I have been a family solicitor now for just over 20 years. In that time I have seen many changes in family law and the way we, as lawyers, represent our clients. Since I learned it as a trainee, I have always believed in the Resolution approach to conducting family work to minimise conflict, working constructively with clients and other parties to find workable and fair solutions.

Over the years as my career has progressed, I have achieved many qualifications and accreditations to help me along the way. I first trained as a Resolution-accredited specialist, as a family mediator and then as a child-inclusive family mediator, allowing me to speak to children directly in mediation cases. I also undertook the necessary courses for the ability to offer the ‘one-lawyer approach' (or 'Resolution method’)  of working so that I can now represent both parties following separation, something I have seen grow in popularity since offering the service at the start of 2024.

These qualifications have given me the skills to help clients and provide workable and creative solutions to them, even in the trickiest of cases. It has also given me a broader understanding of family disputes and an insight into how best to resolve cases of different sorts - by negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, litigation or through the parties themselves.

In 2024, I stepped down from the Resolution West Midlands Committee, having served for ten years, including as chair from 2021 through to 2023. This extra time has allowed me to look at the next stage of my career and in a bit of a leap from helping clients reach solutions as an adviser, I have now qualified as a financial remedy arbitrator; meaning that I can now determine cases for those who cannot resolve them themselves, via solicitors, or in mediation.

Having trained with The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and for anyone thinking of doing likewise, it is a really interesting and rewarding course to undertake… just blank out the following week in your diary to give you sufficient time to do the assessment that follows!

I truly believe family arbitration will be an increasing method that separating couples will use in the future if they are unable to negotiate financial settlement terms themselves. Arbitrating avoids court delays, taking between eight to twelve weeks to conclude at the parties’ pace. For that reason, it is far more cost-effective than litigation, as you can be litigating for weeks rather than months or sometimes years!

Most importantly though, you can choose the person making the decision; you can find the person that fits your case the best. You have continuity throughout the process with that individual. The process can be tailored to your needs and the needs of your clients.

I am privileged to work alongside a great set of lawyers at Anthony Collins, collaborative practitioners, and mediators alike. I am pleased to be able to offer this added service to our family law offering.

For more information

Further information about financial remedy arbitration can be found on our website. You can also contact me on 0121 212 7413.