Staying away from court

There may be no good way to separate but there are definitely better ways. From mediation to arbitration, early neutral evaluation to collaborative law, we're committed to reducing conflict.

Family law work takes many forms. Whatever issues you are facing, we never lose sight of the fact that we need to listen to and work with you to find the best way forward. Understanding the different ways in which an agreement can be reached or a dispute resolved – and having those options easily available to you – is as fundamental as legal advice. 

With a long-established reputation for being constructive and settlement-focused, we have a large team of experts qualified and able to help you in mediation, the collaborative process, arbitration, and as private judges and parental coordinators. 

Our lawyers

Pioneers of non-confrontational approaches, our lawyers were among the first to qualify as mediators and arbitrators. We still lead the way in providing clients with a better way to separate. 

Our experience

Mediation, arbitration, private judges, collaborative law: these are a key part of the services we offer. By using an alternative to court-led litigation, a whole variety of clients have been able to successfully, speedily and cost-effectively resolve their issues. We have recently: 

  • Mediated in complex financial cases involving family businesses, pensions and multiple jurisdictions.
  • Used arbitration to decide both discrete disagreements and overall financial settlements.
  • Helped a couple overcome the impasse reached in their existing legal proceedings (and stem the spiralling legal costs) by mediating a final agreement which met their key aim of minimising disruption to their farming business.
  • Successfully mediated an agreement after a long-running divorce where, with one spouse in declining health, it was important to the couple to resolve things quickly and be able to discuss and agree a variety of non-legal issues too.
  • Mediated in cases involving disagreements over children, including getting input from the children when they are aged 10 or over. 
  • Used experienced private family law judges to encourage couples to come to an agreement by giving a preliminary view on what they anticipate the court would order.

Our clients

All our clients are encouraged to consider alternatives to court – whether they work outside the home or not, live in this country or abroad, are a business owner, a high-profile individual, a farmer or are parents in dispute.

Legal resources you may find useful

www.divorce.co.uk 
Our dedicated site for divorcing couples provides a wealth of information to help support you and your family through separation and divorce. 

www.cohabitation-law.co.uk 
Our innovative site aimed at unmarried couples provides a wide range of free advice from buying a property together to dealing with separation. 

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