Ruth Hawkins
Ruth Hawkins is a founding partner of Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP.
Ruth is an experienced family solicitor, having qualified in 1997.
Ruth has been a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel since 2005, which means that she specialises in childcare and complex children litigation, and is able to represent children and young people in court proceedings.
Ruth also became a family mediator in 2012 and mediates in all areas of family disputes including children and financial disputes. This allows her to use her vast experience in childcare law, and child development, in her mediation practice. Ruth has recently undertaken the What about Henry Course on child development. https://www.onlymums.org/what-about-henry
In her Legal practice, Ruth specialises in acting for children, parents and family members, grandparents and aunts and uncles in court proceedings including care proceedings, children law disputes, adoption and wardship.
As well as being a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, Ruth is a member of the Association of Lawyers for Children and Resolution. Ruth is also a Family Law Panel member https://thefamilylawpanel.org/ through Only Mums/Only Dads and provides assistance through that scheme and is also a regular contributor to their publications.
Ruth leads the firm’s community and charity involvement, both locally and nationally. Ruth is a Trustee of Abingdon Carousel, the Children’s Centre in Abingdon, and is a passionate advocate for community services, especially for those more vulnerable members of the community.
She is rated in Chambers & Partners as a key individual. “Ruth is always professional and compassionate…..shows real dedication to her clients. She has a willingness to go above and beyond and is very helpful.”
Legal 500 notes that “Ruth Hawkins is someone you want on your side in divorce and care proceedings, she is compassionate and sensitive to her client’s needs, but fights hard to deliver the best outcomes for her clients.”
As can be seen, Ruth prides herself in acting for her clients in a humane compassionate way, and is well regarded for her problem-solving approach.
Ruth is especially keen to use her skills and experience to develop her mediation practice and help couples and parents to find better ways of resolving the issues that arise upon separation.
Read what clients say:
This is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with solicitors and court but very quickly I became comfortable and felt like I was properly being heard and that is due to Ruth being very fair, understanding, hard working and going above and beyond to get the job done.
“Ruth Hawkins’ calm, considerate approach – always putting the children’s interests first – has helped me to navigate extremely complex circumstances in the best possible way.”
‘Ruth possesses a winning combination of fierce intelligence and great sensitivity which she applies to all her cases. She invests herself fully in her clients. They are lucky to have her on their side!’ (Barrister)
‘Ruth has extensive experience in children proceedings and her expertise is underpinned by an empathetic but realistic approach. Her cases are always extremely well prepared, and she is willing to go the extra mile for her clients. I have no hesitation in recommending her and do so frequently.’ (Barrister)
‘Ruth has represented me several times in the last 15 years; she is extremely professional and has always treated me with respect, understanding and compassion.’
“Ruth regularly gives me advice which is prompt, comprehensive and reliable in language which makes sense. Her advocacy in Court is skilled, authoritative and reassuring.”
“You’ve both been really helpful and supportive through all this, and it was a great relief to have somebody on my side. We’re hoping to put all this behind us as far as possible and concentrate on working with the new social worker. It will be a real relief to be able to get things back on track without court hanging over us.
Many thanks again for your work.” (SE – client)
“If you’re looking for a firm that’s ethical and dedicated to your case then look no further. BH&O gave me incredible support as I went through what 35 year tenure judge said was their most complex, and achieved success not just for me but for my children.” ON, June 2022
“The moment I made contact everyone has been so informative and helpful, Ruth has been amazing, always honest, changed things when needed with great support and expertise. Thank you Ruth and team.”
Contact
Reported cases and articles:
- Re A and B (No. 2)(SGO)(domestic abuse no direct contact to father) [2020] EWFC B15 (06 March 2020) www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2020/B15.html
- Re M (Special Guardianship Order: Leave To Apply To Discharge) (Rev 1) [2021] EWCA Civ 442 (26 March 2021) www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2021/442.html
- K (Forced Marriage Protection Orders; Abuse of process) 2021] EWFC B94 (15 October 2021) https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/OJ/2021/B94.html
- A and B (No 3)(domestic abuse – no direct contact – s91(14)), Re [2023] EWFC 192 https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewfc/2023/192
Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne articles:
Plan ahead for school holidays
July 03, 2023
Don’t wait until school holiday are here before you think about your parenting arrangements and pl
Read More >>Changes in Legal Aid in Special Guardianship cases
May 31, 2023
There has been a very welcome recent change in eligibility for Legal Aid for those involved in Speci
Read More >>Help for separating parents in the Court Process
May 31, 2023
Until recently, parents who could not reach agreement on their child or children’s arrangements, a
Read More >>Family Mediation Week
January 16, 2023
Family Mediation Week 16th to 20th January 2023 By Karen Newman and Ruth Hawkins Family Mediation we
Read More >>Helen Bishop to head BH&O matrimonial department
November 02, 2022
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne LLP are delighted to have appointed Helen Bishop to head their matrim
Read More >>BH&O: 4 years and counting!
August 31, 2022
1st September marks our 4th Birthday. What have we achieved over those four years? When Emily, Irena
Read More >>World Mental Health Day
October 10, 2023
World Mental Health Day (10 Oct) is a day to talk about mental health and show everyone that mental
Read More >>Parenting through separation – a new guide for separating parents
July 29, 2021
If you are a parent thinking about divorce or separation, one of your biggest worries is likely to b
Read More >>101 Questions Answered When Separating With Children
June 07, 2021
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne have decided to provide our clients, prospective clients, and anyone
Read More >>Co-parenting tips.
March 10, 2021
Regardless of whether you are married, divorced, or separated, co-parenting is never easy when you a
Read More >>International Women’s Day 2021
March 08, 2021
International women’s day this year must for many working women take on a greater significance? Mo
Read More >>Christmas cheer – especially this year!
December 18, 2020
The team at BH&O have been working harder than ever throughout this year but still had time to d
Read More >>Family mediation – working together to resolve your family issues.
June 13, 2023
When you separate, there are often a whole host of issues that you need to consider, and if possible
Read More >>Kinship care: What order do I need?
October 16, 2020
At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandparents, aunts and uncles and relatives are doing in
Read More >>Grandparents Day: 6th October
October 01, 2020
Grandparents Day approaches this weekend and this year, it must surely take on a greater significanc
Read More >>3 Ock Street; the home of BH&O
September 24, 2020
When we formed this firm just over two years ago, whilst we set out to establish a modern, innovativ
Read More >>Separation and parenting through the pandemic: key questions answered
July 14, 2020
Irena and I are delighted to have contributed to this new book, a supplement to last year’s 101 qu
Read More >>How should I talk to my child about Covid-19?
March 20, 2020
Top tips to help parents. Much of this is based on an article published last week by UNICEF Australi
Read More >>Family Mediation Week – Busting some myths!
January 21, 2020
Family Mediation Week has come around again. But what is family mediation? Put simply, it’s a way
Read More >>Kinship care week
October 07, 2019
5th to 11th October is Kinship Care week. At BH&O, we know what a great job many grandpare
Read More >>BH&O supporting
Happy Even After: a play about domestic abuse
October 04, 2019
Last night BH&O sponsored the launch of a new play written by local play-write Gaye Poole, Happy
Read More >>BH&O – a young firm, in touch with our heritage!
September 17, 2019
When Emily, Irena and I started planning this firm, we wanted to create a modern thinking innovative
Read More >>Great Legal Bake Off
February 27, 2019
Boardman Hawkins & Osborne are delighted to be taking part in this year’s Great Legal Bake Off
Read More >>101 Questions Answered About Separating with Children
February 01, 2019
Ruth Hawkins has contributed to this New Book 101 Questions Answered About Separating with
Read More >>Family Mediation Week
January 21, 2019
This week (21st January) is Family Mediation Week. It is designed to highlight and raise awareness o
Read More >>What happens to the wider family when parents separate?
January 10, 2019
It’s that time of year when families come together, and grandparents and aunts and uncles get to s
Read More >>Paying it forward…. or giving back to clients and our community.
December 14, 2018
We’ve now been open for three months. It’s been a very busy period, which Emily has already writ
Read More >>Tips for managing Christmas for separated parents
November 12, 2018
Co-written by: Ruth Hawkins, Solicitor & Mediator, Partner and Helen Bishop, Consultant Solicito
Read More >>A crying shame…?
October 25, 2018
By Ruth Hawkins A report published this week by the Children’s Commissioner for England, sugge
Read More >>Civil Partnerships for all!
October 25, 2018
By Ruth Hawkins As has been reported in the media, the Prime Minister, Theresa May, has announced th
Read More >>New guidelines for difficult family disputes: tackling parental alienation.
September 13, 2018
When parents separate, arrangements for their children, can be hard to agree. It can be particularly
Read More >>
