News and Insights
News
|31 January 2025
Viberts law firm announces the retirement from the Viberts partnership of Rose Colley, its highly-respected Family Law partner, after an illustrious 25-year career dedicated to supporting clients and advancing the practice of family law in Jersey. Rose will however continue to work as a part time Consultant for Viberts for the foreseeable future and will continue to service her client base.
Rose’s career began in local government in England, where she trained as a solicitor. She was admitted as an English Solicitor in 1980. Following qualification, Rose moved to working as a lecturer in family and housing law in Inner London until 1986. She then worked in private practice in London and Kent, during which time she set up the Kent Injunction Network (a group of lawyers advising victims of domestic abuse). At the time this network was very innovative. During this time Rose dealt with both family cases as well as housing and tenant matters.
In 1997, Rose moved to Jersey having just completed her MBA in Legal Practice, bringing her expertise in and passion for family law to the Island. She qualified as an Advocate of the Royal Court in 2000 and soon after joined Viberts, where she has been a pivotal member of the firm for over two decades.
Throughout her time at Viberts, Rose has been known for her deep commitment to her clients and her meticulous approach to complex cases. She has a reputation for being a formidable family lawyer grappling confidently with the most complex of family financial and emotional challenges. She has also played an integral part in establishing Viberts’ Family Law team which as a result has become one of the most trusted and respected on the island. She has been ranked in the top tier in the legal services guide book and directory, The Legal 500, where she is recognised in the ‘Hall of Fame’ as being a lawyer at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work. She has also undertaken a number of demanding public service roles and was elected as the first female President of the Jersey Law Society where she held the position from 2017 to 2024.
“Rose’s contribution to Viberts and the wider legal community in Jersey has been beyond measure,” said Zoe Blomfield, Viberts’ Managing Partner. “Her dedication to her clients, her mentorship of colleagues, and her expertise in family law have been an example to us all and have helped to make family law in Jersey fit for a 21st century society.”
As Rose prepares for her retirement, she looks forward, as a keen observer of events in Jersey, to pursuing new opportunities outside of the legal profession and also to spending time with her children and grandson all of whom live in the island. Viberts will host a farewell event to honour her remarkable career and contribution to Jersey law.
Viberts is a leading law firm in Jersey, offering comprehensive legal services across a wide range of sectors. With a focus on providing personalised and pragmatic legal solutions, Viberts has built a reputation for excellence and client satisfaction. The firm takes pride in its roots in and engagement with the local community, fostering a culture of rigorous professionalism, empathy and creative problem solving.