Jonathan Whettingsteel

Jon is a partner and head of the family law department, and works tirelessly for his clients, who value both his expertise and personable manner.

Jon and the Family department have received many accolades, such as being recognised as 'Next Generation Partner' from The Legal 500 2024, highly commended as 'Family Lawyer of the Year' by the Modern Law Awards 2024 and a finalist for the Law Society Legal Hero awards in 2024. The Family department was recognised as the Leading Firm in 2023 and 2024 by The Legal 500.

Jon joined the firm in June 2018 after spending a number of years practising in family and children law at a local firm. Jon graduated from Southampton Solent University obtaining a LLB Honours Law Degree in 2008 before studying the LPC at Guildford College of Law the following year and qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

In December 2015, Jon obtained the Law Society’s Family Law Accreditation and then in August 2019 the Law Society’s Advanced Family Law Accreditation. In December 2016 Jon was accredited on the Law Society’s Children panel. These are in recognition of a high level of understanding and ability in family law. Jon is also a member of Resolution, signing up to their codes of practice in trying to resolve family and matrimonial matters in a non-confrontational manner.

In December 2021, Jon continued to demonstrate his high level of expertise and knowledge by writing his first book ‘A Practical Guide to Internal and External Child Relocation’ published by Law Brief Publishing.

Jon has experience in dealing with a wide variety of contentious and non-contentious matters including divorce, children and financial cases as well as protective measures such as non-molestation and occupation order proceedings. Jon also has experience in drafting and advising on various documents, including consent orders, separation agreements and pre-nuptial agreements.

"Dutton's helped me with my divorce and helping to navigate through the tricky financial negotiation and settlement process. There were some difficult moments during which my solicitor was very supportive and importantly was very accessible when I needed to talk either answering straight away or calling me back promptly. Jonathan Whettingsteel was very pleasant to deal with and I really appreciated his support and way of handling. Thank you, I would strongly recommend!"- October 2024

"I wanted to write and thank you for your services. You really helped me get through a very difficult time. Your calm, clear advice, your patience, kindness, attention to detail, and a certain lightness of spirit meant that the negotiations were much less painful and probably less drawn out too. You must be very used to all the emotions flying around, but for me it felt scary and unpredictable. You did a wonderful job in making what we did seem simple, straightforward and utterly reasonable. Which was exactly what I needed." - Jan 2024

"An enormous thank you to Jon W, with your professional approach and hard work you’ve saved my future relationship with my daughter. You made the process so easy with no stress. You worked day and night to make sure the outcome was a success for me. I will be forever thankful." - A.W, September 2023

"I would like to thank you for everything you have done for me during this challenging process. You have made it a lot less stressful for me than it could have been with none of my local solicitors seeming interested for some reason." - Anon, July 2023

Jon also has substantial experience and background in Criminal Law, having been a court and police station accredited representative which provides him with a good knowledge of the criminal processes and procedures. 

Jon is a very experienced and confident advocate, regularly undertaking his own advocacy in court. This includes directions hearings, fact finds and contested final hearings, providing clients with consistency in their case.

Jon is heavily involved in the social and cultural developments within the firm, and as well as being a partner and deputy head of the family department, is a member of a number of the firm’s committees as well as being a qualified physical and mental health first aider.

In his free time, Jon is a keen fitness and martial arts fan, holding a 1st dan black belt in Japanese Mushin Jujitsu and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and regularly competes and medals nationally. Jon will always seek to challenge and push himself to achieve the best result both in and outside of a work environment.