A RESPECTED North-East legal executive is this week making a new start – at the firm she started her career with 30 years ago.

Debra Taylor, who is a specialist in family law, is joining the team at Sunderland’s Richard Reed, returning to the company where she had her first job in the legal profession.

Debra, 54, who lives in the Moorside area, left Richard Reed 17 years ago to take up new challenges and since that time has worked for a number of legal practices in the area.

But it was the prospect of returning to her old firm with the offer of new challenges which convinced her to make the move.

Debra has made her name working in areas including divorce and separation, financial resolution, domestic violence issues and cases relating to children over the years.

“I have had a number of different job offers over the years but I just dismissed them,” she said.

“I’ve stayed in touch with people at Richard Reed and it just seemed the right time when this came up, along with knowing I was going somewhere where I’d be valued and would be able to use my expertise.”

Debra first started at Richard Reed as a secretary but was trained by one of the firm’s solicitors to be a legal executive so she could see clients.

From then her career continued to blossom, working in a range of specialist areas including becoming involved in cases where there were complex financial situations to deal with.

“I’m really looking forward to going back and using my years of experience at Richard Reed,” she said.

Sarah Reid, managing director at Richard Reed based at Frederick Street, said the firm was delighted to be welcoming Debra back.

She added: “It’s fantastic to see someone who started her career with us coming back after doing so well over the years. We are sure Debra will be an integral part of our family law team and will be using all her expertise in supporting our clients.”