Our team

Peter Baughan

Director, Solicitor and Mediator

Peter has worked exclusively in family law since qualifying as a solicitor in 1997.

Peter is a numbers geek and enjoys working with accounts, pensions and family companies. He has a special interest in cases involving family businesses, companies, and trusts. He was recently involved in a reported case involving houses and a business in this country, and divorce proceedings in a different country. This was resolved by converting the divorce proceedings to a different type of legal process.

He also has a wide experience of complex children’s cases, including decisions about where children live, and how they should be represented.
Peter was one of the first lawyers in the country to train as a collaborative lawyer and helped found the Good Divorce Group.  He is an accredited family mediator.

Peter’s interests include dogs, going to the gym, eating, cooking and socialising, and tropical plant gardening. But mainly dogs and eating.
He is sympathetic and supportive of his clients, and you can always rely on him for realistic, practical advice. Peter is also protective of his client’s rights.

Patricia Brodie

Director, Solicitor and Mediator

Patricia Brodie is one of the founding partners of BBL Family Law. She specialises in all aspects of family law and relationship breakdown, is a trained Resolution collaborative lawyer and an accredited Resolution mediator. Twenty years ago, Patricia was one of the very first family lawyers to incorporate family mediation in a solicitors’ practice.

With over 25 years’ experience in divorce and family law Patricia is a dedicated and approachable family lawyer and mediator. She enjoys dealing with a varied caseload including divorce, maintenance, and resolving financial issues. Her specialisms are cases that involve family businesses and high net worth individuals and issues regarding children.

Outside of work, Patricia is a food obsessed campervan enthusiast who enjoys taking long walks with her adopted Spanish rescue dogs. She’s also a whizz at cooking plant-based food and enjoys yoga and wellbeing retreats.

Matthew Lord

Director, Solicitor and Mediator

Matthew qualified as a solicitor in September 2006 and has been part of the team since we first launched in May 2009. He has wide and varied experience dealing with all aspects of family law, including divorce and separation, civil partnership dissolution, financial matters, cohabitation, preparation of pre and post marital agreements, and private law children disputes. He also deals with cases that have an international element.

As a member of Resolution, Matthew is committed to resolving cases in a constructive and conciliatory manner through negotiation, wherever possible. He is a volunteer with the Norfolk Community Legal Service initiative providing free legal advice to the local community.

As a solicitor and mediator, Matthew has a careful and considered approach that is efficient and effective.

Outside of work he enjoys playing and watching sports, spending time with his family and friends, and taking the occasional trip back home to his native Yorkshire. Most of the time, though, he has his hands full with his two small children!

Lucy Steele

Director, Solicitor and Mediator

Lucy is a family law specialist, with particular emphasis on resolving financial issues upon divorce.  She regularly deals with high-net-worth individuals and cases involving family businesses and complex pension arrangements. Lucy has a particular interest in cases with an international element, where one or both parties have links to or live in another country.

Lucy also has wide experience with complex children cases dealing with matters such as where/with whom a child should live, relocation of a child and parental responsibility.  Lucy also deals with ‘fact find’ hearings, where the court is needed to decide the factual background of a situation before arrangements for a child can be determined.  She also deals with specific issues such as a change of a child’s name, school, or permission to take a child abroad.

Lucy provides commercial advice to her clients and is widely respected for her compassionate but pro-active approach.  She is a mediator and collaborative lawyer and is committed to resolving cases in a constructive and pro-active manner.

Lucy loves travelling, going on crazy adventures to far-flung places. She’s even fried an egg on a volcano and been stranded on a desert island, although she’s quick to add that’s not as glamorous as it sounds. When she’s not exploring, Lucy can be heard playing in the Norwich Philharmonic but it’s unlikely you’ll see her because she’s usually hiding at the back.

Emerald Priscott

Director and Solicitor

Emerald qualified in 2019 and joined us in June 2022, after building up her experience at other Norfolk-based law firms. Before joining, Emerald was already establishing herself as a family law superstar after being shortlisted for the ‘Junior Lawyer of the Year 2021’ and ‘The Amanda Owens Family Lawyer of the Year Award’ at the Norwich and Norfolk Law Society Excellence Awards. Both those awards celebrate an exceptional standard of work and recognise lawyers who excel in their role. She has already been made a director at bbl, recognising her skills as a family lawyer.

