Profile: Vanda James, partner at Birketts LLP
Vanda James has more than 30 years’ experience as a family lawyer and has a particular interest in complex financial cases, including asset-protection work involving significant corporate, trust and offshore assets in the UK and worldwide. She is known for her forensic approach to financial analysis when cases demand close scrutiny and clients describe her […]
Why law firms are losing enquiries even with strong rankings
Are your online enquiries in free-fall despite your website showing at the top of page one on Google? Damian Reed, head of brand and marketing at QualitySolicitors, explains why AI is to blame – and what you can do about it. So, your firm is sitting comfortably at the top of Google, but suddenly, […]
Profile: Honor Giles, partner, Maguire Family Law
Honor Giles is a partner at Maguire Family Law. In addition to her practice as a solicitor, Honor also works as a mediator, having undertaken mediation training with Resolution in 2020. She has specialised in family law since she qualified as a solicitor and has extensive experience in advising clients in relation to divorce, financial […]
ChatGPT’s restrictions and the impact of AI LLMs on family law practitioners
AI is here to stay, says Maguire Family Law partner Robert Webster, and clients are going to use it. He explains why we can’t – and shouldn’t – attempt to prevent the use of AI, but should instead educate clients on its limitations and reinforce the value of human insight, knowledge and experience. OpenAI’s […]
Why timing is (almost) everything in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson
Collyer Bristow partner Philippa Dolan, family and divorce expert, explores the circumstances surrounding the court’s decision in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson, and explains why the timing of messages, not the means of communication, was central to the outcome. A decision was reported last month in a case that has been in and out of the […]
Profile: Robert Webster, partner at Maguire Family Law
Robert Webster is a partner at Maguire Family Law and a dual-qualified family law solicitor. He originally qualified as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in 2015 before qualifying in England and Wales in 2018. He advises on all aspects of family law, including divorce, financial remedy proceedings, children matters and cohabitation disputes, and […]
Marketing, messaging and the UK/US Divide
The latest Today’s Family Lawyer podcast shines a spotlight on a challenge many firms acknowledge and struggle to tackle; the differentiation of service provision and effectively marketing those points of difference to prospective clients with clarity, confidence and distinction in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Hosted by David Opie, the episode explores why so many family […]
LawtechUK case study: SeparateSpace
LawtechUK is a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) backed initiative dedicated to driving digital transformation in the legal sector. Here, the organisation explains how online divorce platform SeparateSpace was given a mentor to guide the business through its early days. “When it comes to divorce in England and Wales, most people don’t qualify for legal […]
Litigants in person, AI and the changing dynamics of family proceedings
Litigants in person are increasingly using AI tools, online templates and digital communities when preparing for family court proceedings. McKenzie friend Gergely Fried draws on his practical experience of supporting self-represented parents to explore how these developments are affecting family practice and what they mean for lawyers and the future of access to justice. […]
Understanding trauma responses in family law – why behaviour isn’t always what it seems
Cognitive behaviour therapist Sonya Black explains how family lawyers can identify trauma responses and shares practical strategies to support clients who may be dealing with stress responses. As family lawyers, you are often the first professional point of contact for clients navigating separation and divorce. What many practitioners may not realise is that a […]
Profile: Katy Moody, family solicitor, Setfords
Katy Moody has spent a decade working in family law, after qualifying in 2016. She has worked in both national family teams and local firms, although her most recent role prior to joining Setfords in January this year was head of department at a regional firm. What was your career path to your current role? […]
Case summary: In D (A Child) (Recusal), Court of Appeal sets aside a recusal and addresses use of AI by LIPs
D (A Child) (Recusal) addresses the recusal of a High Court judge, in a hearing which examined three linked appeals. The decision also examines the use of AI by litigants in person, which the Court of Appeal finds to be “entirely understandable,” but cautions against relying on AI-generated case citations. The parties to the proceedings […]
A social media ban for children in the UK? The implications for children’s rights
The government has launched a consultation on social media use by children, with the options being explored including an outright ban. Baljinder Bath, family law barrister at 4PB, explores what this could mean for the digital rights of children, and explains why legislation may fail to protect families. Once hailed as the ultimate tool for […]
The rise of the One Couple, One Lawyer model
The landscape of family law in England and Wales has evolved significantly in recent years, particularly following the introduction of no-fault divorce under the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020. As more couples seek constructive and proportionate solutions, joint representation models such as One Couple, One Lawyer are moving into the mainstream. Joanne Radcliff, partner […]
How high-conflict families can rebuild through mediation
Even the most meticulously drafted Child Arrangements Order can struggle to keep pace with the complex realities of family life. International travel, demanding professional commitments, multiple households and evolving child needs all create moving parts that a static court order cannot fully anticipate During Family Mediation Week, Alex Verdan KC and associate Felicia Munde emphasise […]
Does the court do enough to recognise extended family relationships? The law around grandparents’ contact rights
Does the law do enough to recognise grandparents’ rights? Jon Whettingsteel, family partner at Dutton Gregory, doesn’t believe it does. Here, he sets out the current legal position of extended family rights, and explores the options for grandparents prevented from seeing a child, referring to recent case law. As a dad of two young […]
The risks of meeting potential surrogates online: J (A child) (Surrogacy: Adoption Order)
Sarah Dodds, senior associate in the family team at Birketts LLP, shares a cautionary tale for parents considering surrogacy, and examines the legal issues surrounding this contentious area of family law. The decision in Re J (A child) (Surrogacy: Adoption Order) [2025] EWHC 2960 (Fam) is another cautionary tale for intended parents-to-be, with the […]
Profile: Brian Hughes, founder, Rainer Hughes
Brian Hughes, practising solicitor and founder of the Essex and London law firm now known as Rainer Hughes, qualified as a solicitor in 1965 and says he has dealt with every type of legal problem. A qualified family mediator since 1995, Brian rather fittingly celebrates his 90th birthday during Family Mediation Week. Here, he shares […]
Make time to talk about anxiety with LawCare
This Time to Talk Day, on 5 February, let’s make time to talk about mental health at work, so no one feels they have to cope with anxiety or other challenges alone. Talking openly and honestly about mental health in the workplace can help reduce stigma, ensure people feel less isolated, and make it easier […]
How large law firms are responding to compliance pressure
In the final instalment of our three-part series exploring compliance for law firms of all sizes, Legl product marketing manager Rick Jakubowski explains how large law firms, with more than 100 employees, should manage compliance. Large firms (101+ employees) are in a unique position when it comes to compliance. On the one hand, they […]