Jane Simpson (solicitor)

Jane Simpson is a family lawyer who specialised in complex ancillary relief cases and those involving children.[1] Simpson is a trained marriage guidance counselor and collaborative lawyer. She was the founder and head of the family law department at Manches LLP, a UK law firm, as well as its chairwoman.[2][3] making her, as of her appointment, one of few women who have led City of London law firms.[4]

Simpson was admitted Solicitor of Supreme Court 1967.[5] She was a fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML). In 2008, Simpson was one of the founders of the group, Collaborative Family Law (formerly the Central London Collaborative Forum)[6][7] which aims to bring collaborative law to high value cases. In 1982 Simpson co-founded, and from 1993 to 1995 chaired, the Solicitors' Family Law Association[5] (now Resolution).[8] It is the national organisation for solicitors specialising in family law and now has over 5,000 members. She also served as a member of the Lord Chancellor’s Family Law Advisory Board and was a non executive director and Vice Chairman of the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust.[2] Jane was the chair at Manches until her retirement in 2011.[9] In 2013, Manches LLP merged with Pennington to form Pennington Manches.[10][11]

Jane Simpson was the daughter of Sidney and Judith Manches,[9][3] the first husband and wife team in the UK to practise law in partnership.[3]