Kirby & Co Solicitors

CLARE KIRBY Founding Partner (read more)

Clare qualified as a lawyer in 1983 and worked for several years in industry. She founded Kirby & Co in 1997. As a member of Resolution and an advanced member of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel she is experienced and respected in the field of family law. Trained as a collaborative lawyer, Clare offers clients a range of options - traditional, and collaborative law - to best meet the needs of the individual clients. In addition, she has a niche practice in the evolving area of undue influence, and has triumphed in libel cases, notably against The Guardian newspaper in 1998.
Life outside the office informs Clare's approach to her work. First and foremost she is a proud mother, and although her children are now grown up they still enjoy family holidays together. She is also passionately committed to the community. For many years she has been a JP at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

NOTABLE REPORTED CASES
Baldwin v The Guardian, Dec 1998
Clare acted for the claimant, a counsellor who specialises in helping people who come into contact with cults. He successfully sued The Guardian for libel.
Kelly v BBC [2001] 1 FLR 197
Clare acted for the the grandmother after her 16 year old grandson left home to join a religious group. The court made wardship and seek and find orders and enlisted the help of the media in tracing her grandson. The BBC approached the religious group and obtained a telephone interview with him.
The grandmother obtained and injunction restraining publication of the interview on the Today programme but on appeal the injuction was discharged.
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2000/3.htm...

Nel (suing as executrix of Nel) v Kean and others [2003] All ER (D) 206 (Feb)
Clare acted for the executrix of her mother’s estate, who claimed her mother had sold her home and given the proceeds to a ‘spiritual group’ that took away her free will. At trial, it was held that the Claimant was entitled to repayment of all the sums paid by her mother to the group. http://lexisweb.co.uk/cases/2003/february/nel-suin...

Collins v Danesh
Clare acted for Nina Collins in her claim against her guru and negotiated a substantial settlement for her. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2299934/

LAWYER IN THE NEWS
Clare appeared in the Law Society Gazette as lawyer in the news when a complaint made by her client against the Broadcasting Standards Commission against journalist Martin Bashir and Granada Television was partially upheld. The full story is at – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2976419.s...

QUALIFICATIONS
Member of Resolution
Member of The Law Society Family Law Advanced Accreditation Scheme
Solicitor (England & Wales) 1983
College of Law Chancery Lane 1978–80
University of Durham BA (Hons) 1978

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PIA DAMGAARD Partner (read more)

email: pia.damgaard@kirbyandco.co.uk

DIMPLE PATEL Solicitor (read more)

email: dimple.patel@kirbyandco.co.uk

SNEH MADRAMOOTOO AND LINDSEY FRENCH
Our two extremely capable personal assistants.

Kirby & Co Solicitors, 3 Cobden Mews, The Broadway, Wimbledon,London SW19 1RH 020 8545 7171