Atkinson & Firth

My experience with Atkinson Firth over the past year and a half has been incredibly disappointing and emotionally draining. While the process started off smoothly and felt accessible during the first few months, things quickly deteriorated. Throughout my case, there has been a constant cycle of emails—some of which I was not shown or authorised, and others that were simply copied and pasted from what I had already written myself, yet I was still charged for them. Despite the volume of communication, very little meaningful progress was made. I was repeatedly told that the next step would be taking my ex-partner to court if he continued not to engage, but this never actually happened. Instead, the firm continued suggesting more “offers,” even though I had already made around 12 with no response. The lack of engagement and responsiveness has been extremely frustrating. I have chased emails and made several phone calls, often being ignored or told that the matter would only be picked up if I paid a certain amount. I even paid double what was requested, and still nothing progressed. Over this period, I have accumulated nearly £8,000 in fees, leaving me in significant debt with very little to show for it. Whenever I questioned whether the case was too complex or whether they had capacity, I was reassured—but months continued to pass without any meaningful action. I was advised not to get involved in “tit-for-tat,” yet some of the emails sent on my behalf felt exactly like that. What has made this even more disheartening is that the solicitors were fully aware of my history of being in an abusive relationship. Given this, I expected a greater level of understanding, sensitivity, and care—especially considering the financial abuse I experienced within that relationship. I did not feel that my vulnerability or the emotional weight of my situation was acknowledged or reflected in how my case was handled. They were also aware of my mental health diagnoses, including ADHD, dyslexia, and complex PTSD. Despite that, I did not feel they offered any additional clarity, support, or adjustments in how they communicated with me. There were no clearer instructions or adaptations to help me process information, and at times it felt as though there was a lack of experience in supporting neurodivergent clients, which only added to my confusion and stress. Another concern through this process has been the difficulty in making decisions about whether to continue with the firm or look elsewhere. Because of the huge amount of time, money, and emotional energy I had already invested, it became extremely hard to step back and evaluate whether this firm was actually the right fit for me. Even when I explored other firms and began questioning why I had spent so much while achieving so little, I still found myself deeply tied to this process. I feel that, early on, the firm should have been clearer with me about whether they were the right company to handle my case, or whether it would be better not to engage further if they were unable to progress matters effectively. That guidance and transparency were missing, leaving me stuck in a long and costly cycle with no real outcome. After a year and a half of trying to move forward, I now feel completely drained—emotionally, mentally, and financially. Divorce is already a painful and stressful experience, but the ongoing uncertainty, lack of progress, and additional strain from my dealings with this firm have made everything far worse. From my personal experience, I feel taken advantage of and left without the support, guidance, or care that I desperately needed during an incredibly vulnerable time. I’m hopeful the firm may start to play a role in the next proceedings given how much money I’ve spent

If only I could leave no stars. This firm is totally unprofessional. They do not reply to emails or phone calls. It was so bad I had to instruct another firm to protect my interests. They allowed my mother to change her will when she was ill, vulnerable and had vascular dementia. They failed to honour an undertaking. They have a member of staff who appears to be client facing, is unsupervised and yet is not a qualified solicitor. And the list goes on. Find another firm.

I would highly recommend Mark Beedel and the team at atkinson firth who have recently dealt with my conveyancing. I found them both professional and approachable and they kept the whole process stress free. I always received a call/E-mail back promptly and I was kept up to date throughout without having to chase, which for me is very important! Would use again.

I needed 2 seperate legal issues dealt with quickly and looked up solicitors nearby. I approached Woodheads solicitors and didn't get a reply, I tried again, same result. Exactly the same thing happened with Wilsons Solicitors. I approached Atkinson Firth and within an hour had an appointment booked and a cost for their services. Less than 2 weeks later everything was resolved. I dealt with Kathryn Lawes & Mark Beedel and found them both to be very personable & professional people. I would recommend this company without hesitation.

I would love to be able to comment on thier ability as a solicitors ornin legal matters. However after 2 failed phone appointments with no notification that they would not be kept and only having the 2nd made after missing the 1st by near 5hrs and then I had to chase to get it rebooked and for a reason why.