Journalist and managing editor of the Today’s Media publications: Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills and Probate.
Courts have sentenced clients who sent abusive messages threatening the lawyers they blamed for their legal losses. An “obsessive” woman who threatened to kill her former solicitor following a family court case in 2019 was
The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has published its final Model Complaints Resolution Procedure (MCRP), a new framework and supporting guidance designed to help legal service providers resolve complaints. The guidance aims to help firms deal with
The Legal Ombudsman has shared details of the complaints it received about family law in 2025/26. In its annual report published earlier this month, the LeO revealed complaints had risen by 37% overall, with an
Suzanne Daley, Bell Lamb & Joynson family law partner and head of family (pictured), has been named Professional Services Woman of the Year at the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards 2026. The award recognises
Cumbria firm Bendles continues its expansion with the acquisition of Atkinson Ritson. The acquisition follows Bendles’ merger with Gaynham, King & Mellor earlier this year, in a deal which saw Bendles’ Cumbria presence expand from
The Legal Services Board is seeking experienced senior leaders to help drive “a major reset” of legal services regulation. The legal services oversight body is recruiting for three senior positions in what chief executive Richard
Steele Raymond has appointed Helen Cort as a partner in its family team, taking the team to 15 members (pictured) and making it one of the firm’s largest practice groups. Cort joins from Dutton Gregory,
The government is seeking views on a proposed shake-up of marriage laws that will give couples more choice over where they get married. The proposals aim to make getting married simpler, more affordable and more
The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) has called for immediate action to overhaul a regulatory framework that is “fragmented, inconsistent and increasingly disconnected from the realities of a modern, technology-enabled legal market” and install a
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX) has shared its new five-year strategy, which places a strong emphasis on making the legal profession more accessible and campaigning for regulatory reform to break down barriers caused
Sir Colin Birss has been approved as the Master of the Rolls following the retirement of Sir Geoffrey Vos. In a statement released last week, the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary said: “His Majesty King Charles
Data from the domestic abuse charity Refuge reveals a significant increase in referrals for cases of technology facilitated abuse and economic abuse, with “a worrying increase” in perpetrators exploiting car finance agreements. Between April 2025
The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) has published a protocol to support legal professionals who wish to raise informal concerns about judicial behaviour. The protocol formalises an existing route for reporting concerns and does not
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has launched a public consultation on new rules for complaint handling by regulated law firms, after proposals in its October 2025 consultation were withdrawn. The additional draft rules build on the
Ramsdens Solicitors has added a new partner to its family team advising clients from its Leeds office as the firm continues to invest in its regional expansion. Siobhan Jeffels (above centre, with Ramsdens’ senior partner
The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) celebrated its 25th anniversary on Tuesday 16th June, marking the milestone with a reception at the Royal Courts of Justice. Guests heard from speakers including
A service launched by TV Edwards Solicitors aims to address the trauma, unfair parental blame and unmet needs neurodivergent parents experience in the family justice system. The London-based firm’s Neurodiversity Aware Family Law service team
Fraud operates “on an industrial scale” and is a threat to national security, according to the latest Annual Fraud Report from UK Finance. The report reveals romance scams have risen to record levels, up by
MSB Solicitors’ associate solicitor Michael Boland has been named Future Leader at the British LGBT Awards. The awards are held to recognise the individuals, organisations and businesses that have made a significant contribution to advancing
The government has shared details of its long-awaited consultation on reforming cohabitation rights, which is open now and will run for 10 weeks until 14th August. The consultation will look at three key areas of
On Friday, the government published its long-awaited consultation on reforming cohabitation rights, in what it called “the biggest reform to family law in decades” with the aim of “bringing the law into the 21st century”.
In the latest round of family law appointments, Knights, Burgess Mee and Watkins Solicitors have announced new partners, with family teams across the country sharing news of appointments and promotions. Knights has strengthened its team
The government has launched its long-awaited consultation on reforms that would give cohabiting couples greater financial protections when relationships end, and automatic inheritance rights when a partner dies without a will. The proposals would also
The government has launched its long-awaited consultation on reforms that would give cohabiting couples greater financial protections when relationships end, and automatic inheritance rights when a partner dies without a will. The proposals would also
Family law firms across the country have been sharing their latest successes, with award wins, milestone anniversaries, promotions and new partners. International Family Law Group managing partner Lucy Loizou (main picture) is celebrating after being
AIIC Group and National Legal Service (NLS) have announced a series of senior leadership changes to support growth plans. AIIC, the legal group behind law firms Taylor Rose, FDR Law and Kingsley Wood, has announced
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has summoned the Solicitors Regulation Authority to an in-person meeting before the end of May to seek assurance that it has the necessary expertise and oversight approach to deliver the
A network of experienced family law solicitors and barristers across England and Wales has been formed to improve public access to family law arbitration and aid effective private dispute resolution. The Family Law Arbitrators Group
YouGov data commissioned by Forsters reveals strong demand for rights for cohabiting couples and confusion over current legal protections. The data supports the London firm’s own evidence of a 50% increase in cohabitation agreement requests,
The Victims and Courts Bill has received Royal Assent and has passed into law. The new legislation will restrict the exercise of parental responsibility by offenders sentenced for serious child sexual abuse, and where a
Firms of family law solicitors and barristers’ chambers across the country are collaborating and expanding their services. Duncan Lewis Solicitors has promoted four lawyers to director positions within its Family and Child Care teams, which
Surveys released this week by legal firms reveal the financial complexities of divorce across the UK and the ongoing emotional implications caused by financial pressures. Data from Stowe Family Law has identified a regional pattern
Research repeatedly points to the adoption of AI in the legal sector as no longer being an optional extra, but a strategic priority. Today’s Family Lawyer editor Juliet Shaw takes a look at the latest
The Supreme Court has ruled that adoption orders cannot be revisited outside the formal appeals process, reinforcing that they are final and permanent decisions. In the matter of X and Y (Children: Adoption Order: Setting
The Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) has published its 2026-27 Business Plan & Budget for the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), which includes a strong emphasis on preventing complaints from arising and reducing unnecessary escalation. Complaints have
Victims and bereaved families will have longer than ever to challenge sentences they don’t feel fit the crime they’ve suffered, in measures unveiled in the government’s reformed Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme. Victims and their bereaved