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01 September 2023
Issue: 8038 / Categories: Legal News , Family , Child law , Procedure & practice , ADR
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NLJ this week: Positive steps to beat delays in the family court

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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

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Carey Olsen—Patrick Ormond

Partner joinscorporate and finance practice in British Virgin Islands

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Dawson Cornwell—Naomi Angell

Firm strengthens children department with adoption and surrogacy expert

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Penningtons Manches Cooper—Graham Green

Media and technology expert joins employment team as partner in Cambridge

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
The winners of the LexisNexis Legal Awards 2026 have now been announced, marking another outstanding celebration of excellence, innovation, and impact across the legal profession
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’
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