Russell Cooke Kingston Upon Thames

About Maria

Maria specialises in all aspects of private family law including divorce, financial disputes, pre and post nuptial agreements and children matters

Maria is a member of Resolution and whilst she is committed to resolving matters outside of the court process where possible, she is also experienced in advising clients through contested litigation and other alternative dispute resolution processes. 

Maria seeks to adopt a pragmatic approach to her cases, helping clients to identify the right process for them in order to resolve their case in their best interests and as expeditiously and cost effectively as possible.

Maria trained and subsequently qualified into boutique family law firms where she worked on complex financial matters, nuptial agreements and disputes between parents. Maria qualified in August 2021 and joined Russell-Cooke in June 2023.

Experience

  • Assisted on financial remedy proceedings which had an international element with complex business structures and overseas assets.
  • Assisted on financial remedy proceedings where there is a jurisdiction dispute.

Education and Qualification

  • Read English at Nottingham University
  • Studied the Graduate Diploma in law and accelerated Legal Practice Course at BPP University.

Memberships

  • A member of Resolution, an organisation of family lawyers focused on achieving family and child focused resolutions to disputes, and Young Resolution.

Maria's highlights

News

04.08.2026

Olivia’s Law: compelling attendance at sentencing for defendants

Olivia’s Law gives courts new powers to compel attendance for convicted defendants detained in custody while awaiting sentencing by the Crown Court where they refuse, or are expected to refuse, to attend voluntarily. While from a...
Diana Birsan, Legal assistant in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, criminal and financial crime team. Martin Rackstraw, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, criminal and financial crime team.
Multiple Authors
4 min Read
Diana Birsan, Martin Rackstraw
News

03.08.2026

Non-disclosure and third-party disclosure orders

In this briefing, senior associate Kate Macdonald outlines the importance of full and frank financial disclosure in family proceedings and...
Kate Macdonald, Associate in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, family and children team.
Kate Macdonald
4 min Read
News

28.07.2026

Managing prison overcrowding: the Government's early release dilemma

The new Prime Minister has inherited a criminal justice system near to collapse due to decades of under-investment. One of the most pressing consequences of this neglect is a prison system that is dangerously...
Martin Rackstraw, Partner in the Russell-Cooke Solicitors, criminal and financial crime team.
Martin Rackstraw
3 min Read
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