Leading lawyer takes the reins of the family team

One of Cornwall’s leading family lawyers is taking over the reins of the team at top South West legal firm Coodes Solicitors.

Sarah Evans, who joined Coodes in 2008 as a trainee, has worked her way to Partner in the family department. She will now head up the 22-strong team, taking over from Elise Alma, who joined Coodes when she qualified and who has been a specialist family lawyer throughout her career.

Sarah advises clients across the region on a wide range of family issues but has a particular interest in dealing with financial matters in divorce and separation and acting in complex high net-worth cases, alongside proceedings involving arrangements for children.

Her specialist areas include pre and post nuptial agreements, care issues, children law and disputes between parents and local authorities.

Sarah, who is based at Coodes’ Liskeard office, said: “This is a real honour for me and something that I have always wanted to do. Elise has supported my development at every stage of my career with Coodes and I am very grateful for this. Elise has built up the expert team we have today and has been an excellent head of department and I’m delighted to be taking over her legacy.”

Sarah graduated from the University of the West of England and qualified as a solicitor in 2010. She works closely with several domestic abuse support organisations including the Susie Project, Domestic Abuse Cornwall and Independent Domestic Violence Advocates.

She lives near Liskeard and is a school governor at Pensilva Primary School, as well as trustee and committee member of Pensilva Pre-School.

Outgoing head of department, Elise Alma said: “Sarah absolutely exemplifies how we train and develop our lawyers at Coodes and I am very proud of her success. She is an extremely talented lawyer, and it has been a wonderful experience watching her grow within the firm. The team are in safe hands and will continue to go from strength to strength under Sarah’s leadership. The handover will enable me to concentrate on management responsibilities across the firm as a whole and my role as Board member, alongside my continuing case work.”