1/4 Lots of lawyer-bashing at financial remedies reform do last nt made me seethe. Why? ✅research - The Law Society, Nuffield Foundation Fair Shares & ors - has shown the +ive value of legal advice ✅family mediation nos fell off a cliff post-LASPO as sols were main source of referral

Somehow it’s a month since Forsters LLP moved into our new digs at 22 Baker St. Thanks for the lovely messages (& this beautiful orchid delivered yesterday). Team Forsters Family looking forward to welcoming more friends at our new home (& opening up the terrace in the summer) 🏠

Per Office for National Statistics (ONS) stats today just over 80k divorces in 2022 in E&W, 29.5%⬇️ yoy & lowest no of divorces in 51 years. Mainly due to introduction of no fault divorce in April 2022 & couples waiting; but interesting to look at the detail (& prevalence of cohabitees) ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulati…

Stars of the footballing & family law worlds at tonight’s #lfa2024 London Football Awards 4PB Forsters LLP⚽️

My piece Law Society Gazette re value of early legal advice in family cases & why govt announcement in Jan about the advice pilot was v welcome news (despite the lawyer-bashing in certain quarters). Rich material in The Law Society research & Fair Shares Project report lawgazette.co.uk/commentary-and…

Fab to attend launch last night of suite of new guidance docs re identifying & supporting vulnerable clients during relationship breakdown. Vital that as lawyers we also focus on not inflaming difficult situations & systemic change/less adversarial process phb.co.uk/mental-health-…

1/2 If reports today are to be believed, the MoJ is proceeding with plans to hike court fees by 10% from next month. If right, divorce application would be £652! Although in some cases ⬆️s in line with inflation justifiable, I worry about access to justice lawgazette.co.uk/news/10-court-…

2/2 Also (1) increased digitisation means many fees will outstrip cost of provision (2) what guarantee of investment of £42m raised into a broken system (3) what about incentivising NCDR through fee structures? Resolution responded to consultation in Dec/will continue to lobby

🌈Celebrating today the 10th anniversary of the first same sex marriages in England & Wales - marriage equality hard fought for (& still sadly lacking in many corners of the globe). Raising a glass to friends & colleagues in the LGBTQ+ community🥂🌈 linkedin.com/posts/jo-edwar…

Response fr Ministry of Justice to court fees consultation published yest. As thought, most fees to ⬆️10%; but a victory on divorce fee, which WON’T⬆️. I gave evidence to Justice Committee about this for Resolution in 2015; ever harder to justify an already big fee gov.uk/government/con…

More here from Legal Futures legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/go…

Legal Futures …and the Resolution response to the (latest/December 2023) court fees consultation (inc our renewed opposition to the suggested 10% increase to the divorce fee) is here resolution.org.uk/wp-content/upl…

After a day stranded at home due to naughty trains, lovely to blow off some cobwebs on Hove seafront last night once the April showers had passed. Enjoy the flexibility that agile working brings, but for me nothing beats being in the office with my wonderful Forsters Family team

Al fresco lunch for Team Forsters Family (or about half of the team) today on our Baker St terrace. Spring has sprung☀️

👏🏻👏🏻 “Beth”, one of 1000s of women who find themselves not entitled to a penny after a long unmarried (often abusive) relationship. Proud to work with her/others like her as Resolution campaigns for change for cohabitants Emily Thornberry Martha Muir ft.com/content/2e962a…

Delighted to be chairing Question Time panel again on Sat, this year with Andy Hayward Chris Minnoch Nazia Rashid Jennifer Lee (+ graeme fraser on the cohab campaign). We’ll be talking all things Resolution #visionforfamilyjustice ahead of an election. Send us yr ?s #ResConf24

I, with Family Law Reform Now will be hosting a panel discussion Forsters LLP’s Baker St office on Thurs 27 June re possible shapes of #cohabitationreform, with graeme fraser Andy Hayward & academics from Oz, Scotland & Ireland. Invitations coming shortly but do msg me if you want to attend

Congrats to my fab Forsters Family colleagues Simon Blain & Tim Evans, instructing the equally fab Jacqueline Renton 4PB, who have successfully argued that Hadkinson orders can apply in Children Act proceedings/further developed the law in this thorny area👏🏻

Team Forsters Family is recruiting its first dedicated Knowledge Development Lawyer. Between working with the most fab team, in our new offices, with our new website having been launched this week, we hope it’s a great opportunity for the right candidate forsters.co.uk/vacancy/knowle…🙌🏻

Some news from Team Forsters Family - our new Head of Children, Sarah Williams, joins the team on Monday 🙌🏻 More here ➡️ forsters.co.uk/news-and-views… #childrenlaw #newhire #wearefamily