Settlement Advice Service

We offer a service that we hope will be of benefit to you and your clients in ancillary relief disputes. The aim is to offer a speedy and cost effective option to the parties in concluding agreements in ancillary relief cases.

There are three ways in which we may be able to help you:

• Advice for an individual solicitor either by telephone conference or in writing on proposed settlement terms, which could be particularly useful to sole practitioners or solicitors within a firm where there is only one matrimonial lawyer. In a discretion-based jurisdiction such advice may prove invaluable.

• Receiving joint instructions in an ancillary relief case from two firms of solicitors for a chosen counsel, who will give realistic advice in writing to assist in concluding matters without undue and protracted negotiations or litigation. Such a jointly instructed counsel would not of course be able to represent either party if settlement were not concluded.

• A joint round table meeting between the legal representatives of both parties, chaired by a barrister, jointly instructed by the parties who would help to guide the negotiations and resolve particular points of difficulty. This would not be a formal mediation but would really be an extension of the joint written advice envisaged in the last paragraph.

Counsel with a range of experience commensurate with the degree of difficulty of the case will be available from our extensive and well-respected family practice group. Where required guidance will be provided to you by the senior family clerk as to the appropriate counsel.

Members

Christopher Sharp QC(Head of the Practice Group)
Susan Jacklin QC
Sheelagh Corfield
Catriona Duthie
Susan Hunter
Nick Miller
Louise O'Neill
Kamala Das
Dianne Martin
Jacqueline Humphreys
Judi Evans
Kambiz Moradifar
Abigail Bond
Carol Mashembo
Delia Thornton
Zahid Hussain
Julia Belyavin
Zoe Saunders
Andrew Commins
Jody Atkinson