Services
Within the arena of family law, I provide many services in many capacities.
On this page, I set out my different incarnations.
I am an English solicitor. For many years as a family lawyer I specialised in finance aspects of relationship breakdown in complex cases involving medium and substantial assets. Many cases have an international element, a key area of my work. My clients are from home and abroad, both men and women and from all walks of life although main concentrations are the IT and media/entertainment industries and entrepreneurs. I am an accredited family law specialist.
To provide greater flexibility and opportunities in my work and to keep costs down, I practice on my own account as Panorama Legal Services. Much of this work is conducted by e-mail and for international clients.
I am a consultant to The International Family Law Group, a new law firm in Covent Garden, London which acts in national and international cases in both finance work and international children work. I undertake some of my law work through this practice especially where I need the back up and support of other lawyers and support staff. More details are at www.iflg.uk.com. Although the firm only started in April 2007, the Legal 500 has called it “the firm to watch” in the section of family law firms in central London, an incredable achievement after only 6 months
I undertake some agency and specialist advisory work for other law firms. This can be attending court in England or abroad, meeting clients, witnesses and lawyers, again often abroad, and helping firms in an advisory capacity or at times of shortage of senior practitioners.
I am a mediator and see couples together to help them direct to resolve their disputes. They still have lawyers for advice but in some cases mediation helps couples to settle in a way more satisfactory to them. It is often much more cost effective. Mediation is not counselling but an alternative to lawyer negotiation or going to court. Much of my mediation is directive mediation in which I give direct legal opinions in the mediation to encourage a final settlement, taking account of what would happen if the matter were to be considered at court. These mediations are sometimes with the parties’ lawyers present, when disclosure has been given and when conventional negotiations or mediation have failed to produce a settlement.
I am also an arbitrator, a new area of family law resolution, where the dispute is heard by a qualified arbitrator but outside the court system, court rules and court timetables. The couple work out their preferred procedure and timetable for their own dispute. It is not yet binding in law but it will be usual for a court to accept an arbitration award as strongly influential on outcome.
I am a qualified Australian solicitor and mediator. Although now based primarily in England, I maintain close professional links with several Australian law firms, keep up to date with changes in the law and I have retained my professional qualifications and certificates to practice as an Australian lawyer and mediator.
I sit as a Deputy (part time) District Judge of the Principal Registry of the Family Division in London. This is the main central family courts in London but also hears many of the more complex cases from out of London. I sit about twice a month. I was appointed in 1995.
I have given many lectures, workshops, seminars, video presentation and other training to family lawyers from updating lectures to specialist level for experienced practising lawyers and skill based workshops.
I write on a variety of family law issues and have been asked to report on a number of conferences across the world and to cover developing issues.
I sit on various committees involved with law reform especially international aspects, ADR and financial provision law.
