Toni Thomas

Toni Alexandra Thomas is a solicitor at Pearl Baker Solicitors, also known as PB Law Limited, where she advises individuals and families on divorce, separation, financial settlements, children matters, protective orders, property disputes between unmarried couples, Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and probate. Toni, also deals with disputes between cohabitees specifically including property disputes known as TOLATA claims.

Working primarily with clients local to the office in Rayleigh, her client base also includes local areas including Southend, Chelmsford Basildon and Romford as well as representing clients remotely in other areas, she helps people navigate difficult family and personal matters with clear advice, extensive experience and compassionate support.

Most of Toni’s work involves family law, with a particular focus on resolving financial matters following divorce. She represents clients across a wide range of financial circumstances, from those with limited assets to high-net-worth cases involving pensions, businesses, family homes and investment properties. Toni is particularly experienced in supporting financially vulnerable wives whose husbands have discouraged them from seeking independent legal advice or pressured them to accept a settlement without providing a complete picture of the matrimonial assets.

In one case, Toni represented a wife whose husband had offered what he described as a fair settlement but refused to disclose the value of his pension. Toni advised her client to pursue financial remedy proceedings, which revealed that the pension was of significant value and resulted in the wife securing a pension-sharing order. She has also handled high-net-worth proceedings involving a family home, a business and numerous investment properties, achieving a settlement structured to minimise Capital Gains Tax liabilities and preserve assets for both parties.

Toni also represents parents in child arrangements disputes, including prolonged and contested proceedings concerning when and how a parent can spend time with their child. Her experience includes representing a father who, following a contested final hearing, secured an order allowing him to spend unsupervised time with his child. She also helps clients obtain protection from physical harm or abuse under the Family Law Act and advises unmarried couples involved in disputes about property.

Alongside her family law practice, Toni prepares Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney and assists with probate, although she does not undertake Wills involving trusts.

Toni was admitted as a solicitor in November 1998 and has worked in private practice across Hertfordshire and Essex. She joined Pearl Baker Solicitors in 2015 and is a member of both The Law Society and Resolution, having previously held Resolution specialist accreditation in advanced financial provision and children law.

Clients choose Toni for her extensive experience, personal approach and genuine commitment to achieving the best possible outcome. She understands how emotional and challenging these matters can be and provides practical, determined and caring support throughout.