Desmond O'Donnell
Partner, Family
- Phone: 01892 701315
- Email: des.odonnell@ts-p.co.uk
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Specialisms & expertise
- Divorce, judicial separation and dissolution of Civil Partnerships
- Issues in respect of children, including parental responsibility, deciding with whom a child should live, deciding how often a child should spend time with a parent and re-location (national and international)
- All financial aspects of a relationship breakdown
- Collaborative law
- Family mediation
- Prenuptial and Postnuptial agreements
- Advice and agreements for cohabiting couples
- Issues between former cohabitees
- Domestic violence, including applications for non-molestation and occupation orders
Client stories & examples of work
- I have been very impressed and satisfied with all aspects of Thomson Snell & Passmore’s service. I was particularly grateful for the thoughtful, meticulous and excellent advice provided by Desmond O’DonnelI have found both Una and Desmond very professional, knowledgeable and understanding people. It is good to deal with 'humans' when having to work on personal documentation.
Achievements & other appointments
Desmond has a wealth of experience in dealing with families in difficulty and in seeking to resolve their problems constructively.
Desmond is a member of Resolution and is a Resolution trained mediator and collaborative lawyer. In addition, he has passed the Californian Bar examinations and completed a Los Angeles mediation course and is listed as a Citywealth Leader.
Desmond was a member of the Lord Chancellor’s International Child Abduction Panel and the English Law Society’s representative on the National Victim Support Working Party on Domestic Violence. He was involved in preparing a paper for the Lord Chancellor’s Department concerning domestic violence.
Desmond is acknowledged in leading independent guide to UK law firms, Chambers UK as a leader in his field. He is praised in the 2013 edition for his “good response times, good knowledge and sympathetic treatment”. In the 2012 edition he is applauded as a 'sensible and talented lawyer'. Clients say 'he has a very good understanding of the human aspect of work and is terribly professional'.
Profile
Desmond graduated from the University of Kent in Canterbury where he obtained an Honours Degree in Law. He studied for and took his solicitors’ examinations through the College of Law. He was admitted as a solicitor in December 1985.
From 1983-1997 he worked in London, spending the last 10 years of this with Bindman & Partners. From 1997-1999 he worked in Los Angeles and from 1999 until 2005 he worked in Northern Ireland, in a specialist family law firm.
Desmond O’Donnell is a calm, focused mediator.
The Legal 500 2019
You’ve been amazing and I couldn’t of got through the divorce without you. You are very compassionate and talented at what you do.
Client
Desmond O’Donnell is praised for his ‘unmatched attention to detail’.
The Legal 500 2019
I have found both Una and Desmond very professional, knowledgeable and understanding people. It is good to deal with 'humans' when having to work on personal documentation.
Client
Desmond O'Donnell made me feel very comfortable. It was a very emotional and traumatic time for me and Desmond made things very clear, highlighting in a very understandable way what my rights were. Hence I felt very reassured that I was getting the best representation. He was amazing and I couldn't have gone through the divorce without him. He was very compassionate and obviously very talented at what he does.
Client
Helped me build a clear picture of what I was entitled to and what I could look to seek through my divorce settlement.
Client
I felt reassured that Desmond saw the bigger picture through his experience in this field and that in turn, meant the interests of my children and I were well considered
Client
My situation was assessed with sensitivity, and the advice I was given was most helpful, reassuring, and professionally partial to my needs. Although I was anxious about talking to a solicitor about this matter, I was listened to and reassured about the outcome. I would recommend TS&P to anyone who needed professional help.
Client
They are ably led by Joanna Pratt and supported by Kirstie Law. Desmond O’Donnell is a sensible solution-focused lawyer.
The Legal 500 2020
Des was amazing from start to finish, I couldn't have asked for more.
Client
Desmond is highly professional, courteous, and efficient
Client
As previously stated, my solicitor was very kind and understanding from the very start. He was supportive throughout the process. He provided various options of how to proceed at each juncture. He was very informative and achieved a result better than I expected.
Client
I felt my case was well managed with empathy also to the situation. Desmond was professional and understanding. I have found the firm to consistent and fair with clients.
Client
A good lawyer, a pleasure to work with.
Chambers UK 2020
It was a very stressful period for me and Desmond gave me great comfort and reassurance.
Chambers and Partners 2021
I appreciate your professional support throughout the mediation process. It was tough but a much better approach than the alternatives
Client
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