Emily Alice Reed

I am a Director and Solicitor in the Family and Childcare department at Duncan Lewis Solicitors and work in Stoke on Trent, Manchester and the surrounding areas. I am a member of the Law Society's Children Law Accreditation Scheme and represent children, parents and other family members. I have a particular interest in children work including both private and public law cases.

My experience of public law cases includes cases involving chronic neglect, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health concerns including personality disorders, non-accidental injuries, and children beyond parental control including violent and inappropriate sexual behaviour. I represent parents and other family members as well as children both through a Guardian and also taking instructions directly from older children. My focus for private law proceedings involves representing parents and children in disputes regarding child arrangements, as well as complex matters where the child is joined as a party to the proceedings and represented by a Children's Guardian. I have experience in handling protracted contact disputes, concerns about welfare, allegations of physical abuse against the children, and serious domestic violence.

I also have experience representing clients in wardship, child abduction (Hague and Non-Hague Convention Countries) and FGM Matters as well as assisting victims of domestic abuse obtain protective orders.

I am recognised by Legal 500 (2025) as a Recommended Lawyer.

• Legal Practice Course (LPC) and LLM at the University of Law
• LLB Law at University of Hertfordshire

• Appointed Director (July 2025)
• Admitted as a Solicitor (January 2019)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors (2016-present)

• "I used Duncan Lewis solicitors in a family law case. My solicitor Emily Alice Reed handled it was care and compassion. No question I had was too small for her. Emily kept me up to date on all information she received in a timely manner. Emily communicated with me using email and phone call regularly. Emily was available to help me when I needed her to be. She explained everything I didn’t understand, some solicitors aren’t approachable but she certainly was. Her legal knowledge was top notch. This solicitors has some fantastic people working for them, I have only met Emily but I would highly recommend them" Kerry - Client, 2024


• “Compassion, empathy and a strong sense of understanding continually projects from Emily as she assists us with the emotionally draining situation we are in. I'm quick to pick up on poor practice and feel it is equally as important to highlight best practice. Emily’s demeanour brings comfort and calm to the situation, she is wholly non-judgemental and has the ability to manage the distress we experience by showing she understands how we are feeling, in turn this allows us all to trust her and move forward and focus on our primary goal of keeping our family together. Emily really shines and stands out against the collective legal representatives we have previously experienced as a family, it’s refreshing to feel this way and wanted Emily to know the positive impact her blend of personality and professionalism is having.” – Andy - client, 2019


• "While I found the process to be challenging at times, your responsiveness, knowledge and empathy made the process much easier to manage for me personally. So, thank you" - Client 2020


• "Thank you so much...and also for the fantastic job you've done for me and my girl. Well done Emily" - Client 2020

• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK (2025)
• Finalist for the 'Young Solicitor of the Year' award at the Family Law Awards (2021)

High Court

• B v M [2018] EWHC 1473 (Fam) (26 April 2018)
• Re A (A Child : Female Genital Mutilation : Asylum) (Rev 1) [2019] EWHC 2475 (Fam) (25 September 2019)
• A (A child) (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Application) (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 323 (Fam) (18 February 2020)

• Law Society Children Law Accreditation Scheme

• New Video: Emily Reed on Her Journey to Director at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (29 September 2025)
• Emily Alice Reed Promoted to Director in Duncan Lewis’ Family and Child Care Team (14 July 2025)
• The National FGM Centre: Celebrating Great Women’s Charities for International Women’s Day 2022 (8 March 2022)
• Duncan Lewis Solicitors shortlisted at the 2021 Family Law Awards (6 September 2021)
• Annulment of marriage on the ground of non-consummation is incompatible with the Human Rights Act (17 February 2021)
• A (A Child) (Rev 1) [2020] EWCA Civ 731 (15 June 2020) - Success in Opposing Appeal by SSHD in FGMPO Proceedings (17 June 2020)
• A (A child) (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Application) [2020] EWHC 323 (Fam) - Success for client in Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order Matter (9 March 2020)
• Successful Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order application from the family court despite conflict with immigration courts (2 March 2020)
• Family Courts powerless to prevent deportation of children at risk of FGM - A (A Child: Female Genital Mutilation: Asylum) [2019] EWHC 2475 (Fam) (25 September 2019) (4 October 2019)
• Family law solicitor Emily Reed attends the National FGM Centre Conference (9 July 2019)
• B v M [2018] EWHC 1473 (Fam) (26 April 2018) – Duncan Lewis successful in mishandled Private Fostering Agreement (7 May 2019)