Lawyers
Anita Garrod founded Garrods Law Ltd in Chelmsford some twenty-two years ago and is the managing director. She has a wealth of experience in all family law matters and specialises in matters relating to children. Anita is a long standing member of the Law Society Children Panel Accreditation Scheme, a Solicitor Advocate with the right to appear in all civil courts, including the appeal courts.
She leads the Garrods Law team in the areas of Family, Children, Wills and Probate.
Anita appears in courts in London, Essex, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire and represents children, parents, grandparents, other family members, other carers, and prospective adopters. Her forensic, sympathetic, yet determined approach have brought respect and has set the ethos of the firm to provide the best possible representation for clients.
Anita deals with many lengthy final hearings, covering complex and critical issues for families and all kinds of allegations, including all forms of alleged abuse, parental alienation and cultural issues.
Anita also oversees the private client department, ensuring that clients' wishes are followed in all matters.
Outside work, Anita enjoys the theatre, all kinds of music, traveling, food and good wine, reading, bird-watching and spending time in the country and by the sea with family.
Boyd Carter is a director and Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Civil). He has over 30 years’ experience and during that time has practiced in criminal law, family law and civil and commercial dispute resolution - appearing as an advocate for clients in the Magistrates Courts, County Courts and the High Court.
In 2008, after many years as a partner in a local law firm, Boyd set up his own firm in Braintree, specialising in children and family law cases as well as in civil and commercial mediation. In May 2013, the practice of Boyd Carter solicitor merged, with the Braintree office trading as ‘Boyd Carter Solicitors & Mediators’.
In November 2022 Boyd joined Garrods Law and looks forward to continuing to provide advice and representation, not only to all of his existing clients but also to the firm’s current and future clients.
Whilst based in Chelmsford Boyd travels frequently to courts all over Essex, London and the South East.
Boyd is also a Civil and Commercial Mediator, a qualified child arbitrator and is a member of: the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; the Law Society’s Children Law Accreditation Panel; the Association of Lawyers for Children; the Solicitors Association of Higher Court Advocates and Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association).
Boyd’s interests and hobbies include cars, food, films, and music.
Emma Reid is a Senior Chartered Legal Executive and has gained a wealth of experience in her specialist field of family law, which provides her with the skills to supervise others. She practises the entire remit of private family law matters and works with clients from initial instruction to representation at court hearings. Emma offers efficient, pragmatic and practical advice, whilst giving the support and reassurance required at what is often a very stressful and emotional time for clients.
With over 20 years' experience, Emma has risen to the challenges and enjoyed the rewards that this specialist area of law brings, ranging from straightforward divorces to those involving high net worth individuals with various assets and businesses, children disputes (including those involving an international element), co-habitation disputes and advising those entering into marriage and civil partnerships on how best to organise and protect their assets and obtaining injuctive orders to protect individuals who have been subject to domestic abuse or to protect assets from being dissipated or transferred to prevent them being taken into account when a relationship breaks down.
Emma particularly enjoys dealing with complex financial matters, both at the end of a relationship and administering an estate following a death.
Outside work, Emma is the secretary of two registered Charities, one supporting the disadvantaged in the local community and the other operating a Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) policy for stray cats. Emma enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, the theatre and the occasional shopping trip with Champagne!
Hannah Sutton is a Solicitor Advocate with the right to appear in the higher courts. She has dealt with a variety of matters in various courts and tribunals, up to and including the Court of Appeal. Hannah conducts fact-finding and final hearings. She also has experience of making and opposing applications, as well as acting for parents and other family members in complex hearings.
Hannah previously worked as a criminal defence advocate and has a wealth of experience of conducting trial advocacy, including many cases with a sexual or “domestic violence” element. Her criminal cases involved her representing and cross-examining youths and offenders with mental health issues. Her experience allows her to be instructed in particularly complex cases, where the participants are from challenging backgrounds, highly vulnerable, and/or suffer with mental health difficulties.
Due to her experience, she was involved in making representations and submissions to the Home Office regarding Youth Justice in the United Kingdom.
Hannah ran the London Marathon to raise money and awareness for the Children’s Society, a charity that fights against child poverty and neglect.
Currently, Hannah is working towards membership of the Law Society Children Law Accreditation Scheme, so that she can also represent children in both care proceedings and private children law proceedings.
Support Staff
Julia Hornsby, has worked with Garrods Law Ltd for over twelve of the twenty five years' she has been working in the legal field, which included time in a busy London practice. Julia has considerable experience as a legal assistant to Anita Garrod and also assists with the smooth running of the practice. Outside the office she enjoys outdoor persuits with her family and children.
Jane Cherry has over 25 years’ experience as a legal secretary and for over 20 of those years has worked with Boyd Carter. Jane and Boyd both recently moved from Boyd’s eponymous firm in Braintree - to expand the team and expertise at Garrods Law Ltd. Jane specialises in Public Law (care) proceedings but has experience and knowledge in all areas of family law. Jane is hard working, conscientious and client focused – bringing compassion at what can be a time of great distress. Jane has recently reduced her hours and now works from Monday – Wednesday (9am - 5.30pm). Outside of work Jane is very active and particularly enjoys yoga, Pilates, walking, horse riding and the odd glass of wine!
Amanda Bowen has over twelve years' exprience in the legal sector and has been with Garrods Law Ltd, assisting the lawyers, for five years'. Her interests include various crafts and art work, both creating and teaching.
Donna Harrison has over twenty five years’ of service in the legal field, with particular experience in family law, especially children matters and domestic abuse. Donna previously managed an office for a sole practitioner and is an extremely capable legal assistant in all matters. Donna has been with Garrods Law Ltd for over eight years. Her interests outside the office are her family, reading and horses.