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NLJ this week: Positive steps to beat delays in the family court

01 September 2023
Issue: 8038 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Child law , Procedure & practice , ADR
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Delays are a major headache for family lawyers working in private law children cases. Natasha Grande, head of family at Wilsons Solicitors, writing in this week’s NLJ, suggests they proactively explore alternative avenues for their clients.

Grande outlines the current state of play in terms of delays, and looks into a variety of ways to resolve some of the outstanding issues, including some pilots that are taking place for private law children’s cases as well as other proposals.

Grande suggests arbitration is an under-utilised resource for resolving children disputes. She writes: ‘Arbitration can be an excellent option for parties who can afford it and where there are minimal safeguarding concerns.

‘However, there still seems to be a lack of awareness around arbitration… the government’s proposals are only really taking mediation into account, overlooking other valuable forms of ADR, such as collaborative law and early neutral evaluation.’ 

Read Grande's full article here.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
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From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
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