Simon is a Partner in our Family Team and is well known and respected amongst the family law community in and around Norfolk/Suffolk. He is often referred work from other solicitors, barristers, and professional advisors.
He frequently advises in finance cases involving high net worth individuals, family businesses, farming partnerships, property developers and large pensions including defined benefit, uniformed services, and SIPPs. Simon is happy to advise and represent clients in all forms of dispute resolution including mediation, round table meetings, negotiating with other lawyers and representing clients in Court.
Simon has built up a wealth of experience in his 12+ years as a family lawyer advising across a wide range of areas including but not limited to:
- Divorce / Civil Partnership Dissolution
- Financial Settlements on Divorce / Civil Partnership Dissolution
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements
- Financial / property disputes between unmarried couples
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Children Act matters – including ‘residence’ and ‘contact’ and relocation
- Non-Molestation and Occupation Orders
Simon is a member of Resolution – a national group of family lawyers whose aim is to resolve disputes in a conciliatory fashion.
Having joined Leathes Prior as a Trainee Solicitor in 2009 after graduating from the University of Sheffield, Simon qualified as a Solicitor in September 2011. Simon was then promoted to Associate in 2015 and became a Partner in March 2021.
Simon is a dad to two young daughters and although he doesn’t like to admit it, he is not getting any younger, so where possible he tries to pretend otherwise by attempting to keep fit. His Poochon, Cosmo can often be found sleeping under his desk in the office.
- Advised and represented many business owners and the spouses of business owners following the breakdown of marriage
- Advise on divorces where pension and/or capital assets regularly exceed £1m
- Instructed on mulitple farming cases following relationship breakdown
- Advising cohabiting clients following relationship breakdown – often in cases involving multiple properties
- Guided clients in respect of Prenuptial Agreements – often involving significant assets
- Represented parents and grandparents in Children Act proceedings – often involving allegations of domestic abuse, substance misuse and mental health issues
- Advised transgender parents in Children Act disputes
Client feedback
You've really been excellent Simon and I have to thank you for your dedication and ability to cut away the fluff and get to the matters of importance. I've really appreciated your skills and general self in my corner throughout. A wholehearted thank you.
Client feedback
Can I just say that we are very thankful for all of your assistance in this matter. You have provided a superb service and kept us informed and involved throughout this whole process. Thank you for your understanding and empathy and for keeping us focused at times of despair.
Client feedback
May I take this opportunity to pass my sincere thanks and appreciation for the services Simon provided during my recent divorce process. The situation was long, complex and quite frankly distressing at times. Simon was extremely professional through the process, and I was always feeling that he was doing his very best for me. I always perceived the empathetic side of Simon, not being treated as only a client, but also taking into consideration the nature of my own trials and stresses, and those of our fractured family unit in the advice and direction that he gave. This really made the difference in my case (and my sanity) and probably the reason I have already referred two friends toward him. I would say that Simon is a true professional, a great communicator and a people person. He is surely a credit to Leathes Prior. Thanks Simon.
Client feedback
I hope this email finds you well. I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the support I received from you all. I was really pleased that the Court granted mostly all that I requested for. The court order from this final hearing has made the year 2023 a very special year to me. My parental rights means the world to me and I was very pleased about the outcome of the hearing. Thank you all so much. I am very grateful indeed.
Client feedback
Simon Willis was acting for me in the family court at Norwich Magistrates. I would like to give feedback that I was impressed with Simons professionalism throughout my journey which lasted just under a year all together. Simon was calm and collective and advised me appropriately throughout. When I was down Simon gave me hope. And he was right. Simon had quite an awkward task with my case from many obstacles being put in my way to get me access to my son. Simon stuck with it and gave 110% all the time. I was impressed with Simon's presentation skills within court and his overall professionalism. I would certainly recommend Simon Willis at Leathes Prior for any future family law cases.
Client feedback
I would like to thank you for representing me in a truly professional manner and your support and guidance in these matters has been such a valuable asset to me over the past couple of years.
Client feedback
Wanted to say a big thank you for all your help! Just to make you aware that I have recommended you to a friend who is in a similar position, as I was hugely impressed with the way you dealt with the situation, I really felt like you understood the case, and wanted the best for my children which primarily was my concern!
Client feedback
That's absolutely brilliant, I'm so pleased. I really cannot thank you enough for your hard work, expertise and clear guidance in handling this matter.
Client feedback
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Simon, who is professional, co-operative, open to different approaches whilst providing solid, common sense advice. With Simon’s support I have been able to process some of the case myself which resulted in much more cost effective outcome. I felt confident that I could reach out to Simon for just the right amount of support, when needed, and I am now certain that I would not have been able to have this kind of lawyer – client relationship elsewhere. I am hoping that I will not be needing Simon’s advice in future, however my experience with Leathes Prior has been so positive, that I will most certainly use your firm for any further legal advice or work I may be needing in future.
Poppy G
Simon and Lewis recently dealt with creating a cohabitation agreement on my behalf. Their service was outstanding and I would not hesitate to recommend them. Simon explained everything exceptionally clearly, took time to understand and they kept me updated throughout the progress, concluding it in a timely manner. Great customer service, thank you.
Client feedback
I just wanted to say how much I appreciated Simon’s help with my recent divorce. His professionalism and advice was spot on and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to others in a similar position. Obviously it was such a sensitive and emotional time but Simon’s guidance gave me reassurance and he is a real credit to Leathes Prior.
Client feedback
Thank you so much for all your help. Wouldn’t of done all of this without you and you are a credit to Leathes Prior. You’ve put once again my mind at rest as I was starting to have doubts that the other solicitor was trying to put hurdles up to try and justify that I’m not in a position to have contact with the boys. Once again thank you
Client feedback
Your level of professionalism has been excellent and has been a massive comfort to me in what has naturally been a very stressful time.
Client feedback
Thank you Simon. You have my total respect, I thank you for everything you have done for me.
Client feedback
I cannot thank you enough for fighting my corner through the most difficult stage of my life to date. Your friendliness and professionalism are second to none and I cannot recommend you or Leathes Prior enough.
Client feedback
My heartfelt thanks go to you for guiding and advising me through the last two and a half years and for achieving a fair financial settlement for me. No mean feat given the complexity of the latter.
Client feedback
Please can I thank you for the work you completed on the divorce, it was done with care, compassion and skill.