McAlister Family Law is proud to announce the appointment of Vicky Withers as Partner, supporting Ruth Hetherington and Nick Hodson on both public and private children law matters. With more than 20 years of experience and a formidable reputation in the children law sector, Vicky brings a wealth of expertise to one of the largest and most specialist children law teams in the country.
Vicky will be based at McAlister Family Law’s Alderley Edge office, where the children law team has seen significant growth, cementing its position as the go-to practice for children-related legal matters in the region. Vicky’s appointment will support the practice’s continued growth in Cheshire and bolster its reputation across Merseyside.
Known for its exceptional standards and results, McAlister Family Law has been awarded Family Team of the Year at the prestigious Manchester Legal Awards for the last three years and in 2024 Head of Private Children, Ruth Hetherington, was named Partner of the Year. The practice is also home to 10 Law Society Accredited Children Law specialists, one of the highest numbers in the country.
Vicky worked in private practice for several years before going on to spend 16 years representing local authorities in childcare proceedings, the last six of which were spent as In-House Advocate at Cheshire West and Chester Council. In addition to her expertise in adoption, child protection and family law, Vicky represented the Council in the landmark case Re A-F Children [2018] EWHC 138 (Fam), which led to a groundbreaking ruling on the deprivation of liberty of children, a decision that has had far-reaching implications across England and Wales. Vicky also delivered training to the judiciary following the Re A-F decision, further underlining her leadership in the field.
Vicky joins McAlister Family Law at an exciting time of growth and evolution. The practice’s hybrid hub will enable clients to benefit from an integrated approach, drawing on both public and private law expertise to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
Vicky Withers, Partner at McAlister Family Law, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining McAlister Family Law at such a pivotal moment in the practice’s journey, and to work closely with Ruth and Nick to support McAlister’s award-winning public and private children teams. The practice has a stellar reputation for its work in children law and its focus on both public and private law allows us to offer clients a truly holistic service. I can’t wait to get started.”
Amanda McAlister, Managing Partner of McAlister Family Law, said: “We are delighted to welcome Vicky to McAlister Family Law. Her expertise, particularly in complex public law cases, aligns perfectly with the high standards we set for ourselves in children law. Vicky’s experience and dedication will be invaluable as we continue to expand our specialist offering and uphold our reputation as the leading practice in the country for children law. Her leadership will undoubtedly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for children and families in the region.”
McAlister Family Law is part of Beyond Law Group, a specialist law firm with a portfolio of award-winning practices, including Beyond Corporate, Home Property Law and Vault Private Client. The Group’s commitment to providing expert legal services across a range of sectors is complemented by the exceptional work of its team members, such as Vicky Withers, who are leading change in the legal profession.
