World Autism Acceptance Month: Knowledge isn’t the same as understanding and acceptance
Nicky Tolley is a member of The Intermediary Cooperative, a non-profit social enterprise offering HMCTS appointed intermediary services across England and Wales. During World Autism Acceptance Month, she explains how intermediaries provide familiarity and consistency for neurodivergent clients, to foster inclusivity in the family justice system. April is when we celebrate World Autism Acceptance […]
Profile: Katie Welton-Dillon, partner at Knights
Katie is a partner in the Family team and a children’s law specialist. She is one of only a few family law solicitors in the jurisdiction who only practices in children’s law and domestic abuse cases. She is an expert in complex private children’s law cases, acting for parents, grandparents and other family members regarding […]
A view from the president of the Family Division’s chambers
This View, written a short time before my retirement on 13 April, does not find me looking in my rear-view mirror. Whilst there is much to see from that angle, I wish to look forward. Child focused courts The big news, now and for years to come, is that the Government has committed some £82 […]
Case commentary: High Court refuses adoption application involving child from restricted country
In DD v AF & Ors, Kathy Walker, director in the Child Care team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, represented the child through the Children’s Guardian in the proceedings. Here, she breaks down the facts of the case and explains why the decision reinforces the principle that the court will always prioritise the welfare of the […]
Profile: Zoe Poole, family law solicitor at Hill and Company
Zoe heads up Hill and Company’s family and matrimonial law department, advising clients across all aspects of relationship breakdown and family arrangements. Specialising in family law since she began her career almost a decade ago, Zoe qualified as a solicitor in 2024, benefiting from the early hands-on experience she gained working in family law from […]
Cryptocurrency in financial remedy proceedings: Disclosure, valuation and the developing legal framework
Robert Webster, partner at Maguire Family Law, explores the approach of the courts towards digital assets in financial remedy proceedings, and shares practical advice for family lawyers. When Bitcoin was first referenced in financial remedy proceedings, it was often treated as a novelty asset raised in niche, high-net-worth disputes. That position has changed markedly. […]
Online culture and family law: an emerging challenge for practitioners
Online narratives are increasingly shaping how individuals approach family law disputes. Digital culture, including misogynistic and polarised content, is influencing client behaviour, litigation conduct and expectations. Fotoulla Menikou considers the practical implications for family law practitioners navigating an evolving landscape. The influence of online culture is increasingly visible within family law practice. Practitioners are […]
Four profit killers I see in high street firms – and what to do about them
Brand and marketing specialist Damian Reed sets out the simple mistakes high street law firms make when it comes to marketing, and explains how to rectify them. I visit a lot of law firms. As head of brand and marketing at QualitySolicitors, it comes with the territory, and I genuinely love it. There is something […]
Repealing the presumption of parental involvement – a step too far?
When the government confirmed the new Courts and Tribunal Bill will repeal the presumption of parental involvement earlier this month, the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. But Jake Mitchell, senior associate at Freeths, warns the repeal is “a dangerous red herring” that heightens the potential for emotional harm to the children it is designed to protect. […]
Understanding client behaviours to deliver a better service
The legal profession lacks formal training on managing vicarious trauma, emotional overwhelm, and the human dynamics underpinning family breakdown, leading to family professionals’ own mental health and wellbeing coming under pressure through their work. With 20 years’ experience as a trauma specialist psychotherapist and a trained cognitive behavioural therapist, not to mention a family mediator, […]
Profile: Abigail Cooper, senior associate (family and divorce) at Bromleys Solicitors
Abigail is a senior associate in the family and divorce team, with over 26 years’ post-qualification experience. She is a member of Resolution, with specialist accreditations in private law children and financial remedy matters and is experienced in all aspects of divorce, financial remedy and private law children’s cases. This experience enables her to guide […]
Profile: Lauren Power, head of family and associate solicitor, Rowlinsons
Lauren qualified as a solicitor in 2016, having completed her training contract at a firm in Chester and joined Rowlinsons in the same month. She specialises in family law, including private Children Act proceedings, divorce, financial settlements and separation. Lauren adopts a friendly and pragmatic approach during what is often a difficult time for clients […]
Cryptocurrency and financial disclosure in divorce: What family lawyers need to know
Digital asset and tax specialist Susan van der Byl explains how to spot the signs of hidden digital assets, with some practical steps for family lawyers to take during financial disclosure. Cryptocurrency is increasingly appearing in divorce proceedings, yet many legal practitioners still encounter uncertainty when digital assets form part of the financial disclosure […]
Understanding complaints and early resolution opportunities
The latest episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast welcomes Senior Ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) Clair Daniel to explore the current landscape of legal complaints handling, the challenges facing firms, and the strategic work underway to improve first‑tier resolution across the legal sector. The backdrop to the discussion is the increase in the […]
Understanding Pathfinder through the Centre for Justice Innovation Report
Ashley Le-Core examines the Pathfinder pilot through the lens of research from the Centre for Justice Innovation, which has important implications for family lawyers. Most family law professionals will by now have had some form of contact with the Pathfinder scheme. Pathfinder was developed directly from a report released in June 2020 by the […]
Profile: Sarah Ward, partner and head of the family department at Ramsdens
Sarah is a partner and head of the family department at Ramsdens. She is a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500, member of the Law Society family panel and collaboratively trained solicitor. What was your career path to your current role? I joined Baxter Caulfield as a trainee solicitor and qualified into the firm’s litigation […]
When ‘high conflict’ isn’t conflict at all: A trauma-aware lens on domestic abuse in family law
Sara Davison, also known as The Divorce Coach, describes how clients experiencing domestic abuse may present during proceedings, and explains how family lawyers can identify patterns of behaviour and offer support and encouragement. In family law, the phrase ‘high conflict’ appears frequently. It’s used to describe relentless email exchanges, entrenched positions, emotional volatility, last minute […]
Profile: Helen Clyne, senior associate solicitor and family mediator at Debenhams Ottaway
Helen Clyne helps couples and families navigate divorce, separation and issues involving children and finances. She works with a wide range of clients, but is particularly well‑known for advising on divorces involving significant assets, complex business interests and challenging child arrangements, often with international elements. With more than ten years’ experience, Helen prioritises reducing conflict, […]
Frank Arndt on fixing the family law bottleneck
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast features Frank Arndt, founder of Paradigm Family Law and co‑founder of Whatwouldajudgesay. Arndt is well known in the sector. A former German judge. A specialist in international family law. A familiar face on the BBC’s red sofa. And a vocal commentator on LinkedIn. His new venture aims to tackle […]
Can adoption ever be undone? The Supreme Court considers the limits of finality
Dr Michael Wells-Greco and Hannah Owen from Charles Russell Speechlys ask whether the Supreme Court will overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling that adoption orders can’t be set aside, and examine the questions that arise from the “deeply sad and unusual” case. The UK Supreme Court sat on 4 and 5 February 2026 to […]