David Salter, our joint national head of family law, takes over as President of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers from current President Ian Kennedy AM of Australia on 4 September 2010.
The IAML is a worldwide association of practising lawyers who are recognised by their peers as the most experienced and expert family law specialists in their respective countries. David was nominated President-Elect at the Academy’s annual meeting in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2008.
This prestigious post is a coup especially given that only a small number of matrimonial lawyers outside London are Fellows of the Academy.
David Salter said: “I am extremely honoured to have been elected to the role of President of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
“The IAML is an important organisation, which allows family lawyers across the world to share in best practice. The Academy enables Fellows handling international family law cases to obtain legal assistance of the highest calibre in other jurisdictions. Where there are complex cases involving cross-border issues, an increasingly common aspect today, specialist lawyers are able to turn to one another, ensuring the best possible result for the client.”
In his role, David will be responsible for leadership, direction and development of the Academy and his duties will include the organisation of the Academy’s next two meetings which will be in Harrogate (September 2011) and Singapore (September 2012).
David commented: “It is a long time since the Academy held a meeting in England and I am delighted that family lawyers from far afield will be able to sample the delights of Yorkshire next year.”
Since 1986, the IAML has grown steadily, both in terms of the countries represented and in terms of the overall membership. There are now 42 countries represented and the Academy has over 575 Fellows.
Mills & Reeve has three other partners who are Fellows of IAML: Roger Bamber (Cambridge), who chairs the Academy’s Expansion Programme; Nigel Shepherd (Manchester) and Marc Saunderson (Birmingham).
In addition to taking up this prestigious role, David has been nominated for Lawyer of the Decade at the Yorkshire Lawyer Awards 2010. The winner will be announced on 6 October 2010.
For more information on David Salter and our family law team at Mills & Reeve, visit www.divorce.co.uk. Information about the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers can be found at www.iaml.org.