Goodman Ray was established in 1985 by Peggy Ray and Judith Goodman with the aim of providing the best legal services to everyone, regardless of whether they could pay or not.
This meant setting up in an area of London which had few solicitors, opening with a shop front office and with extended hours. The firm offered advice on a whole range of areas including family, crime, housing and personal injury.
Since then, it became clear that there was an overwhelming need for specialist family advice and Goodman Ray has now evolved into a niche family law practice which offers high quality legal expertise in relation to child protection, adoption, surrogacy and fertility, private children law, divorce, finances upon separation, international law and domestic abuse.
We also offer mediation and collaborative law services. We are proud to still deliver a significant legal aid service today in addition to services for privately paying clients, and to have developed a strong reputation for approachability, accessibility and excellent legal advice.
As two women, it was not easy for Peggy and Judith to establish their own practice in the early 1980s.
They were repeatedly turned down by banks approach for start-up funding and asked where “the man” in the project was. Eventually, Peggy and Judith found a bank manager who was willing to provide a small loan to fund initial overheads and Goodman Ray was set up (with 3 clients) in 1985 as the first all-female law firm in London.
Today, Goodman Ray has 48 staff and offices in central London and in Brighton.
We are proud to be celebrating our 40th anniversary next year and remain committed to the original aims of high quality service to the widest range of clients including those who cannot afford to pay for lawyers as far as we are able (within the ever decreasing scope of the Legal Aid Scheme).
The firm has always been involved in policy areas in family law and remains involved in promoting change within the family justice system. We consistently recommended by the Legal 500 and Chambers.
