As 2016 draws to a close and we absorb the impact of the immense political change this year, we take a moment to reflect on the success of the talented team at Family Law in Partnership over the last 12 months. Highlights have included:

And there is plenty more in the pipeline as we move into 2017.

Other notable achievements are profiled below:

A. Dominic Raeside, Head of Mediation, Re-Appointed To The Family Justice Council

We are delighted to announce that our Head of Mediation, Dominic Raeside, has been re-appointed as the Family Mediator member of the Family Justice Council. Dominic has held this post since August 2013 when he was appointed following a competitive selection process undertaken by the Council.

Dominic is ranked as a leading family mediator by The Legal 500 UK which comments that he is “a truly outstanding mediator” and “at the top of his game; he manages to put people at ease, and has a way of unblocking even the most intractable disputes“. Dominic was named Family Law Dispute Resolution Practitioner of the Year in the Family Law Awards 2015.

B. Introducing our three Children Law Arbitrators

The Family Law Children Arbitration Scheme launched in July 2016 with Family Law in Partnership announcing that three senior lawyers – Gillian Bishop, James Pirrie and Felicity Shedden – had qualified as Children Law arbitrators. Family Law in Partnership also boasts three arbitrators who are qualified in financial and property related matters – James Pirrie, Felicity Shedden and Bradley Williams.

The new Children Scheme covers private law children disputes including:

  • Internal relocation – though not yet external relocation
  • Child arrangement orders
  • Holiday arrangements – though not currently applications for the temporary removal of a child from the jurisdiction
  • Change of name
  • Education disputes
  • Prohibited steps orders

“FLiP’s ethos has always been to put our clients and their families at the heart of everything we do. It is in keeping with our commitment to helping families going through transition that we see children arbitration as a natural addition to our offering” comments children arbitrator and Family Law in Partnership founder, Gillian Bishop.

C. We achieved fantastic rankings in the best Legal Directories

Chambers UK 2017

Family Law in Partnership received fantastic rankings in the Chambers UK 2017 guide. Eight lawyers – all six of our directors together with consultants Pamela Collis and Ann Northover – were named as leading individuals in family law. Few, if any, other family practices can boast this strength in depth of leading family law expertise.

“(A) Full-service family outfit renowned for its dedication to discreet and amicable settlement through alternative dispute resolution. Maintains a robust financial remedy and child law offering. Houses leading professionals in mediation, arbitration and collaborative law proceedings.” Chambers UK 2017

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Legal 500 UK 2016

Family Law in Partnership received ten elite leading individual listings for family law and mediation in the Legal 500 UK 2016 guide and continues to be the only top tier firm for Family Mediation for the third year in a row.

David Allison, Gillian Bishop, Pamela Collis, James Pirrie and Bradley Williams were all named as Leading Individuals for Family Law. The team also gained five elite Leading Individual rankings in the Family Mediation category with Family Law in Partnership Head of Mediation Dominic Raeside and mediator/counsellor Ruth Smallacombe joining David Allison, Gillian Bishop and James Pirrie as Leading Individuals for Family Mediation. Consultant Ann Northover, director Daniel Coombes and associate Helen Greenfield were also recommended in the editorial.

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Chambers HNW 2016

In June 2016 Chambers and Partners published their inaugural High Net Worth guide – Chambers HNW 2016 – their first publication specifically aimed at the international private wealth market. The guide names the leading lawyers and law firms for wealthy individuals and families. Family Law in Partnership had five lawyers – David Allison, Gillian Bishop, Pamela Collis, James Pirrie and Ann Northover  – named as leading family lawyers.

“The most creative family department in the country. They are always thinking of new approaches to age-old problems”……“They are bold, imaginative and innovative”..….“They are a model firm. The way they set themselves up with in-house mediators is fantastic. They do not compromise their determination to get an appropriate deal for their clients, managing their cases in a sensible and non-confrontational way.” Chambers HNW 2016

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