Benitia is a Senior Associate in our Family team, dealing with the resolution of financial matters on the breakdown of marriage and civil partnerships, as well as private law disputes regarding children and injunctive relief.

Benitia completed a Law Degree at University of Exeter, Master of Law from University of Law and qualified as a solicitor in Wiltshire in September 2017. She later relocated to Devon and joined Stephens Scown in January 2022.

Benitia’s specialism is assisting vulnerable clients to navigate the separation process. This includes spouses leaving domestically abusive relationships and clients with neurodivergent needs.

She has advised on issues involving pensions, trusts, companies, pre-acquired assets and allegations of abuse. Her clients include those who are employed, self-employed, business owners and those who are full-time parents including grandparents.

Benitia is also a member of Resolution, an organisation of family law professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. She sits on the Devon Resolution Committee.

Benitia’s recent work includes:

• Obtaining clear participation directions in cases involving vulnerable clients to ensure they can actively engage in and understand the court process
• Successfully obtaining housing and spousal maintenance for a full-time parent of disabled children in contested court proceedings
• Acting for a non-beneficiary spouse in agreeing a positive settlement outside of court, accounting for the other spouse’s significant Trust interests
• Advising clients when their spouse is either unrepresented or refuses to engage in the divorce process
• Achieving supervised contact for a parent against whom allegations had been made, against the advice of Cafcass and wishes of the other parent
• Assisting a spouse to safely leave an abusive relationship by obtaining injunctive relief and supporting them through the resolution of their finances and the child arrangements – through which significant findings of fact were made against their abuser

Outside of work Benitia enjoys playing netball, baking and watching rugby.