This is the web page for Ann Hodson, professionally known as Ann Thomas, and the place of email contact with her.
Ann's Overview
In 2007, Ann co-founded, with David Hodson KC (Hons) OBE, The International Family Law Group, London, (iFLG) to great and worldwide acclaim. She was its Managing Partner and Senior Partner until March 2024. In this capacity, she oversaw the huge growth of the firm, received external verification accreditations including from the Legal Aid Agency in satisfying their high standards of Office Management. iFLG was the world’s first law firm created to serve the interests of international families and their children. In 2019, under Ann’s management, iFLG won the Law Society’s prestigious Excellence Award. iFLG is now one of the world’s leading international family law firms.
Prior to forming iFLG, Ann spent over 15 years managing law firms and heading family teams in a large firm in Cambridge and then in Mayfair. In these roles, she had responsibility for all issues concerning law firm management and development (regulation, marketing, HR, client relations etc). As well as managing the financial aspect of running a Central London law firm, Ann has spent many years mentoring staff.
Ann and David moved to Devon in 2021 and was invited to become a Consultant solicitor with the leading and top ranking (Chambers and Legal 500) firm Stephens Scown where she specialises in international cases, especially those involving children.
Ann can be contacted there by telephone on +44 7717 712024 at ash@annhodson.com, or at her new firm at a.thomas@stephens-scown.co.uk.
Her profile was featured in Devon Life magazine in late 2024 which you can view here.
Ann is multi-accomplished.
- A solicitor, mediator, collaborative lawyer:
- Professional classical concert soloist:
- NHS Professional (qualified in the administration of vaccines):
- Qualified Trainer in Basic Life Support and use of Automated External Defibrillators (William Harvey Heart Centre (St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London):
- Former Upper School Teacher, Year Head and Deputy Head 11-18 (East Anglia)
- Actor
- Bereavement Counsellor
Professional Classical Concert Soloist
Intending to become a professional singer, Ann trained at the Royal College of Music as a classical contralto soloist. She also attended Dartington College of Arts in Devon. She was coached by Marion Studholme and Helga Mott.
Ann has given many performances in oratorio and recitals throughout the country, in Southern France and the Auvergne, including a recital with John Heddle Nash. In 1993 she was the contralto soloist for the BBC’s sponsored event involving 200 choral societies across the globe simultaneously performing Handel’s Messiah. Ann has made guest appearances at renowned venues abroad and in England including the Purcell Room, St Pauls’ Cathedral, the Royal Albert Hall, St Martin in the Fields, Wigmore Hall and Snape Maltings under the baton of many professional conductors including Jane Glover.
Although Ann has performed opera (Nora in Malcolm Williamson’s opera Julias Ceasar Jones. Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas) her love is in oratorio and as a recitalist. She has performed extensively in Cambridge and throughout East Anglia as a classical soloist and as a recitalist performing all the major works. She performed as a soloist with the City of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra at the West Road Concert Hall in Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder. She has also given a series of recitals for the National Trust at Ickworth House, Bury St Edmunds at the Guildhall in Lavenham, at the Cathedrals in Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds and at many of the Cambridge College Chapels. She was a member of Cantanti Camerati of Richmond for several years and gave the first performance of The Woodside Rise, a contemporary Song Cycle by Jack Hawes. She played the role of a Nurse with Simon Callow in the World Premier of Stations performed at the Spitalfields Music Festival.
Ann continues to perform and please get in touch with her about any performing requests and opportunities.
Actor
Ann interest in the theatre has led her to join amateur dramatic societies where she was cast as Lulu in Harold Pinter’s Birthday Party at the Prospect Theatre in Sudbury and as Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible at the Quay Theatre in Sudbury.
Ann has also composed numerous musicals one of which, The Pied Piper, ran for one week as the Christmas pantomime at the Quay Theatre in Sudbury in Suffolk. She also wrote the music for Derek, again performed at the Quay Theatre.
NHS Professional (qualified in the administration of vaccines)
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Ann qualified initially with St John to become a vaccinator. In 2023 she went on to qualify as an NHS Professional. Ann works in the locality and has expanded her qualifications to be able to administer medical vaccinations.
Qualified Trainer in Basic Life Support and use of Automated External Defibrillators (William Harvey Heart Centre (St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London)
Ann trained in basic life support and the use of Automated External defibrillators at the William Harvey Heart Centre (St Bartholomew’s Hospital) London over 7 years ago. She presents seminars and administers training sessions to many who require such training as part of an annual accreditation or to those who want to be able to administer CPR including defibrillator training in the hope of trying to save a life if such an emergency occurred when time is crucially of the essence. Please get in touch with her about giving training in the use of external defibrillators.
Former Upper School Teacher (11-18), Year Head and Deputy Head
As a ‘safety net’ to support Ann’s professional career in music, she decided to train to become a School teacher (Exeter University, Dartington College of Arts and Rolle College in Exmouth) qualifying in 1976. She taught Music, French and English in Middle and Upper Schools in East Anglia and became a department Head after just 2 years in education. She left the profession as a Head of Year with pastoral responsibilities and latterly as a Deputy Head teacher. Throughout her time in Schools, she wrote several musicals performed at The Prospect Theatre in Great Cornard, The Stowupland Upper School Theatre and at The Quay Theatre in Sudbury where it ran over Christmas and New Year. She also wrote music for other productions.
Bereavement and cancer support Counsellor
Ann has worked in Bereavement, Cancer and Oncology support for over 15 years having trained at St Luke’s Cancer (Royal Surrey Hospital, Oncology Department) Guildford, Phylis Tuckwell Hospice Farnham Surrey and latterly at Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay.