Switalskis has appointed three legal professionals to its Bradford and York child care teams, strengthening their wider support for vulnerable children, adults and families.

Solicitor Rifat Shahid and graduate solicitor apprentice Alesha Kang have joined the Bradford team. They add further expertise to the team’s existing specialist knowledge advising South Asian communities. They will work with director Razia Jogi to support clients affected by domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence and complex child care matters. Newly qualified solicitor Emelia Garnett joins in York alongside director Lorrette Law , adding capacity to support vulnerable children and families and domestic abuse survivors.

Rifat qualified as a solicitor in 2020 and brings experience in domestic abuse and public law care proceedings. She adds strong advocacy skills, close links with local agencies, fluency in Urdu and understands Punjabi, which enables many clients to receive advice in their first language. She says: “I was attracted to the role at Switalskis because of the firm’s reputation for client-focused support and its commitment to placing vulnerable people at the centre of its work.”

Emelia joins the York team after completing training in private family and childcare law. She represents parents in care proceedings, supports children in dispute cases and assists victims of domestic abuse. She also volunteers with the National Centre for Domestic Violence. Born in York, she is now building relationships with local domestic abuse organisations and aims to broaden the team’s services available in the city.

Alesha joins the team as a graduate solicitor apprentice after working in family law for three years, where she supported domestic abuse victims and assisted with private children matters and injunction applications. She attends court hearings and works closely with senior colleagues on complex cases. She will advocate for families who may otherwise struggle to access support. Alesha also speaks Punjabi, further improving the team’s ability to assist local communities.

Ruth Coneron , head of Switalskis’ care team , says: “Our three appointments reflect the increasing demand for client representation in both public and legally aided private law matters. These include non-molestation orders, occupation orders and child arrangements cases.

“Switalskis began as a firm committed to children’s law and we’re proud to continue investing in the legacy left by Stephen Switalski. We’ve developed positive relationships with a number of local organisations that support victims of domestic abuse and vulnerable parents, and Rifat, Alesha and Emelia are helping us ensure clients get the protection they need from the courts. These appointments mark another step in our team’s expansion, enabling us to assist more clients and extending our geographical reach.”