About Jon
Since joining Dutton Gregory in 2018, Jon Whettingsteel has progressed from solicitor to Partner and Head of the Family Department, a role that allows him to combine his legal expertise with his passion for supporting people during life’s most challenging moments.
Putting Clients First
Family law can be highly emotional, so Jon makes sure his clients feel heard and supported from the outset. “I treat every client as an individual,” he says.
That can mean meeting at a coffee shop before going into court together, arranging meetings outside office hours to fit around family life, or tailoring advice to reflect their unique goals.
“Family law isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about working with clients to identify what matters most to them and then guiding them towards the best solution.”
Defining Success
As a Partner, Jon sees success in many different ways – it might be achieving a fantastic result for a client over financial assets or child arrangements, or something less tangible but equally important like leaving someone feeling empowered and positive after a meeting.
Success also means collaboration; building strong professional relationships to benefit clients, or mentoring junior lawyers and students, helping them take their next steps in the legal world.
Beyond the Courtroom
Jon is also committed to shaping the future of law; he oversees free legal advice clinics at local universities, giving students real-world experience while providing vital access to justice in the community.
He is passionate about campaigning for change, particularly around grandparents’ rights, and hopes to use his career to inspire future lawyers to see their role as more than just giving advice but helping improve the legal system itself.
Charity work is another area where Jon thrives; as Patron of the Romsey Opportunity Group, a local children’s charity, he has helped raise funds through everything from annual quiz and curry nights to skydives, abseils, and even a 19-mile walk in a cat suit.
“Dutton Gregory isn’t a stereotypical law firm, we’re encouraged to support the causes that matter to us,” he says.
Life Beyond Law
Away from work, Jon is a devoted father of two young boys, hoping to raise them as respectful young men while opening their eyes to different cultures through travel.
He also trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he holds a brown belt and teaches at a local academy.
His dream dinner party guests reflect his passions: Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury for the music (and party atmosphere), alongside martial arts legend Bruce Lee.
Whether he’s in the courtroom, the classroom, or the community, Jon brings the same drive: to support, to inspire, and to leave people in a stronger position than when they first met him.
A Career Path Built on People
Law wasn’t Jon’s first career choice; at school, he dreamt of being a chef. But after realising that the kitchen wasn’t for him, he turned to his other interest: the legal system.
Once he began studying law, he was fascinated by how it touches every industry and impacts people’s lives so directly.
For Jon, there was only ever going to be one specialism: family law. “It’s where you can see the positive change in someone from when they first meet you to when you finish their case, and you leave them in a happier and more positive place for their future,” he explains.
Areas of Expertise
Jon advises on all areas of family law, including divorce, financial and child arrangements, cohabitation, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and surrogacy and parental orders.
He has particular expertise in child relocation cases (having even written a book on the subject), surrogacy, and modern family matters.
Jon regularly undertakes his own advocacy, representing clients in court and supporting his clients from first meeting to final resolution.