Emma Doughty
Associate Lecturer
Profile
Biography
Emma Doughty
LLB Hons (York), LPC (The College of Law, York), Solicitor (currently non-practising; hold live practising certificate)
After graduating with First Class Honours in Law from the University of York in 2013, I completed the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law (now the University of Law), achieving a distinction.
I began my legal career at Langleys Solicitors LLP in York, completing seats in employment, insurance, public childcare, and private family law before qualifying as a solicitor in 2016.
I joined Harrogate Family Law, a Legal 500 & Chambers UK ranked niche firm as a newly qualified solicitor in 2016 and was promoted to Partner in 2020. During my eight years at the firm, I specialised in complex divorce and financial remedy cases, often involving high-value assets, pensions, and international elements. I am a Resolution member and accredited specialist in pensions and complex finances on divorce and have extensive experience in children matters and domestic abuse cases. My work has been recognised nationally, with recognition in Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.
Alongside practice, I have previously held compliance and leadership roles, including Deputy COLP, and contributed to National Resolution equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives as Vice Chair of the West and North Yorkshire Resolution Committee (https://resolution.org.uk/). I have served in various positions within West & North Yorkshire Resolution, including Yres Chair (2019–2021) and Secretary (2018–2021).
I have served as President and Director of Harrogate & District Law Society in 2021 & 22, following earlier roles as Vice President and Treasurer.
I joined York College as a part-time Quality and Compliance Officer in 2025, where I am responsible for ensuring adherence to regulatory and quality standards across the institution. My role includes internal audits of IQA and implementation of EQA feedback as developing improvement initiatives to maintain excellence in academic and operational practice. In addition, I am assisting York College with the development of the new T-Level in Legal Services.
Research
Overview
My research interests lie primarily in family law, with a particular focus on: complex financial remedies, pensions, ADR, domestic abuse and access to justice. I am also interested in mental health and wellbeing within the legal profession, compliance and risk management in law firms, and equality, diversity, and inclusion in legal practice.
I have previously contributed to academic discourse through published articles in Family Law Journal on topics such as pensions, disclosure obligations, and periodical payments.
My earlier research explored comparative approaches to cohabitation law in England and Scotland, incorporating trust principles.
Although I am not currently engaged in any active research projects, I remain committed to developing scholarship in these areas and welcome opportunities for future collaboration.
I historically undertook a paid medical law research internship at the University of York Law School in June 2012. My medical negligence research was subsequently used by Dr Katarzyna Gromek-Broc in her published paper.
Publications
Selected publications
Financial Provision: Perplexed by Pensions? Emma Doughty, Harrogate Family Law | Family Law Journal December 2018/January 2019 #182.
Emma Doughty explores the practical challenge of protecting clients from pension pitfalls and best practice including the use of checklists
---
Periodical Payments: Creative Accounting, Emma Doughty, Harrogate Family Law | Family Law Journal June 2018 #177
Emma Doughty explores the practical challenges when negotiating periodical payments, with a particular focus on cases involving a high-earning spouse.
---
Disclosure: Coming Clean, Emma Doughty, Harrogate Family Law | Family Law Journal July/August 2017 #168
Emma Doughty explores the practical challenges when dealing with the ongoing duty to provide full and frank disclosure in financial proceedings
This article focused specifically on interests in discretionary trusts.
---
The Family Law Journal is a leading UK practitioner publication for family law professionals, published by LexisNexis since 1970. It provides in-depth case analysis, commentary on legislative changes, and topical articles written by experts, including practitioners and academics. The journal also features regular columns from professional bodies such as the Family Law Bar Association, Resolution, and The Law Society. It’s widely regarded as the principal periodical for contemporary family law issues and even won the BIALL Legal Journals Award for excellence in legal publishing.
The Family Law Journal, formerly part of the Legalease Law Journals series, ceased publication in February 2023 under that imprint. For any queries please contact subscriptions@legalease.co.uk. However, the journal continues to be actively published by LexisNexis.
Teaching
Undergraduate
Foundations in Law
