Emily Alice Reed

I am a Solicitor in the Family department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors.

I joined Duncan Lewis in July 2016 as a caseworker in the family department at the Hackney office. In January 2017 I began my training contract and completed seats in family, childcare, and international child abduction and adoption before qualifying as a solicitor in January 2019.

I have a particular interest in children work including both private and public law cases. My experience of public law cases includes representing parents - some of which are particularly young - in cases involving chronic neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health concerns including personality disorders, non-accidental injuries, and children beyond parental control including violent and inappropriate sexual behavior.

My focus for private law proceedings involves representing parents in disputes regarding child arrangements, as well as complex matters where the child is joined as a party to the proceedings and represented by a Children's Guardian. I have experience in handling protracted contact disputes, concerns about welfare that have not been addressed by the Local Authority and require further investigation, allegations of physical abuse against the children, and serious domestic violence. I also represent clients who have been victims of domestic abuse and obtain and prepare evidence for Fact Finding Hearings.

I also have experience representing clients in wardship, child abduction (Hague and Non-Hague Convention Countries) and FGM Matters.

• Legal Practice Course (LPC) and LLM at the University of Law in Moorgate including research report on pre-nuptial agreements (Distinction) - 2016
• LLB Law at University of Hertfordshire, 2:1 - 2015

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors: 2016-present

• “Compassion, empathy and a strong sense of understanding continually projects from Emily as she assists us with the emotionally draining situation we are in. I'm quick to pick up on poor practice and feel it is equally as important to highlight best practice. Emily’s demeanour brings comfort and calm to the situation, she is wholly non-judgemental and has the ability to manage the distress we experience by showing she understands how we are feeling, in turn this allows us all to trust her and move forward and focus on our primary goal of keeping our family together. Emily really shines and stands out against the collective legal representatives we have previously experienced as a family, it’s refreshing to feel this way and wanted Emily to know the positive impact her blend of personality and professionalism is having.” – Andy - client, 2019


• "While I found the process to be challenging at times, your responsiveness, knowledge and empathy made the process much easier to manage for me personally. So, thank you" - Client 2020


• "Thank you so much...and also for the fantastic job you've done for me and my girl. Well done Emily" - Client 2020

• Finalist for the 'Young Solicitor of the Year' award at the Family Law Awards 2021

High Court

• B v M [2018] EWHC 1473 (Fam) (26 April 2018)
• Re A (A Child : Female Genital Mutilation : Asylum) (Rev 1) [2019] EWHC 2475 (Fam) (25 September 2019)
• A (A child) (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Application) (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 323 (Fam) (18 February 2020)

• The National FGM Centre: Celebrating Great Women’s Charities for International Women’s Day 2022 (8 March 2022)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors shortlisted at the 2021 Family Law Awards (6 September 2021)
• Annulment of marriage on the ground of non-consummation is incompatible with the Human Rights Act (17 February 2021)
• A (A Child) (Rev 1) [2020] EWCA Civ 731 (15 June 2020) - Success in Opposing Appeal by SSHD in FGMPO Proceedings (17 June 2020)
• A (A child) (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Application) [2020] EWHC 323 (Fam) - Success for client in Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Matter (9 March 2020)
• Successful Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order application from the family court despite conflict with immigration courts (2 March 2020)
• Family Courts powerless to prevent deportation of children at risk of FGM - A (A Child: Female Genital Mutilation: Asylum) [2019] EWHC 2475 (Fam) (25 September 2019) (4 October 2019)
• Family law solicitor Emily Reed attends the National FGM Centre Conference (9 July 2019)
• B v M [2018] EWHC 1473 (Fam) (26 April 2018) – Duncan Lewis successful in mishandled Private Fostering Agreement (7 May 2019)