I wanted to share a more personal reflection on what it means for Harbour Family Law to be ranked in the Chambers UK Guide 2026.
When I was applying for a training contract back in 1998(!), I borrowed a copy of Chambers and Partners from a friend’s dad, who was a barrister’s clerk. It was a weighty tome of a directory, 4 inches thick, listing all reputable and recommended solicitors and barristers across England and Wales.
At the time, I was an ambitious young person who had enthusiastically completed the Legal Practice Course without the cushion of having a training contract lined up. I would pore over the Chambers volume, looking at all the different firms and imagining what it might be like to work at one of them. I had a 2:1 Law LLB up my sleeve. The competitive nature of a career in the law was intense at that time. The pressure was on.
I made around 100 applications to different law firms, using the directory both as a guide and to obtain their postal addresses. Each application was hand-typewritten, enveloped, and posted. I would hole-punch my copies and keep them in a black A4 ring binder. Ahhh, nostalgic stationary memories…
Of the letters I sent, only one resulted in an offer of a training contract. Thank you, John Hodge & Co. Solicitors, and especially Huw Langley, for taking me on. It was that opportunity which ensured my qualification as a solicitor in the year 2000.
Harbour Family Law, the specialist family law firm I founded in 2013, was ranked in Chambers and Partners for the first time in 2022. It was a surreal development and a really special and delightful achievement, given the awe in which I had held that directory so many years ago as a young adult.
Harbour Family Law is now ranked in Chambers and Partners Guide 2026 in Band 2 for Divorce and Family Law in the Southwest. I am ranked in Band 1, along with fellow Director Nicky Howarth. Director Fiona Greener is now also ranked in the 2026 Guide, and Emma Gordon is a ‘person of interest’ with Chambers.
Only 5% of solicitors’ firms are ranked at all, so this achievement is a significant mark of professional reputation, peer-led admiration, and client reports. Every one of the team at Harbour Family Law is so proud of the ranking, which includes praise for them all…
“What truly distinguishes them was the level of personal care, empathy and responsiveness I received from the team during what was one of the most challenging periods of my life.”
“The team handles a wide range of financial remedy matters with a highly personal, thoughtful and compassionate approach.”
“Harbour Family Law has a wealth of dedicated and specialist individuals.”
“Nicky always has her clients’ objectives in mind and she fights their corner with vigour.”
“Nicky is a passionate and caring solicitor. She is very sharp, with an extremely analytical mind, and is able to make sense of complicated financial matters and disseminate information easily.”
“Fiona is a pleasure to deal with and she provides excellent client care. She is thorough and able to drive cases forward while still being sympathetic and caring.”
“Fiona is a great lawyer and an extremely safe pair of hands”
“Katy is a true leader in her field. She is an exceptional solicitor who is genuine, down to earth, pragmatic and easy to work with.”
“Katy is a first-rate family lawyer who combines excellent client care skills with a pragmatic and solution-oriented, yet robust, approach to litigation.”
That weighty tome is now (of course) replaced by a rather more easily accessible website. Most importantly, this recognition reflects the trust our clients place in our family law legal services every day, and we are deeply grateful to the clients, colleagues and professional referees who have supported our submissions for the Chambers UK Guide 2026. It is a privilege to be included, and we look forward to continuing to offer thoughtful, compassionate family law dispute resolution for those who need it most.
Katy Zikking 2026
