Sue Hodgson | Partner

Partner.

Head of Family Law Team
Team:

Family Law
Office location:

Telford
Language:

English

Assistant: Annie Priest

Recommendations

Sue is recognised in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500 as a Leading Partner. The 2024 edition of Chambers UK ranks Sue in Band 1. She is an accredited specialist with Resolution.

Profile / Experience

She is an accredited specialist with Resolution and has a vast amount of experience in private children law proceedings and has particular expertise in dealing with private law children disputes; representing parents and grandparents in relation to children issues, for example child arrangement orders, special guardianship orders and child relocation.

Sue joined the team at Lanyon Bowdler in 2007 and has over 23 years’ experience of dealing exclusively with complex family matters.

Within her private law practice, Sue has often successfully argued the recommendations contained within a section 7 report should not be followed by the court where these are not accepted by her client. She has also successfully challenged the recommendations of an expert psychologist and persuaded the court not to accept the same.

Sue has acted in cases involving multi-day fact finding hearings involving a number of serious allegations to include: physical violence, sexual abuse (to include the most serious forms), child sexual abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, psychological abuse, financial abuse and parental alienation. Sue has acted in cases involving multi-day final contested hearings involving such issues as change of residence and relocation.

Sue has cases being heard from magistrates right up to High Court Judge level.

Sue is regularly instructed to assist armed forces veterans and clients who face difficulties as a result of mental health conditions.

Sue has a strong personal following and now finds herself regularly acting for second generation clients. She is renowned for her constructive and ‘no-nonsense’ approach to family cases and will always look for a practical solution. The vast majority of clients come to Sue on the recommendation of their friends, family and contacts.

Notable Cases

Sue has secured orders changing the residence of children from one parent to the other within children act proceedings, orders to enable children to be placed within private schooling arrangements, permission to relocate with children out of the jurisdiction and Special Guardianship Orders within court proceedings where at the outset of those proceedings, the Local Authority were against the placement.

Sue is recognised in the 2025 edition of the Legal 500 as a Leading Partner, which states: ‘With Sue Hodgson at the helm, it has a strong reputation for dealing with numerous complex matters involving financial remedies, children and divorce. The financial cases often involve business structures, trusts and other multi-jurisdictional assets. Children work includes advising on relocation, domestic violence and significant welfare cases.’

Testimonials from 2025 edition of the Legal 500.

‘Sue Hodgson is highly experienced and respected.’

‘Sue Hodgson is a tenacious partner who strives for the best results for her clients, whilst also balancing this against managing their realistic expectations. Her briefs are very well prepared, and she is extremely diligent in the speed in which she deals with queries raised.’

‘Sue Hodgson is approachable and professional. She always has a very good legal knowledge and understanding.’

The 2024 edition of Chambers UK ranks Sue in Band 1 and states: ‘Telford-based Sue Hodgson maintains a strong reputation for her work in Children Act cases and child arrangement orders. She also advises on complex financial remedy cases.

“She is one of the best children solicitors in the country. She is very clever, affable with clients and she gets amazing results. She is tough and measured.”

Testimonial from the 2023 edition of Chambers UK states:

‘Sue is absolutely excellent – she can handle complex and distressing situations and I would recommended her to others.’

Previous testimonials state ‘Sue Hodgson is amongst the best in her field – she is extremely knowledgeable, very well organised and thinks ahead about everything you and the court will need. Her advice is forthright and compassionate at the same time.’ ‘Sue is brilliant – she’s always there when I need to speak to her and proactive in updating me on developments in my case.’

Client Testimonials

“The service of care we received was second to none from start to finish” – D M and S E Betton

“Very easy to talk to and good advice given” – M Reynolds

“Professional service – Sue was extremely approachable and helpful” – K Morgan

“Professional and friendly throughout, excellent service, Sue is very honest and genuine” –
D Evans

“I was always spoken to in a way that meant I could fully understand how my divorce was going to proceed. I was nervous about the whole procedure but felt confident that I had nothing to worry about” – S Bedigan

Sue enjoys spending time with her family and friends, eating out, walking her dog and horse riding, she also enjoys international travel.

Testimonials

What our clients say.

Kind, professional and courteous from the start and throughout the process. My legal team has become a second family to me. Always going above and beyond. Me and my daughter wouldn’t be where we are today without Sue and her team. Thank you.

Michael

via ReviewSolicitors

Sue and her team are very professional and efficient, sympathetic and caring. I trust them to deal with my case.

Lili

via ReviewSolicitors

I understood how challenging it would be to go through a court proceedings but nothing could have prepared me for the emotional toll it took on me and my family. I appreciated Sue and the team at Lanyon Bowlder Solicitors for their valued expertise and support from start to finish and helping me to win my case. It was life changing for me and I will always be grateful to them.

Maya

via ReviewSolicitors

Sue Hodgson is absolutely first class. She is always available and ready to give her sound and sensible advice. I rely on her completely and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She has a wealth of experience that is second to none. Thank you Sue.

AEBH

via ReviewSolicitors