Melanie Bridgen

Practice Areas

Melanie is a leading Partner in Nelsons' expert Family Law team. She is a fearless, powerful solicitor who strives to empower and achieve the best outcome for her clients.

Melanie advises on complex cases including divorce, child arrangements orders, international relocation, child abduction, domestic abuse, parental alienation, care proceedings, adoption placement breakdown, special guardianship, deprivation of liberty and habitual residence jurisdiction.

Professional Memberships

- Recommended by Chambers and Partners in Band 1 (Family/Matrimonial - East Midlands

- Winner of the Solicitor of the Year Award at the Derby and District Law Society Annual Dinner 2023

- Listed in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame

- Law Society Children Panel Accredited specialist

- Law Society Family Law Panel (Advanced) - Accredited Specialist in both Children Law Private and Advice in and Conduct of Ancillary Relief Proceedings

- Resolution Accredited Specialist (Domestic Violence)

- Member of Derby & District Law Society Family Committee

Work Highlights

Notable Cases

- Griffiths v Griffiths (Decision on Recusal) [2021] EWHC 3600 (Fam) (09 December 2021)

- Griffiths v Tickle & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1882 (10 December 2021)

- Griffiths v Griffiths (Guidance on Contact Costs) [2022] EWHC 113 (Fam) (20 January 2022)

- Tickle v Father & Others [2023] EWHC 2446 (Fam)

- A (Jurisdiction: Family Law Act 1986) (Application for Amplification), Re [2021] EWFC 105 (15 December 2021)

- X (A Child) (Jurisdiction and Habitual Residence Issue) [2021] EWFC B81 (30 November 2021)