Karen Dovaston – owner and principal solicitor
Karen is the owner and founder of Dovaston Law. She has been a solicitor since 1995, specialising in family law. She handles cases mainly involving divorce and separation, family financial matters, arrangements for children, and disputes about arrangements for children over contact (used to be access) and where children will live (used to be custody), prenuptial agreements, separation agreements and child maintenance.
She is Chair of The Law Society Family Law Policy Committee and the The Law Society Council Member for Essex in October 2024. As the Assessor for The Law Society Family Law Micro credential, she helps deliver education to the profession in the area of family law. She is recognised by The Law Society as an advanced level specialist in the area of family law.
Her book Matrimonial Financial Toolkit, 2nd Edition was published in October 2024.
She is a Committee Member of The Southend on Sea and District Law Society, which is the local law society near her.
She is a member of the Pensions Advisory Group, who produced the essential guidance to judges and practitioners on how pensions should be dealt with on divorce. She is also a member of Resolution. She supports the Law Clinic at Anglia Ruskin University and DEWA, the Deaf Ethnic Women’s Association. She was a non-executive director of a local multi-academy educational trust and remains a member of the trust.
She is part of the on-line divorce and financial order pilot scheme for solicitors, working with HM Courts & Tribunals Service and still takes part in the consultation groups with HMCTS, assisting with the design and development of the digital court reforms. She is known for her love of technology and its use to support her clients.
She has appeared on BBC news, speaking about changes to and advances in family law. She has appeared on several radio shows, speaking about family law, representing the solicitor profession and The Law Society. She has spoken alongside senior international judiciary and taken part in several lectures, webinars and panels in the area of family law.
Gill Tobin – CILEx Lawyer | consultant
Gill Tobin is a CILEx Lawyer and CILEx Probate Practitioner, with over 20 years’ experience in the areas of Wills, Estate Administration and Lasting Powers of Attorney.
She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, being one of only a select few STEP members in the Southend area who have been able to qualify for highly recognised accreditation.
Gill has joined us as a consultant after a long term role as the Head of Wills and Probate Department with another local law firm. She brings her knowledge, skills and expertise to Dovaston Law. She professional and efficient, whilst remaining approachable and friendly.
From a local Independent Financial Advisor: “I have always been comfortable referring clients to Gill, knowing how professional, honest, diligent, kind and simply nice to deal with that she is”. Reviews of her work form her clients speak for themselves.
Martin Nossel – solicitor | consultant
Martin Nossel is a solicitor, admitted in 1984, now working as a consultant for Dovaston Law in the areas of Will, Lasting Power of Attorney, Probate and Estate Administration.
Martin joins us as a consultant after having his own firm in Basildon for over 30 years and having worked over the entire legal field. Martin is knowledgeable, approachable and brings his considerable experience and expertise to us.