Solicitor Sophie Hughes has returned to Merrick, where she started her legal career.

Sophie rejoined us after successfully completing her training contract with Glaisyers ETL. She gained a Distinction in her LLM Master of Laws at BPP Manchester.

Sophie was initially a legal assistant and then paralegal with Merrick. She says it was the double draw of working in family law again and helping the firm develop its unique service levels that enticed her back.

She said: “Family law has always been my true passion, perhaps because being from a divorced household and blended family I understand some of the pressures involved.

“I hope that as well as applying my legal knowledge I can use that personal experience to help our clients.”

Sophie, who is Manchester born and raised, loves working in the heart of the city. Away from work she is recently married, ‘obsessed’ with her French Bulldogs and an avid reader.

Merrick principal Amanda Merrick said: “We always knew that Sophie had a passion and talent for family law and she now has all-round experience as well. She’ll be an asset for our clients and the business.”

Merrick has a reputation for representing high net worth clients. However, in recent years it has also developed different service levels – Prestige, Benchmark and Access Us. The latter is designed to meet the demise of legal aid in most family law cases and delivers advice where there are limited resources.

→ After a successful year, Merrick wants to further grow its team, with the recruitment of a senior family lawyer.