special CLT International Exceptional Performance Award. His interest, expertise and knowledge have led him to being featured on Radio 4 in a report focusing on EU Succession and the complexity of private international law when dealing with the succession of assets situate in the EU by a non-resident.

He is a member of the Capacity and Succession Committee for the Jersey Law Society.

Simon is married with two daughters and is an active member of Rotary Jersey.

 

  • "A potentially difficult process made easy."

    Private Client - Wills

  • "Thank you for assisting my customer who was very satisfied with your service!"

    Private Client

  • "May I take this opportunity Simon, to thank you for all your assistance with winding up my father's estate in Jersey. You provided an excellent and impeccable service and I am most satisfied and impressed by the way you handled the probate. Such a pity you don't work in Germany!"

    Private Client

  • "I wish to express my sincere thanks for your help and personal investment to my case. It has been a real curveball of events. The team effort has been one of a cohesive and supportive unit, a sincere thank you to you all."

    Private client

Kate Donohue

Counsel

Biography

Advocate Kate Donohue is a very experienced family lawyer and a Deputy District Judge on the Northern Circuit. 

Kate started her career in law as a solicitor, qualifying in 2009. She worked in the UK and became Regional Head of Family Law at Simson Millar.  She then qualified as a barrister in 2017 and is a tenant at 18 St John Street Chambers. Three years later she moved to Jersey and started studying towards her advocates exams. She was called to the Jersey Bar in January 2023.

In February 2024 The Lady Chief Justice, The Right Honourable the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, Head of Judiciary of England and Wales and the President of the Courts of England and Wales appointed Advocate Kate Donohue as a Deputy District Judge to sit within the family jurisdiction on the Northern Circuit of England and Wales.  

Ranked as a Leading Junior Counsel by the Legal 500, Kate advises and acts on private and public law applications including Care proceedings, Residence, Contact, Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders. 

Kate fell in love with Jersey on holidays to the island and moved here with her husband and two children in 2020.

 

Jamie-Lee Morgan

Associate Solicitor

Biography

Jamie-Lee completed her Jersey Solicitor's exams in 2022 and was sworn in as a Jersey Ecrivain in January 2023, a few days after joining Corbett Le Quesne. 

Jamie-Lee has approximately 10 years experience in the field of family law having gained a paralegal qualification with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (which means she is able to advise on English Law family matters), a Diploma in family law and a degree in Law, all whilst working full-time.

  • "I am very grateful for all the help I received from Jamie-Lee. She is my hero as I was so stressed and she calmly went through everything with me."

    Family client

Anna Styles

Senior Associate

Biography

Anna joined Corbett Le Quesne in September 2019.

Anna advises on all areas of family law, and has a broad range of experience. Building strong client relationships is very important to Anna because she understands that relationship breakdowns can cause a lot of uncertainty and stress which affect every aspect of family life. The impact of family proceedings on parties’ mental health and on children is also something Anna is particularly aware of. Anna is practical, solution focused and conciliatory but when it is clear that matters will not be resolved by agreement she will pursue the most efficient and effective path to a resolution.

  • "I do not know what I would have done without you. I was on the floor but now I’m on top of a mountain. You have all been a such a big thing in my life and I appreciate all you’ve done."

    Family client

Louise Eden

Paralegal

Biography

Louise is a Paralegal in the Private Client Department at Corbett Le Quesne, having joined in January 2020. Louise has experience in both family law and private client work and regularly assists with Delegateships, Probates, Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs). She is caring and empathetic and provides organised, calm and proactive assistance to her clients.

Louise was educated at Jersey College for Girls and is currently undertaking her English law degree locally with the University of London via the Institute of Law. Her plan is to then complete further studies to become a qualified Solicitor in Jersey specialising in Private Client.

Louise is CIPD qualified at Associate level and has a career background in Human Resources working in this field both locally in Jersey for various Trust and Finance companies and Internationally at the QUT University in Brisbane, Australia.

Louise is a founding Committee Member of the Jersey International Legal Association (JILA).

  • "A big thank you to Louise for her listening skills, sensible approach and concise putting together of the enormous bundle and events in a factual and thoughtful manner."

    Private client

Lizzie Keogh

Office Manager

Biography

Lizzie Keogh is the officer manager at Corbett Le Quesne. Lizzie has had a diverse employment background. She spent many years working in childcare, followed by work in horticulture helping to run an online garden centre and then various roles in administration.

Her interest in law came about after working as a receptionist at the Royal Court and meeting Barbara Corbett there. After a year and a half working alongside Barbara and Nick at BCR Law, she made the decision to move with them and help set up Corbett Le Quesne in November 2017. 

Lizzie provides homemade cakes for the office and did once win an award for her carrot cake!

Sarah Allchin

Private Client Manager

Biography

Sarah originally trained as a nursery nurse and worked in nurseries and a local primary school before moving into law. 

Sarah gained management experience in various law firms as office manager for a billion-Euro private equity company before joining Corbett Le Quesne.

Simon Lofthouse, Head of Private Client commented “I couldn’t be happier to welcome Sarah to the group. She is a delight to work with and has already made herself invaluable. She has significant experience in probate administration and is excellent with clients.”

Katie De Andrade

Junior Paralegal

Biography

Katie joined Corbett Le Quesne in January 2022 having been Corbett Le Quesne's very first Trident Student in 2018.

Katie went to Grainville School and then studied Health and Social Care at Highlands College. She worked at Lloyds pharmacy from the age of 15, becoming full time during the pandemic.

Katie was born in Jersey but her family comes from Madeira and she speaks fluent Portuguese. Katie is happy to translate for clients as and when necessary. 

Katie was promoted to Junior Paralegal in December 2022. 

Jess Dunning

Paralegal

Biography

Jess worked at the Jersey Financial Services Commission as a Registry/Policy Assistant part time while studying towards her law degree. 

Jess obtained a 2:1 (Hons) in 2023.

Jess came to Corbett Le Quesne initially as an intern but it was quickly apparent that she would be an excellent addition to the team and she was invited to join permanently as a Paralegal in the family law team.

Jess would like to specialise in family law and would like to be a Jersey Advocate in due course. She is also gaining experience with the Private Client team.