Why it’s time to rethink the paternity leave model in the UK
Despite promoting paternity leave as a key right, statutory pay is so low, the leave is unaffordable for 95% of new fathers. Steven Eckett, head of employment for England at Gilson Gray in London, explains why the system is failing modern families and sets out why meaningful reform is overdue. The UK has made […]
What 2026 could mean for the family justice system
As the dust settles on 2025’s landmark cases, coupled with parenting reforms, attention is shifting to what comes next for families navigating separation. From financial reform and the rise of nuptial agreements to growing concerns over access to justice, Emma Collins, partner and family lawyer at Weightmans, reveals that 2026 is shaping up to be […]
Independent inquiry into grooming gangs: Chair and panellists open letter to victims and survivors
To all victims and survivors of grooming gangs, As the newly appointed Chair and Panellists of the Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs, we are writing to you as our first formal act of this vitally important work. We do so with humility, determination, and a deep sense of responsibility. We are acutely aware that many […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Two thirds of cohabitees admit they don’t know what would happen if they died without a Will
There is an ‘alarming gap’ in the public’s understanding of inheritance laws after two thirds of cohabitees said they didn’t know what would happen to their estate if they died without a Will. A fundamental lack of understanding of the rules of intestacy is evident in statistics that suggest a quarter of people mistakenly believe […]
High-net-worth financial remedy: more than just extra zeros
We regularly use the term “high-net-worth” when describing financial remedy cases, but what does it actually mean? Is it simply about a few extra zeros on our new ES2, or is it really about the complexities these cases attract? For me, it’s often the latter. A case can be high-value but straightforward if both parties […]
Domestic abuse agenda lacks momentum as government commits to just 10 of 66 recommendations
The government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) lacks momentum amid calls for reassurance it remains a priority from Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales Dame Nicole Jacobs. The commissioner was responding to the government’s response to ‘Victims in their own right? Babies, children and young people’s experience of domestic abuse’, […]
20% increase in ‘draconian’ Deprivation of Liberty orders over the last 12 months
Deprivation of Liberty orders vastly outnumber applications to place children in registered secure accommodation as a severe shortage of secure children’s homes bites say The Nuffield Family Justice Observatory (NFJO). Ministry of Justice figures (MoJ), released as part of the Family Court Statistics Quarterly, showed 357 children were subject to deprivation of liberty (DoL) applications […]
More than half of adults “surprised” to learn marriage revokes a Will
More than half of UK adults are unaware marriage revokes a Will according to research conducted by charity consortium Will Aid. The annual campaign which returns in November, has conducted a survey of 2000 adults and found 56% of respondents were unaware of this rule. The current legal position was part of the ‘Modernising Wills […]
Potanin Court of Appeal decision opens door to ‘limitless’ divorce tourism
The ongoing case of Potanin v Potanina has taken an ‘unexpected’ turn after the The Court of Appeal overturned a previous decision to dismiss an application for leave under Part III Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 In its decision, the Court said Cohen J had ‘erred’ in dismissing Mrs Potanina’s application for leave, overturning […]
Pets as property; the growing recognition of pets in separation
In this episode of the Today’s Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie discusses the increasing number of disputes between separating partners when it comes to pets, and a new working group looking at amending legislation to bring it more in line with the challenges family professionals face on this emotive topic. Barrister Sarah Lucy Cooper, […]
The business of business – splitting luxury in celebrity divorces
The secret garden, the floristry masterpiece, the sparkling ring and the fairytale proposal. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement sparked joy among fans, as well as speculation on social media and in the press. But why has this event caused such a flurry of interest among family law professionals? There are several key elements of […]