Family Law in Partnership supports Family Mediation Week 2019 with a special offer for new enquiries of free half hour mediation sessions during Family Mediation Week. Find out more below.

Research shows that mediation is often the best way for families to resolve conflicts. It is proven to be faster, less costly and – crucially – less adversarial than divorcing through the courts. Unfortunately, too few people know about it and end up locked in disputes that have far-reaching consequences for them, and for their children.

Monday 21^st January 2019 marks the start of Family Mediation Week, organised by the Family Mediators Association (FMA) to raise awareness of mediation as an alternative process for resolving issues between separating couples.

Over the course of Family Mediation Week, the FMA will be publishing information and resources to help more people understand that mediation can be a better, more constructive option that puts children first and helps separating families create a brighter future. For more information, please visit the FMA website.

Why mediation?

Family mediation has a number of advantages over the traditional Court process:

• Almost any family dispute can be resolved in mediation including financial and housing arrangements in relation to separation and divorce and issues concerning children such as where they will live, how often they will see each parent and their education. Disputes between cohabitants and inheritance disputes can also be resolved in mediation. The process is extremely flexible and can be tailored to your particular needs.
• Unlike the Court process where a judge will be appointed and the process is fixed, you choose the mediator and remain in control of the situation and the decision making process. This can lead to longer lasting settlements than those which are imposed on you by the Courts.
• Mediation can take place at any time. It is rarely too early or too late for mediation.
• Mediation is considerably cheaper than any legal process.
• Mediation can promote discussions and concessions that would not be possible in the Court process because it is a confidential process. Agreement is, therefore, much more likely.
• The confidential nature of mediation also means that it is ideal for those seeking privacy and discretion.

Why Family Law in Partnership?

At Family Law in Partnership our experienced mediators cover all family issues ranging from divorce and separation (including finance and housing matters) to children matters (including residence and contact issues, international relocation of children and schooling) and mediation in relation to pre- and post-nuptial, civil partnership and cohabitation agreements. They also offer preparation and support to couples about to embark on mediation with other firms or Court proceedings.

Our mediators are among the most experienced in the country and are known and trusted by the legal community for being highly skilled and utterly professional. They hold memberships of national and international family mediation organisations and take most of their referrals from the best family lawyers in London and the surrounding areas.

Family Law in Partnership is the only firm ranked top tier for family mediation by the prestigious legal directory, Legal 500 UK, with five of our mediators ranked as leaders in the field of family mediation. The strength in depth of our team of mediators and the range of skill sets that they are able to draw on, from legal skills and collaborative practice to therapeutic and counselling skills, adds real value to the support and insight that our mediators can bring to resolving complex family issues.

Our mediators offer all types of family mediation including:

• Sole and co-mediation. One or two mediators working together.
• Child inclusive mediation. When child inclusive mediation takes place the mediator will, with the child’s consent, feed their views back into the overall mediation process. We have over 10 years’ experience in this field and four of our mediators are trained in this area. Our Head of Mediation Dominic Raeside is an active member of the Government’s Voice of the Child Advisory Group.
• Civil/commercial model of mediation. We have four mediators trained in this area.
• Mediation in cases involving child abduction. We have one mediator who is a specialist in this field.
• Crunch-point mediation. Crunch-point mediation is intended for disputes which have reached a crunch-point when everyone knows the case should settle but cannot see how it can settle. Click here to find out more about crunch-point mediation.

During Family Mediation Week – Monday 21^st to Friday 25^th January 2019 – the team at Family Law in Partnership is offering free half hour mediation sessions for new enquiries, subject to availability. Please contact our mediation co-ordinator Wendy Hoare for details of the available sessions (E: wh@flip.co.uk or T: 020 7420 5000).

At Family Law in Partnership we have a market leading family mediation team headed by Dominic Raeside. To find out more about the family mediation services that we offer at Family Law in Partnership click here or view our mediation brochure. If you would like to find out more about family mediation, how it works and how it can benefit separating families, please contact any of our mediation specialists on T: 020 7420 5000 or E: hello@flip.co.uk.