Mediation & Collaborative Law

Our partner firm, Stowe Family Law Settlements, is a dedicated family mediation service. We also offer a collaborative law service, which differs from mediation in that each party has a legal advisor present throughout the process and at all meetings.

Mediation

Our partner firm, Stowe Family Law Settlements, is a dedicated family mediation service. It has offices in London, Harrogate and Hale.

Stowe Family Law Settlements was launched to help couples and families whose relationships have broken down, but who wish to avoid protracted and expensive courtroom battles.  What sets this family law mediation service apart is the way in which it combines a mediation service with family law expertise. It is staffed by a nine-strong team of “lawyer mediators”:  trained family mediators who are also qualified and highly experienced family lawyers.

The lawyer-mediators at Stowe Family Law Settlements are able to assist with a range of legal disputes, including divorce and separation agreements, cohabitation agreements, child residence and contact disputes, grandparents’ rights and prenuptial agreements.

For family mediation, couples meet in a neutral environment with a neutral lawyer mediator, who will provide a frank assessment and discuss the likely outcome of the case if it went to court. The lawyer mediator will then help the couple to arrive at a solution that suits everyone, and will also assist with drawing up a formal agreement that can be incorporated into an order.

With one lawyer instead of two, the legal fees are often lower. Other benefits include the ability to resolve legal issues without the need for court proceedings. Couples are also able to maintain their privacy, because there are no court judgements to be made public.

Contact Stowe Family Law solicitor James Thornton for further information, or visit www.stowefamilylawsettlements.co.uk.

Collaborative Law

Collaborative Law differs from mediation in that each party has a legal advisor present throughout the process and at all meetings. The emphasis of the collaborative approach to resolving disputes between parties is that it focuses on what the parties themselves want, as opposed to what the solicitor thinks is appropriate. Collaborative law assists to avoid unnecessary rifts between parties, who will often have children who they will continue to bring up together.

With collaborative law, the success rate in reaching collaborative agreement is high and the legal costs in avoiding the litigation route much lower. If the collaborative method is pursued, the parties agree that they will not issue Court proceedings. The parties will be required to sign an agreement that they will proceed on this basis and all disclosure will be made on a voluntary basis and that they will embrace the notion that they will seek to co-operate to reach a resolution.

The parties and their legal advisors arrange to meet in order to identify the issues within the case and the possible solutions. Once an agreement is reached it can be embodied into a court order.

This method of dispute resolution is relatively new to this country, having enjoyed much success in the United States and Canada.  For further information or to make an appointment please contact Julian Hawkhead, the Managing Partner of our Harrogate office.

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