Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors are now also Family Law Solicitors in Torquay
The last 18 months has been an exceptional period for Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors.
In this period, we have:
Whilst less visible, we have made changes to our website and to our procedures so that we have improved out transparency about legal pricing/charges and our systems to provide and outstanding service to our clients.
As part of these changes we have incorporated innovative technology into our website to assist new clients to better engage with us and to improve what we are able to provide at initial meeting. We have also introduced a pay as you go and wider fixed fee service.
The final step in this period of growth is the opening of our Torquay Family Law Office on the 03 June 2019.
Our Torquay Family Law Office is conveniently located in Lymington Road, at the Torquay Business Centre.
We selected this as a location because it is easily accessible from all parts of Torquay. Torquay Business Centre is a relatively short distance from Torquay County Court. It is also reasonably convenient for Torbay Council social services meetings at Union House.
We also have the benefit of being able to offer free parking (subject to availability and normally pre-booking) and good disabled access.
Our Torquay solicitors team will be led by Nicole Phare.
Nicole qualified as a specialist family law solicitor in 2005 and specialises in both children law and divorce.
Nicole enjoyed a long career in family law before qualifying as a solicitor and most of her career has been spent working for different practices in Torbay
Nicole will be supported in building our Torquay family law solicitors office by our director Ian Walker and highly experienced solicitors David Howell-Richardson and Sandy Powell.
Both Ian and Sandy have had careers which have included working for South Devon/Torquay practices and between us, we have assisted many Torbay families over the years.
We are conscious that over the years the number of solicitors firms who undertake complex children work in Torquay has significantly reduced.
Before we opened our Torquay solicitors office there were only two firms of solicitors with offices in Torquay which included members of the Law Society Children Panel and which still offer a legally aided service.
By opening an office in Torquay we have taken this number up to 3.
From our Torquay family law solicitors office we will be assisting clients both with children law and divorce.
We are a team of specialist divorce lawyers in Torquay. We will be offering a divorce service from our Torquay family law office.
At Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors we are committed members of the family law solicitors organisation Resolution. Ian Walker is now in his third (three year) term as the elected chair of the Devon region of resolution. Ian is also a member of Resolution’s national Dispute Resolution Committee which promotes innovation and best practice in resolving family Law and divorce cases out of court. He has previously served as both a member of the Law Society Family Law Committee and as a trustee of the Family Mediators Association. One of Ian’s achievements was the introduction of collaborative family law in Devon.
We are committed to assisting our divorce clients to resolve their cases in a principled and fair way which focuses on achieving good outcomes but ensures that the needs of the couple’s children are not lost in (often unnecessary) adult disputes.
If you believe we can assist – please do get in touch.
In six and half years we have grown from nothing to being a leading family law solicitors practice and mediation service in the south-west.
We have achieved our growth through the innovative use of technology. Are use of technology is both client facing and also within the platform through which we work. We make good use of cloud technology. We use other innovative software and we subscribe to the best available family law practice support service.
We now have SRA authorised offices in Honiton, Exeter, Torquay and Weston-super-Mare as well as consulting rooms we access in Yeovil and Bridgwater.
Our team consists of both employed solicitors and fee share consultant’s.
Whilst on the one hand we intend to consolidate the advances we have made over the last 18 months, on the other hand, we are always open to new opportunities.
We are therefore ever open to hear from outstanding family lawyers who might be based in Devon and Somerset slightly further afield who are interested in joining an innovative, collegiate, noncorporate but highly professional and expert team. Our team has grown around its people and being open to new opportunities and if you share our vision and would like to join our journey then we would like to hear from you. (Equity opportunities are available). Join our Family Law Solicitors in Torquay.
Collaborative family law is a fantastic but underused family dispute resolution process.
With mediation, couples are assisted to reach solutions through confidential negotiation assisted by the neutral mediator.
With the normal model of mediation, each of the couple will seek their own independent legal advice between meetings. The neutral mediator cannot give advice – but can give information in a neutral way.
One of the problems with mediation is that couples in mediation may decline to take legal advice or they may not ask the right questions of their solicitor, or they may not fully hear the advice that is given. This can mean that in some mediations, one or both of the parties will struggle to say yes or even maybe to what might otherwise be reasonable proposals.
Feedback from mediation information and assessment meetings and mediation is occasionally that one party declined to enter mediation, struggled with the mediation process because they felt under supported, or were concerned that the other party would be too overbearing for mediation to be able to work.
If mediation is not suitable, or is not quite the right process, then there are alternatives.
This is where collaborative law fits in. With collaborative family law, both of the couple commits to finding negotiated solution, whilst also avoiding court proceedings. Like mediation the negotiations are confidential. The collaborative law contract, which is called the participation agreement, includes a commitment from both of the couple not to go to court. It is agreed that if the collaborative law process breaks down that the couple will each need to instruct different solicitors. This is a further incentive to settle.
The key to collaborative family law is that there is no neutral mediator (although in some circumstances a mediator could be drafted in, if negotiations got particularly complicated). Instead the couple are reach represented/advised/assisted by their own solicitors. The mediation works through a series of 4 way meetings. The solicitors will work together in a collaborative way.
