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10 January 2025 / Ruth Omoregie , Lola Ajayi
Issue: 8099 / Categories: Features , Family , Divorce , Child law
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Family law: looking back & forward

202719
Ruth Omoregie & Lola Ajayi round up the key developments in family law in 2024, & consider what may lie in store for the year ahead
  • Changes to family law in 2024 included a renewed focus on non-court dispute resolution, more transparency in family proceedings, and new protections for domestic abuse victims.
  • Key decisions dealt with the matrimonialisation of assets, and applications for financial relief after foreign divorces.
  • Areas of potential reform for 2025 may include financial remedies on divorce and the rights of cohabiting couples.

In the ever-evolving landscape of family law, staying informed about recent legal updates is crucial for practitioners, families, and policymakers alike. Over the past year, significant changes have emerged in areas such as non-court dispute resolution (NCDR), court fees, and transparency in court proceedings. These updates not only reflect the shifts in societal values and priorities, but also underscore the need for legal professionals to adapt their practices. This article explores key developments in family law from

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

London Solicitors Litigation Association—John McElroy

Fieldfisher partner appointed president as LSLA marks milestone year

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Kingsley Napley—Kirsty Churm & Olivia Stiles

Firm promotes two lawyers to partnership across employment and family

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Foot Anstey—five promotions

Firm promotes five lawyers to partnership across key growth areas

NEWS
Freezing orders in divorce proceedings can unexpectedly ensnare third parties and disrupt businesses. In NLJ this week, Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins explains how these orders—dubbed a ‘nuclear weapon’—preserve assets but can extend far beyond spouses to companies and business partners 
A Court of Appeal ruling has clarified that ‘rent’ must be monetary—excluding tenants paid in labour from statutory protection. In this week's NLJ, James Naylor explains Garraway v Phillips, where a tenant worked two days a week instead of paying rent
Thousands more magistrates are to be recruited, under a major shake-up to speed up and expand the hiring process
Three men wrongly imprisoned for a combined 77 years have been released—yet received ‘not a penny’ in compensation, exposing deep flaws in the justice system. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Jon Robins reports on Justin Plummer, Oliver Campbell and Peter Sullivan, whose convictions collapsed amid discredited forensics, ‘oppressive’ police interviews and unreliable ‘cell confessions’
A quiet month for employment cases still delivers key legal clarifications. In his latest Employment Law Brief for NLJ, Ian Smith reports that whistleblowing protection remains intact even where disclosures are partly self-serving, provided the worker reasonably believes they serve the ‘public interest’ 
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