Melissa Lesson

Partner

What can I do for you

Melissa is a barrister and partner in the London Family department. She is a dual French and English national, and speaks both French and Italian. Her client base is very international, with a particular francophone angle and she often works with lawyers in France and Italy on cases with assets in multiple jurisdictions. She specialises in all financial aspects of separation and divorce, and the consequences that follow, such as child arrangements. She also works on wealth preservation and international pre-nuptial agreements.

Supporting your ambitions

Melissa is calm and empathetic. She is firm and clear in her advice, and will try to ensure in so far as she is able, that cases are resolved sensibly, collaboratively and cost effectively, so that parties remain able to communicate in the future for the sake of their children.

Additional Information

View Melissa's profile in other languages

What do others say

"Melissa Lesson is a classy solicitor. Trilingual, sophisticated, with an experienced and astute approach to financial cases. Gives great advice and exudes, and generates confidence in her clients." Legal 500, 2023

"Melissa Lesson is a wonderful solicitor: tri-lingual, sophisticated, internationally savvy with a calm manner and an eye for a great deal". Legal 500, 2022

"I have many people to thank, not least my lawyer, Melissa Lesson" William Cash, Journalist, Writer and founder of Spear's

Melissa is ranked Top Recommended in Spear's 500 2024.

What else should you know

Melissa is a Trustee of the Soke Foundation which funds initiatives aimed at caring for the mental health of the vulnerable, and those unable to seek help due to financial or other circumstances beyond their control.

She is a Fellow of the IAFL (International Academy of Family Lawyers).

As part of the M&R Global team, Melissa is responsible for looking after our relationships with law firms in Italy and also assists our French desk.

What our clients say about us

I think Mills & Reeve are a wonderful firm. The support they have provided to us in a really difficult area has been brilliant, collaborative and commercially minded. The team were absolutely wonderful and a joy to work with. Amazing advice and support and a real collaborative effort with us. I can't thank them enough for getting us through some really tough times and doing so with an amazing can-do attitude.
They are friendly, fast, always available and always on top of the game. I tend to judge my legal team against the other side's legal team and never doubt Mills & Reeve is the better of the two.
All interactions have been very clear. Responses to questions have always been very swift and unambiguous. Our company, and my family, have used various services in Mills & Reeve with the same level of satisfaction.
I value the fact that Mills & Reeve are recognised as a good place to work in the UK Best Companies survey. This aligns with the values of our business and means that Mills & Reeve can share what is required to achieve this status with our business.

As many clients will testify, too many lawyers deliver the required legal expertise but fail to deliver an outstanding client experience. Which is why we always listen to our clients and constantly ask ourselves what we can do to deliver the results you expect.

You expect a close and attentive working relationship, with a lawyer that is responsive and available when you need them. You also want clear, pragmatic and commercial advice tailored to your needs, and transparency and certainty on costs. We completely agree. That’s why every day, through our culture and approach we are committed to delivering the exceptional results and service our clients expect of us.

Related sectors and services

Businesses
Pension sharing
Trusts on divorce
France
Family solicitors in London
Children
Thinking about a divorce or separation
Cohabitation
Civil partnerships
International family law