Emerald handles a full spectrum of family matters including divorce, civil partnership dissolution, family finances and separation disputes. She advises unmarried couples on separation in respect of their property rights and regularly deals with arrangements for children.

Emerald is co-secretary and committee member for the Norfolk branch of Resolution, and volunteers for the Citizens Advice Bureau and Norfolk Community Law Service. She also has a visiting lecturer role at the University of Law, teaching students at the University of East Anglia.

Emerald enjoys baking and is usually the ‘go to’ family member who’s asked to create something tasty and calorific for birthdays or celebrations. She also enjoys travelling, going on city breaks, and taking part in adventurous – some might say insane! – activities including downhill mountain biking, quad biking, and horse riding (okay, horse riding is definitely not too mad!). She also recently tried learning to snowboard, but that didn’t go so well…

Closer to home, Emerald regularly attends fitness classes and enjoys taking her dog, Fifi, on walks in the countryside.

Ana-Maria Munteanu

Solicitor

Ana qualified as a solicitor in 2023 and joined us in 2024 after building up her experience dealing with various aspects of family law, including divorce and separation, financial matters, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation and private law children disputes.

She has a passion for helping individuals and families navigate some of life’s most sensitive challenges, offering clear, compassionate, and practical advice on matters such as divorce, child arrangements, financial settlements, prenuptial agreements, and domestic issues.

She takes pride in delivering tailored legal solutions with empathy and professionalism, always aiming to reduce conflict and achieve the best possible outcome for her clients. Ana works closely with each client to ensure they feel supported, informed, and empowered throughout the legal process.

In her spare time Ana enjoys getting cosy with a coffee and a good book, or going for long walks in the countryside. She also has a passion for cooking (even though her recipes don’t always work out!).

Laura Savage

Legal Executive

Laura qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 2010. Laura has extensive knowledge and understanding in all areas of family law with significant experience in financial issues arising from separation and children matters including contact, living arrangements and applications for relocation. Recently, Laura successfully represented a client with a High Court application for the return of their child to England and into their full time care.

As a member of Resolution, Laura encourages a pragmatic and cost effective approach to achieve a resolution by giving sensitive, fair and practical advice. Laura acknowledges legal proceedings are never desirable and seeks to achieve a resolution without the need for clients to involve the court where possible. Where court proceedings are unavoidable, Laura recognises the stress and toll proceedings may have and will attempt to reduce any anxiety caused by ensuring her work is cost effective by offering clear advice and guidance whilst also ensuring your case is presented fully.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends when she isn’t training the newest addition to her family, a spaniel puppy called Lila.

Tara Saunders

Legal Secretary

Tara joined our team in July 2019 and has over 15 years of experience. Tara provides excellent service and client care, adopting a friendly approach to all our existing clients and new enquiries and is sympathetic in what can be a stressful and upsetting situations for clients.

As an integral member of our team, she primarily supports Emerald Priscott, Lucy Steele and Ana-Maria Munteanu with legal work.

Tara is often supported by her French bulldog Logan who enjoys a walk at lunchtime and an afternoon nap.

Elaine Fullalove

Legal Secretary

Elaine joined the team in March 2024. Elaine is personable and empathetic when dealing with new and existing clients in a professional manner.

She primarily supports Patricia Brodie, Matthew Lord and Peter Baughan with legal work.

In her spare time Elaine enjoys spending time with her two children, going to the gym and socialising with friends and family

Emma Moore

Legal Secretary

Emma has worked for the directors since 2000 and has been with bbl since the very beginning and has varied experience as a legal assistant and mediation administrator. Emma is friendly and knowledgeable and provides excellent service to our existing clients and new enquiries. She primarily supports Peter Baughan, Matthew Lord and Patricia Brodie with legal work.

Claire Smith

Mediation Administrator

Claire joined the team in August 2022 and is responsible for running our mediation services. As your first point of call, Claire sets a high standard for efficiency and friendliness to help you navigate through the mediation process.