Career history, qualifications & memberships

My education

  • Epsom College, 1990 to 1995

  • The University of St Andrews, 1995 to 1999 (MA Hons, Modern History)

  • The College of Law in York, 1999 to 2000 (Common Professional Examination)

  • The College of Law in York, 2000 to 2001 (Legal Practice Course)

  • Resolution, 2010 (Collaborative Family Law)

  • Resolution, 2014 (Family Mediation)

  • The Coaching Academy, 2018 to 2021 (Diploma in Personal Performance Coaching - distinction)*

  • The Coaching Academy, 2021 to 2023 (Diploma in Corporate & Executive Coaching - distinction)**

My career to date

  • Withers LLP, 2001 to 2003 (training contract)

  • Withers LLP, 2003 to 2008 (Assistant / Associate Solicitor)

  • Mills & Reeve LLP, 2008 to 2017 (Senior Associate & then Principal Associate)

  • Stewarts Law LLP, 2017 to 2020 (Senior Associate & then Legal Director)

  • Ed Heaton Coaching (established 2020)

My current professional memberships

  • Member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF)***

  • Associate Member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association)****

  • Member and Treasurer of CFL North Committee*****

  • Member of Resolution’s Training & Learning Committee

Professional recognition

  • Listed annually as a "Prominent Figure" in Family Law for the best part of a decade by CityWealth 

  • Referred to first as an “Associate to Watch” and then as a “Star Associate” before being listed as a Ranked Individual by the legal directory, Chambers & Partners UK

  • Featured in the legal directory, Legal 500

  • Ranked as “Top Recommended, Family Lawyers Beyond London” in the 2021 Spear’s 500 directory

What others have said

Other professional highlights to date

  • Numerous articles published in various professional journals, including The Law Society Gazette, Solicitors Journal, New Law Journal, Family Law Journal and Resolution Review

  • Past Chair of the West & North Yorkshire region of Resolution

  • Former Assessor for Resolution’s leading Family Law Specialist Accreditation programme

  • Former Resolution accredited specialist – financial remedy advocacy

  • Former Family Mediator

  • Collaborative Family Law practitioner

BACK TO ABOUT ME

(* Accredited by the International Coaching Federation and the CPD Standards Office)

(** Accredited by the CPD Standards Office)

(*** The ICF is “the leading global organization for coaches and coaching… dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals”)

(**** Resolution is a community of over 6,500 family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way)

(***** CFL North is a committee committed to raising the profile of Collaborative Family Law and to the provision of “soft skill” professional training to Collaborative Family Law practitioners across the North)