Philip Hoddell

My professional work concentrates exclusively on all aspects of divorce and family separation, including advising in high net worth, family business and agricultural cases. I qualified as a solicitor in 1989 and have been practising in this field of law ever since. I enjoy meeting people and helping them to solve complicated personal and financial problems.

I have been a Partner of the firm since 1994 and a Team Leader of various teams between 1994 and 2022. For 8 years I sat on the Birkett Long Management Board as Head of the Private Client Department. I am now the Chairman of Birkett Long, and chair the Oversight Board and Partners’ Meetings. Click here to read more on my role as Chairman.

I have been a member of the Law Society’s specialist Family Law Panel for the last 18 years, and am mentioned as a leading divorce lawyer in the influential Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners publications. I am a specialist collaborative lawyer. 

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 a RFU accredited coach, and coached rugby at Colchester Rugby Club for 10 years. I am still a keen spectator, and also enjoy current affairs, hill walking and spending time with my family. 

For 16 years I was a member of Colchester Round Table; I am an ex-Chairman. I am currently a governor at Colchester Royal Grammar school and a member of the Court of Essex University. I am still involved in the Suffolk and North Essex Law Society and am a former President.