Collas Crill expands family law services in the Channel Islands

Tuesday 26 January 2021

Collas Crill has extended its family law services with the appointment of new Guernsey-based partners Adrian Brown and Elizabeth Couch, formerly of Browns Advocates.

Advocates Brown and Couch have transferred their family law practice from Browns Advocates. To build on Collas Crill's family law services across the Channel Islands, Partner Dionne Gilbert has joined the international private client and trusts team in Jersey and will work closely with the duo.

Advocate Brown led the family law department at Mourant before setting up Browns Advocates in 2012. He is a trained collaborative lawyer, mediator, family arbitrator, a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and Resolution, and adjunct professor for the family law module of the Guernsey Bar examinations. He is also current Chair of the Guernsey Family Bar Association.

Since joining Browns Advocates in 2012, Advocate Couch has built up a strong client base in Guernsey. She ran a family law practice at 4 Paper Buildings in London before relocating to the island. Elizabeth is a trained collaborative lawyer and a member of both the Family Law Bar Association and Resolution.

Guernsey Managing Partner Christian Hay said: “This is an exciting development for Collas Crill as we expand our family law services for the first time in many years. Adrian and Elizabeth are the go-to family lawyers on the island and we are delighted to have them on board.”

Advocate Brown said of the move: "Collas Crill's client-centric culture very much chimes with the Browns ethos and I'm delighted to be joining such a like-minded firm," he said. "As well as the clear benefits this move will bring for clients, it will be fantastic to be able to draw on the excellent business services support and infrastructure that the firm offers."

Advocate Couch added: "Our new 'home' will give clients access to a market-leading network of lawyers, a broader portfolio of legal services and a more joined-up service across different aspects of the law. On a personal level, I'm excited to get to know the team better and explore what we can achieve together."

Pictured top: Advocates Elizabeth Couch and Adrian Brown.