Melanie is a leading Partner in our expert Family Law team. She is a fearless, powerful solicitor who strives to empower and achieve the best outcome for her clients.
Melanie also acts for influential, prominent individuals and ex-patriates in complex cases including divorce, child arrangements orders, international relocation, child abduction, domestic abuse, parental alienation, care proceedings, adoption placement breakdown, deprivation of liberty and habitual residence jurisdiction.
Areas of Expertise
- Children proceedings, including acting for parents, grandparents, children and others in:
- Adoption
- Adoption breakdown
- Advocacy
- Care proceedings
- Complex children proceedings
- Special guardianship
- International children issues, including:
- Removal from jurisdiction
- International child abduction
- International adoption
- International contact/residence disputes
- Wardship
- Inherent jurisdiction
- Domestic violence
Professional Information
- Winner of the Solicitor of the Year Award at the Derby and District Law Society Annual Dinner 2023
- Recommended by the independently researched publications, The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners
- Children Panel Accredited specialist
- Law Society Family Law Panel (Advanced) – Accredited Specialist in both Children Law Private and Advice in and Conduct of Ancillary Relief Proceedings
- Resolution Accredited Specialist (Domestic Violence)
- Member of Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association)
- Member of Derby & District Law Society Family Committee
- Previously a Partner at Smith Partnership
“Melanie Bridgen is a well prepared advocate undertaking a lot of public law work frequently instructed by Guardians with whom she is very popular because of both her manner and child focussed approach. She has also developed something of a specialism in cases with an international dimension.”
– Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024
“Melanie Bridgen, partner, is an exceptional solicitor, she has all of the qualities that people desire in a solicitor: client care that is compassionate yet robust, excellent preparation. She is a phenomenal solicitor and knows children law like the back of her hand. She stands out above all other partners in other solicitor’s firms.”
– Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024
“Melanie Bridgen has provided an excellent service throughout an extended family court process. She has been professional, highly empathic, and had impeccable knowledge and professional experience. Melanie has been a brilliant advocate for my case – and is highly responsive.”
– Referee feedback provided to The Legal 500 2024
Notable Cases
- D (A child – parental alienation) (Rev 1) [2018] EWFC B64 (19 October 2018)
- Griffiths v Griffiths (Decision on Recusal) [2021] EWHC 3600 (Fam) (09 December 2021)
- Griffiths v Tickle & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1882 (10 December 2021)
- Griffiths v Griffiths (Guidance on Contact Costs) [2022] EWHC 113 (Fam) (20 January 2022)
- Tickle v Father & Others [2023] EWHC 2446 (Fam)
- A (Jurisdiction: Family Law Act 1986) (Application for Amplification), Re [2021] EWFC 105 (15 December 2021)
- X (A Child) (Jurisdiction and Habitual Residence Issue) [2021] EWFC B81 (30 November 2021)
- Q v R