Vanessa Gardiner was a Partner in a top 100 law firm before joining Merali Beedle in 2026. She is a specialist family solicitor and FMA-trained family mediator (WTA) with over 19 years’ experience in family law and 15 years’ training in Collaborative practice.
Based in Reading, she advises clients across the Thames Valley, Oxford and London as well as nationally providing a trauma informed approach and offering clear, compassionate and constructive advice on all family law matters including:-
· Collaborative Law & Family Mediation (including MIAMs)
· Divorce proceedings & disolution of Civil Partnerships
· Separation for married and unmarried couples
· Financial negotiations and agreements
· Child arrangements, child relocation, child abduction, Parental Responsibility, Prohibited Steps Orders & Specific Issue Orders relating to education, medical issues and assessments
· Domestic abuse, Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders
· Pre-Nuptial Agreements and Post-Nuptial Agreements
· Cohabitation Agreements
· Legal advice for family mediation.
Vanessa’s approach helps clients understand their options, make informed decisions and move through difficult family law matters and practical support.
Vanessa is also a member of Resolution, an association of family law professionals who seek to reform family law and promote a constructive and amicable approach to dispute resolution, as well as Thames Valley Family Lawyers' Society, Thames Valley Collaborative Lawyers, Family Mediation Association and Family Mediation Council and Association of Family Law Supervisors.
Client testimonials:
"Vanessa has been outstanding in helping me navigate some very complex family issues, her expertise is clear from the thoughtful, sensible advice she gives, and her kindness, patience and professionalism made a difficult situation much easier to manage. She put me at ease from the outset, and I had complete confidence in her ability to achieve the best possible outcome. I would gladly use her services again and would wholeheartedly recommend her to friends and family."
"cannot recommend Vanessa highly enough. From the very first consultation, she was professional, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable. Vanessa guided me through a very difficult divorce with clarity and confidence, always keeping my best interests at heart. Her communication was excellent, and always felt informed and supported. Truly outstanding service."
