Today’s Family Lawyer Conference 2024

Domestic abuse effects 1 in 5 people in our society but abuse has changed over the years. Long gone are the days where abuse was merely physical, tactics have developed and perpetrators are getting smarter. Perpetrators are now utilising technology, using the family court system and gas lighting to continue their control and abuse. 

Richard Port will discuss these changes along with practical tips and tricks to help your clients who could be victims of domestic abuse.

Richard Port MBE is a highly awarded family partner at George Green LLP who specialises in domestic abuse. Richard was made an MBE in 2021 for legal services to domestic abuse victims. He advocates for change to family court system and to give the victims the voice to fight back against their perpetrators.

Gaslighting and narcissistic behaviors are significant issues frequently observed in family court sessions. It’s crucial to comprehend these patterns to safeguard clients and to enhance the judge’s comprehension during trials. The forthcoming presentation will cover the origins of gaslighting, its effects on legal processes, as well as the characteristics of narcissism and the complexities legal professionals must navigate while preparing for court.

Shoba is an experienced and dedicated Barrister with a passion for advocacy, which is reflected through her impressive success rate. She has represented clients on many complex legal matters and undertakes work in all aspects of family, immigration,, human rights, licensing, civil, NMC and regulatory law. Shoba worked as an advocate and litigator within busy solicitors firms for over 14 years which included the UK’s largest Legal 500 immigration law firm. Her successes have built up the well-established reputation she has today.

Jane has over 25 years’ experience in organisation and people development and she excels in building strong, diverse and motivated teams. Writing and facilitating strategic plans, insight and stakeholder engagement.

Jane was confirmed as one of the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire at the police and crime panel confirmation hearing on 19th July 2024.

Her portfolio consists of victim advocacy with a specific focus on violence against women and girls – including domestic abuse. She is a keen to ensure survivors of domestic abuse have their voices heard enabling them to receive justice as well as support to help them recover from their experiences.

Graeme Fraser examines the current landscape in 2024 in terms of cohabitation practice and policy and projects the direction of travel for cohabitation law reform in England and Wales, having regard to how cohabitation practice could best be improved and most effective for the 3.5 millions couples cohabiting today.

Graeme is Head of Family at William Sturges and has specialised in family law for over 25 years. He has considerable experience in advising on financial settlements involving complex assets and substantial wealth. His practice covers divorce, financial settlements involving complicated assets and significant wealth, children issues, marital agreements, cohabitation, intervenors, insolvency-related settlements, European Family law, relationship breakdowns, tax rules on divorce, use of experts, corporate and family law strategic advice and multi-ethnic law.

Graeme is well-known in the legal community. Through thought leadership, committee work, training Members, and being a media spokesman for the BBC, SKY, FT and Times, he has spearheaded the campaign for cohabitation law reform in England and Wales. As Chair of Resolution’s Cohabitation Committee, he has been able to influence practice and policy that positively impacts his peers and improves outcomes for separating families.

This discussion explores the importance of early intervention strategies that support families when parental relationships face significant challenges. We will explore into the effects of ongoing conflicts between parents on children’s emotional and psychological health. What type of practical support and approaches that can help improve family relationships and child well-being.

Kam Kaur, is a registered Social Worker with vast experience in child protection, primarily with Children Services, the NSPCC, and child mental health services. Specialising in child safeguarding and therapeutic methods, Kam has developed her skills through various trainings, including Systemic Practitioner Intermediate Level, Attachment and Narrative Therapy, Non-Violent Resistance, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) Level 1, Anna Freud Family Ties – High Conflict Post Separation and Parental Alienation.

Over the past five years, Kam has played a key role as a trainer and one of the developers for The Parenting Apart Programme, an initiative aimed at reducing parental conflict. This programme has been successfully introduced in three local authorities with support from DWP funding. Kam is dedicated to early intervention and participates in discussions and panels to advocate for the well-being of families, demonstrating her commitment to improving family health and relationships. 

Join our session to get comfortable discussing menopause, understand its impact and challenges, and learn why support is essential. Discover how practical empathy and active listening can effectively support clients. Empower yourself to act differently, promote engagement, and address challenges so everyone feels valued and supported.

June is an award winning workplace menopause consultant with clients across the public and private sectors; she has also worked extensively within legal services firms. Alongside her consultancy work, June has been a Sessional Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University and completed her PhD research on capturing women’s experiences working through menopause in challenging and unique workspaces.

She has presented across business, charity, wellbeing events, local radio, podcasts, and academic conferences.

Sam will discuss TOLATA disputes that arise following the breakdown of a cohabiting relationship, the best approaches to those disputes in 2024, and recent developments in the law.

Sam is a popular and busy junior whose family practice is largely focused on matrimonial finance and private child disputes. His practice covers all types of financial remedy disputes (including claims made under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Schedule 1 claims under the Children Act). He is regularly approached to advise in high value cases and disputes that involve complex issues of law. Sam also specialises in all types of private child proceedings and is regularly instructed in complex cases involving significant allegations of domestic abuse, expert issues, or parental alienation. He is also regularly instructed in proceedings that involve international issues

Learn about the different features of OurFamilyWizard including their new documented Calls as well as Messaging with ToneMeter, the Journal with GPS verified Check-Ins, additional account types for professionals and children and much more. Also see examples of how the courts are ordering its use in high conflict cases and how it can prevent manipulation of records. Additionally, see how OurFamilyWizard is being utilised by parents and family law professionals to manage child arrangement matters and document communication and how to obtain court-admissible reports.

Katie Deans is OurFamilyWizard’s Junior Associate. She graduated from the University of Sussex with an LLB Hons in Law with Business and Management. Following this, she continued her studies at the University of Sussex obtaining an MSc Hons in Accounting and Finance. Having recently worked closely with OurFamilyWizard’s Cybersecurity Expert, Katie incorporates an understanding of cybersecurity to her professional training on OurFamilyWizard. Katie works with Courts, Chambers, Firms, CAFCASS, Mediators, Organisations and Charities to help parents with their communication.

We look at the reliability and validity of toxicology testing, an essential discussion for every family law practitioner.

David Nicholson set up DNA Legal over 20 years ago to take the complex world of science and deliver results that truly offer a transformation of people’s lives. As an expert in Drug, Alcohol and DNA testing for family law and care proceedings, David offers incredible insights into the practical application of testing.