Lynne Mounstephen

Lynne graduated in Law from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1999. She then completed an MSc. in Industrial Relations and Employment Law at UMIST, Manchester before taking up employment at Linklaters Law Firm, London. She was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 2001 when she joined the Litigation Department at Harrisons Solicitors, Belfast. She joined Hewitt & Gilpin’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department in 2015.

Lynne has extensive experience handling various aspects of matrimonial and family law.

Divorce and Separation Agreements:
She deals with all aspects of family breakdown. She appreciates the anxieties, both emotional and financial, that accompany breakdown of a marriage or long term relationship and will offer clear, pragmatic advice of the steps that can be taken to provide security. She is also a trained Collaborative lawyer and can advise on how this process can be used by couples to negotiate, with the assistance of their solicitors, a Settlement Agreement without the constraints and threat of legal proceedings. In cases where agreement cannot be reached thought the collaborative process or by voluntary exchange of financial documentation, she is familiar with the full range of options available through the Courts. She regularly advises on divorce, maintenance, ancillary relief proceedings to sort out parties finances after divorce and has dealt with cases involving foreign property and the enforcement of Maintenance Agreements in other countries. She also has had divorce cases which she has been able to resolve fairly whilst preserving family assets such as the farm or family company.

Children’s Law:
Lynne is sensitive to the impact that family separation can have on the children. She can offer advice and bring proceedings under the Children’s Order if necessary for Residence and Contact, Parental Responsibility, Prohibited Steps and Specific Issue Orders e.g. in relation to which school a child attends. She has acted for parents, grandparents and step-parents and can advise on children’s matters where there is Social Services involvement where Care Orders, Emergency Protection Orders or Adoption Orders are being considered. Where there is physical or emotional abuse, she will take emergency steps to apply for a Non-Molestation and Occupation Order. She has also helped negotiate the return of children in International Child Abduction matters.

Employment Law:
Lynne assists Naomi Gowan with employment law issues. She regularly advises on Unfair Dismissal, Bullying & Harassment, and Discrimination matters. She has a particular interest in stress at work claims and will advise on policy and procedure and grievance complaints.

Litigation:
Lynne has extensive experience in injury and disease claims arising from the workplace (deafness, asbestos, dermatitis). She also has a particular interest in clinical negligence and has successfully obtained settlements in cases arising out of negligent medical treatment, hospital acquired infections, pregnancy, birth and gynaecology.
 

To contact Lynne, please email lmounstephen@hewittandgilpin.co.uk or call on 028 90 271 392