Carolyn Bottomley

Spear's Review

A partner in Keystone Law’s family team, Carolyn Bottomley tells Spear's she strives to achieve the most advantageous results for her clients without creating unnecessary combat between the parties. ‘I guide my clients as to which battles are worth engaging, avoiding those that only serve to increase costs,’ she says.

She adds that she finds ‘advocating for clients and observing their own personal development throughout a matter’ incredibly rewarding: ‘For me, empowering each client can be as important as the outcome of each case. I aim to make family transitions as smooth as possible for the client, and in the process I ensure that they have the confidence to walk happily into their new lives.’

Adviser Profile

Joining Keystone was a defining moment that has allowed her to focus on cases she feels passionate about. ‘The last year has brought yet more varied cases, particularly with an international element,’ she says.

Alleviating clients of the turmoil resulting from a relationship breakdown is her primary goal. When clients come to her, they’re often in distress, and it is a priority to ‘achieve the best possible outcome as quickly and painlessly as possible’. ‘The first thing I tell them is to hand all that stress over to me, to focus on themselves and their children, and that I will take care of everything else,’ she says. She then enquires as to the client’s priorities and formulates a bespoke strategy to get them through this challenging period. Whether it is negotiating a delicate prenup, dealing with an acrimonious divorce case or standing up for an alienated parent, she employs a creative approach that she tailors to the individual client.

Bottomley is also a master of discretion, amicability and keeping things low-key. The work she does for high-profile clients means that she must be discreet to protect their public reputation. Yet she is also mindful that, where children are involved, clients are likely to have ongoing relationships with their ex-partners long after the lawyers have closed their files, and for this reason, she ‘always strives to reduce tension and not further inflame matters when dealing with the other side’, irrespective of the emotional intensity of the situation at the time.

She is also enthusiastic about reducing gender inequality in family proceedings. Despite legislation in the UK being gender-neutral, gender stereotypes based on a client’s identity sometimes shine through, and this needs to be dismantled. ‘I am always advocating for my client to receive the most advantageous outcome, regardless of their gender,’ she says.