Elspeth Thomson

I was admitted as a solicitor in 1994 after studying law at Cambridge University and have practised family law ever since. I now specialise in children law with a caseload consisting of public and private law children disputes, and adoption and surrogacy applications.

I also represent family members in legal cases and am the managing partner of David Gray Solicitors LLP with responsibility for the strategic planning and operational running of the firm. I am the current President of the Newcastle Law Society.

I have represented children, parents, step-parents and adopters in adoption cases and have a thorough understanding of this complex area of law.  I have spent many years representing people experiencing domestic abuse and I am very sensitive to the issues involved.  In April 2019 I give evidence to UK Parliament on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill Committee in The House of Commons which can be viewed here . In May 2020 I once again provided remote evidence to the House of Commons during the COVID-19 lockdown, find out more.

As a Higher Rights Advocate, I enjoy representing my clients in all levels of the family court. I take time to listen to what is important for my clients and do my best to use the law to help them achieve their aims. I know the law can sound complicated and I try to explain things in a way that people can understand easily. I know that having a family legal problem is very stressful and I try to make things as easy as I can for my clients.

I am an accredited arbitrator (children’s issues) and member of the Institute of Family Law arbitrators. 

Accreditations

I hold the following accreditations and memberships :

• elected national committee member of Resolution which represents over 6000 family justice professionals throughout the country who are committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes
• co-chair of the Resolution  legal aid committee.
• member of the Association of Lawyers for Children
• accredited as a member of the Law Society Children Panel
• accredited by Resolution as a specialist lawyer in the areas of private children law and domestic abuse

I am named as a key individual and Eminent Practitioner with Chambers and Partners, who state:

“Her knowledge of children law is exceptional.”

I am also noted as a leading individual in Legal 500 and was shortlisted for the Legal 500 Private Client Individual 2019 award and over the years the Legal 500 have stated:

• 2013 the “brilliant” Elspeth Thomson delivers “simply outstanding advice and service”
• 2014 the “personable” Elspeth Thomson is “well-regarded”
• 2015 Elspeth Thomson has “a firm grip on case law relating to children”
• 2016 Elspeth Thomson is “highly regarded and a clear leader in the field”
• 2017 Elspeth Thomson is “a clear leader in her field”
• 2019 ‘Highly professional’ managing partner Elspeth Thomson ‘handles matters sympathetically’ and stands out for her expertise in adoption law including adoptions with a foreign element.
• 2023 ‘Elspeth is an expert on children law, handling adoption cases and child arrangement cases.’

Media

I am often asked to comment on legal issues in the media and have appeared on BBC2’s Newsnight, Radio 4’s Women’s Hour and Law in Action, a selection of which is shown below.

Elspeth on The Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2 discussing Domestic Abuse (15.05.19)

Elspeth on The Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2 discussing Grandparents Rights (13.03.19)

Elspeth on The Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2 discussing the Domestic Abuse bill (21.01.19)

Elspeth on BBC Radio 5 Live discussing the Alfie Evans case (27.4.18)

Elspeth on Share Radio (30.1.17)

Elspeth on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour (30.12.16)

Elspeth on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour (15.9.16)

Elspeth on BBC Radio London (4.5.16)