Melanie Loxley

I am a solicitor and collaborative lawyer, specialising in divorce and financial cases. I have many years' experience in dealing with high net worth cases as well as those involving complex issues such as self invested pension schemes, inherited wealth, foreign property and offshore trusts.

I am also experienced in cohabitee disputes including those involving Schedule 1 of the Children Act. 

I often work with clients at the outset of a new relationship where they seek a cohabitation or prenuptial agreement. 

I am trained as a collaborative lawyer, which means that in appropriate cases, I can work with you, your partner and your partner’s collaborative lawyer in face to face meetings to reach a solution that is best for you and your family. This is an ideal way to resolve family issues in a manner that keeps you at the centre of the process and allows you and your partner to remain on positive terms with one another.

I am a member of Colchester Collaborative family law group. Please feel free to visit this site to find other local collaborative family lawyers who could assist your partner if it is the case that you both wish to deal with your separation in a collaborative setting.

I am calm but confident and this makes clients feel at ease with me and reassures them that they are in capable hands. 

I like interacting with people and in particular helping those in need. As a specialist family solicitor, I spend much of my time giving practical advice and assistance to my clients, which helps them deal with a challenging time in their lives. 

I am a member of Resolution, which is an association of family lawyers who aim to resolve family disputes in a way that reduces conflict. I am also a member of the Law Society Family Panel, which is a specialist family law accreditation scheme.

I am the Training Principal at Birkett Long and I am therefore heavily involved in the training of our Trainee Solicitors.

I studied a Dual Honours Degree in Law and Psychology at Keele University then undertook my Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, Chester. I qualified as a Solicitor in 2002 although I have specialised in Family Law since the second year of my training contract in 2001.  I became a Partner in June 2017.

Outside of work I spend time with my children. I love to keep fit and am often at the gym or out for a run. I enjoy cooking and reading. I am a former member of the Basildon Child Contact Centre Committee and Essex Resolution Committee. 

From 2013 to 2023 I was a Governor at St Mary’s School for Girls in Colchester and was also Co-Vice Chair of Governors towards the end of my tenure.  Whilst I am no longer a Governor, I continue to have an active interest in the School, with whom Birkett Long shares a long history.