Lawrence Napier

12th February 2026

Lawrence is a solicitor in the firm’s Witney Office. He qualified as a solicitor in 2021 and has since then specialised in family law, joining the firm’s family team in August 2025. Lawrence understands and empathises with the trials and tribulations often faced following the breakdown of a relationship, whether it’s between partners or spouses…. Read more »

Pamela Pagani

6th September 2024

Pamela is a solicitor in the firm’s Banbury Office. She qualified as a solicitor in April 2022 and joined the firm’s family team in August 2024. Pamela advises on divorce, resolving finances on the breakdown of relationships, and the arrangements for children on separation. Pamela prides herself on being professional and is always sympathetic towards… Read more »

Jackie Phillips

14th December 2022

Jackie is a Chartered Legal Executive who joined Bower Bailey as a partner in the family team in November 2022 having previously spent 21 years at a leading national law firm. She is highly experienced having worked in the sector for over 30 years. Jackie is adept at advising on all matters relating to relationship… Read more »

Stephanie Merritt

31st August 2022

Stephanie qualified as a solicitor in 2001. She previously worked for Knights plc for over 7 years where she was the partner and head of the employment team in Oxford until she opted for a slight career change with the broadening of her remit to include Human Resources. She joined Bower Bailey in 2022 as… Read more »

Duncan Bain

14th September 2018

Duncan is a Partner based in our Oxford office. Duncan specialises in employment and immigration law. He qualified as a barrister in 2001 and as a Solicitor in 2008 and worked at two large regional firms before joining Bower Bailey in 2018. Duncan assists employers with the full range of HR related legal issues and… Read more »

Brit Stevens

23rd July 2018

Brit is the partner who heads up the private client team in Bower Bailey’s Oxford office. She joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2004 and qualified in September 2006. Throughout her career Brit has specialised in private client work and has amassed a wealth of experience. She handles a wide variety of cases… Read more »

Philip Cooksey

2nd September 2016

Phil joined the firm in 1994 as a newly qualified solicitor. He became a partner in 1998 and has been the partner in charge of the Banbury office since 2007. Phil deals both private client work, heading up the firm’s private client practice area, as well as residential conveyancing. Phil has an extremely diverse client… Read more »

Philip Boardman

2nd September 2016

Philip, head of family law is based in the firm’s Oxford office. He trained with the firm, qualified as a solicitor in 1991 and became a partner in 1995. He has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of family law, acting for both married and unmarried clients. Although his clients are based predominantly in… Read more »

Kirsty Southgate

2nd September 2016

Kirsty qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and is the partner who heads up the private client team in Bower Bailey’s Witney office. She is known for her approachable manner and she is able to explain complex legal matters in a straightforward way. Kirsty has particular empathy when working with elderly and vulnerable clients and… Read more »

Katie Went

2nd September 2016

Katie is a partner in charge of family law in our Swindon office.   She qualified in 1996 and joined Bower Bailey in 1998.   She is known for her constructive and non-confrontational approach. Katie’s ethos is to deal with all aspects of her family law work as collaboratively and cost effectively as possible.    The majority of… Read more »