Protecting personal injury trusts in divorce – When two legal disciplines collide
When a person receives compensation for a serious injury, whether through a road traffic collision, an accident, negligence or medical malpractice, these funds are intended to cover long-term care needs including medical expenses, rehabilitation and lost earnings. However, without the right legal protections in place, a personal injury award can become vulnerable during key life […]
How working with universities is helping firms attract the partners of tomorrow
Recruitment and retention; almost always one of the top three items on the agenda at every partners meeting. Collaboration between education and industry could help professionals bridge the gap and identify new recruits at an earlier stage in their development. So say Jonathan Whettingsteel Partner and Head of Family Law at Dutton Gregory, and Brad […]
Cashflow planning in divorce: a strategic tool for solicitors and clients
Divorce is a significant life event that reshapes the financial landscape for both parties. For solicitors advising clients through separation and settlement, cashflow planning offers a powerful, data-driven approach to support informed decision-making and long-term financial stability. Used effectively, cashflow modelling can provide clarity, reduce conflict, and help assess the sustainability of proposed settlements. It […]
Domestic abuse cases should be in scope for legal aid funding – Bar Council
The Bar Council has called for all family court cases involving domestic abuse to be brought within the scope of legal aid in a policy paper published this week. The body, which represents 18,000 barristers in England and Wales, has set out a package of recommendations to improve the ability of the family justice system […]
The changing role of co-parents post-pandemic
The Today’s Family Lawyer podcast explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on co-parenting through the eyes of family law professionals; with Sophie Lougher, Director and Senior Solicitor, and Kathryn Fanstone a Solicitor at Zeus Family Law sharing their insight and experiences. The Cardiff-based boutique firm was founded during the pandemic, driven by Sophie’s own […]
Could AI Judges Be the Key to Bias-Free Justice?
The legal profession is undergoing a moment of reckoning with artificial intelligence (AI). As AI systems rapidly enter legal workflows — from document review to sentencing algorithms — the question has moved from whether AI belongs in the courtroom to how far it should go. Could AI Judges be the next radical step? Could they […]
The repeal of the presumption of parental involvement – a step towards greater protection of children in the family court?
At the end of October, the Government announced that they would repeal the presumption of parental involvement – currently enshrined in the Children Act 1989 – some five years after the Harm Panel report recommended an ‘urgent review’. The government has not committed to a timeframe however, simply saying that this will happen ‘when parliamentary […]
Reforming parental involvement: Balancing welfare, risk and rights in the family courts
Family breakdown is rarely smooth, and some couples struggle more than others when deciding on post-separation arrangements, particularly when it comes to their children. It is ideal for parents to be able to decide child arrangements post-separation between themselves. This creates a more positive foundation for co-parenting. The assistance of family solicitors, mediators or divorce […]
Should smaller legal practices be worried about AI?
According to The Law Society there is a striking disparity in AI adoption across the UK legal sector. Approximately 75% of the largest law firms are already using AI as part of their daily operations, while only 30% of small law firms are even exploring the technology. Do smaller practices risk falling behind as AI […]
So long to the presumption of parental involvement
The presumption of parental involvement is to be repealed, a move hailed by campaigners as a victory for survivors of abuse. But does it go far enough to provide protection for children? And is there a risk that the repeal may cause some unintended consequences? The presumption of parental involvement was a relatively recent addition […]
Child welfare and safety to replace pro-contact culture as starting point in private law proceedings
Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, has said the government plans to “give every child the best start in life” and that trust in the justice system will be rebuilt “by putting victims first and ensuring that the protection of children is never compromised.” Part of this means ending the presumption of parental involvement, which came […]
When protection becomes exclusion: Rethinking the repeal of the presumption of contact
As a family solicitor working daily within the current framework of the Children Act, I’ve seen how the presumption of contact operates in practice and where reform risks unintended consequences. The government’s proposal to repeal the presumption of parental contact in private law children proceedings has been framed as a victory for victims of domestic […]
Legal Aid Agency cyber attack; how have firms coped?
The latest episode of Today’s Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes on Beverley Watkins, Managing Partner at Watkins Solicitors and Vice Chair of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group to discuss the impact of the Legal Aid Agency cyber attack on her firm, and the wider legal aid community. The Legal Aid Agency revealed as many as 2 […]
Standish v Standish: The real world impact on financial remedy matters
The recent UK Supreme Court’s decision in Standish v. Standish [2025] UKSC 26 has significantly impacted on matrimonial finance law, and in particular the distinction between matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets. This landmark case involved the long marriage of Clive and Anna Standish, each of whom had children from previous relationships as well as two children […]
Repeal of parental involvement presumption: Putting children’s safety first
The Government’s decision to repeal the presumption of parental involvement under section 1 of the Children Act 1989 signals a major change designed to protect children who are the subjects of the family court from harm. This change will apply to cases where the courts are considering whether to make an order in respect of […]
When art meets law: The story behind the Law Society’s bicentennial artwork
On 18th November, the Law Society of England and Wales will unveil the artwork commissioned to mark its bicentenary and celebrate the future of the legal profession. Today’s Media spoke to Helen Cammock, the Turner Prize-winning artist commissioned to create the works, about her background as a social worker within the family courts and probation […]
Private FDRs and arbitration – Progress or parallel justice?
In the annual Kingsley Napley Family Team Debate the question of was whether the increasing use of private FDR’s creates a ‘parallel legal system, without judicial oversight’. It was chosen following the results of the firm’s latest caseload survey which revealed 88% of the Family team’s financial cases in 2024 involved a private judge, up […]
High Court reinforces consequences for abusive litigation in family proceedings
In the recent matter of Mahmoud v Glanville & Anor in the High Court Family Division, Moore Barlow acted on behalf of the father before Mr Justice MacDonald. In this child arrangement dispute, the court had to grapple with repeated and dangerous behaviour by the mother, including abduction and concealment of the child from his […]
Focusing on a child’s specific need is a much-needed cultural shift for family courts
Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, recently claimed that every decision he made in the justice system would “prioritise children’s safety, their wellbeing, and their right to grow up free from harm.” It’s fair to say the Government’s move to better protect children from abusive parents by repealing the presumption of parental involvement is a step […]
Removing the assumption of parental involvement- reaction from professionals
The ‘momentous’ decision to remove the automatic assumption of parental involvement in family cases has been welcoming by the family law community with commentators applauding the move which protects children from preventable harm and renews public confidence in the courts. The repeal of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 has been widely welcomed by […]