Pictured: Celebrating the launch of De Marco Family Law Solicitors is, left to right, Dave Lee and Sandra Garlick

A legal eagle is spreading her wings by launching a new specialist law firm in the region.

Sandra Garlick is building on the success of employment law and business affairs specialists De Marco Solicitors, which she founded in 2007, by expanding into family law. 

Sandra has joined forces with local family law specialist Dave Lee to establish De Marco Family Law Solicitors from the Middlemarch Business Park in Baginton.

She believes that her experience of setting up and developing a law firm combined with Dave's specialist expertise will prove to be a winning formula for the new venture which is launching this month.

Their routes into the legal profession are mirrored with both having worked in other professions before moving into law.

Sandra worked in various sales and marketing roles before going to college after having children to gain A-level equivalents to enable her to study for a law degree from the University of Warwick.

She founded De Marco Solicitors from her spare bedroom and now heads up one of the largest employment teams in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

Dave, who lives in Crick, near Rugby, was an accountant before a role with a firm of solicitors inspired him to re-train and qualify as a solicitor.

His speciality evolved whilst working for practices throughout Coventry and Warwickshire and in recent years he has focused on developing his advocacy skills. He now has over 20 years' experience in family law and litigation matters.

Sandra said: "It is very exciting to be involved in starting a new business again. 

"I have taken all of the skills I have learnt from setting up De Marco Solicitors to effectively clone my existing business with Dave providing the family law expertise.

"Unfortunately, it is an area of law that I get approached about on a daily basis from clients wanting specialist advice and we will now be able to fulfil that need."

Dave said: "Sandra has the experience in building up a successful practice, I have the experience in family law and we are like-minded in how we believe a firm of solicitors should operate - professional, approachable and affordable."

With his advocacy skills, De Marco Family Law will be able to provide continued representation to clients, both in and out of court.

Dave said: "It is not very common for a law firm to be able to offer such a service and, in my experience, it is one that clients value as they are not handed over to an unknown barrister should their issue reach the courts."

The new firm will cover issues relating to divorce, separation, children, domestic violence, civil partnerships and co-habitation. As with De Marco Solicitors, it will refer cases outside of its remit to local firms, where Legal Aid or property experience is required.