Advice will be shared and by collaborative working complex issues can be unravelled as a practical and fair solution is worked out. The couple are reach better supported and each will be better able to say yes to a reasonable agreement when the time is right. The solicitors working with their clients are better able to keep the process moving along than with mediation. Letter writing is avoided.
When appropriate other professionals can be brought in to the collaborative law process, such as financial advisers or family consultants (who can assist with coaching around children issues). Key to the success of collaborative law is that each of the clients have a good relationship and trust in their solicitors and then that there is a good working relationship and trust between both solicitors. To qualify as a collaborative family lawyer specific training is required and this needs to be backed up by regular meetings with other collaborative lawyers and ongoing training.
The alternative to mediation and collaborative law is either negotiation through solicitors letters or roundtable meetings which do not have the protection of the collaborative law agreement or a court process. These negotiations will often be more tetchy and divisive (even if that is not intended). Collaborative family law offers a way to achieving a better divorce/separation/negotiation in the way that mediation also does.
You don’t build and sustain good working relationships with other collaborative family law solicitors without meeting and talking.
This year Devon Resolution organised a Collaborative Law Training Day for Devon Collaborative Family Lawyers with the leading collaborative law trainers in the UK – namely Helen Garlic and Suzy Power. (Incidentally, Helen had been one of the helpers on the mediation training that Ian Walker undertook with the renowned Henry Brown and Felicity White, back in 1996). Suzy was one of the trainers when Ian arranged with Resolution the foundation collaborative law training which brought collaborative law to Devon in 2005.
It was good to catch up with Helen and Suzy and also with other collaborative law solicitor colleagues from around Devon. You can never have too much skills training.
By us meeting and training together and building and maintaining good relationships, we can as a group assist our clients better.
Collaborative Family Law is a good option. Give us a call to find out more.
2017 was a really good year for Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors, but 2018 promises to be even better. Below is what I can tell you about our plans for 2018, but first, the highlights of 2017 (in no particular order):
Thanks to all who have helped us get this far. I am looking forward to 2018
We all know that Court proceedings are very expensive and slow. Most clients are exhausted and deflated by the outcome.
The cost of a contested court process can easily be £15,000 – £20,000 per person. Dealing with a divorce and financial issues can easily take over a year.This is unaffordable or unacceptably costly for most families.
Traditional legal practice can also stoke mistrust and bad relations between separating couples. This can be very damaging for any children stuck in the middle.
But traditional Family Mediation cannot guarantee agreement. Clients can be lost without legal advice or their solicitors. Financial disclosure can be poor. If there is no agreement cost and time have been wasted.
Collaborative Law has not been the answer.
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On Monday I will be travelling to London for the launch of IFLA’s Family Law Arbitration Children Scheme.
I and one of the founding arbitrators who will be providing arbitration through the IFLA Family Law Children Arbitration Scheme
It has been a great pleasure opening the post this week to receive my certificates from The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (see below).
There are only a very small number of arbitrators who have qualified. The selection process to qualify as an arbitrator is rigorous. It is necessary to be an experienced practitioner and also to be recommended by two Judges. The training was assessed and moderated. Determinations made by an arbitrator are legally binding and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators therefore take great care in the process through which arbitrators are selected.
Arbitration is a comparatively new option in family law cases. Previously its practice was limited to finance cases. From Monday it will also be available to help parents resolve disputes around the arrangements for their children.
I have long-standing commitment to assisting clients to resolve disputes in a reasonable sense way. This is evidenced through 20 years as a mediator and my commitment to progressive practice through Resolution/Collaborative Law and my wider activity in promoting good practice (membership of the Law Society Family Law Committee, Chair – Devon Resolution)
I see arbitration as a process which can be harnessed to assist clients to resolve cases quickly and sensibly. Delay in resolving disputes between parents is not a good thing. The Courts have limited and recently stretched resources. The court will necessarily prioritise between urgent and non-urgent. Court processes can be very slow. On the other hand that mediation can be an excellent way to assist parents to resolve disputes – but does not work.
Arbitration is something which can work for families. I intend to offer a speedy and cost-effective service. In a straightforward case I should be able to make a determination within a week.
Invariably, speed in achieving a final decision in a case saves cost and stress.
I also see the arbitration and mediation can work hand-in-hand.
I am looking forward to the launch of the IFLA Family Arbitration Children Scheme on Monday. Resolution will be heavily represented and there will be an opportunity for me to catch up some old friends. Over the next few weeks I will be updating my website and letting everyone know how I will be making arbitration available. (more…)
On 19 and 20 May we enjoyed the second Devon Resolution Conference. The main day was day 2. We had 120 delegates and a significant proportion of Family Lawyers in Devon.
This was our second conference. When I was elected Chair of Devon Resolution for a second three year term (after a break of two years), I wanted to really reinvigorate what we do. I thought holding an annual conference was a good place to start. We could attract better speakers and we could do something helpful for all of our members.
This year we were able to attract an even more stellar list of speakers than last year. Here are a few of our Committee with our Divorce and Finance Discussion Panel
Back Row: Members of the Devon Resolution Committee: Tracy Lambert (Tozers) Vikki Martin (Wolferstans) Will Giles (Nash and Co) Ian Walker (me) (Ian Walker Family Law and Mediation Solicitors) (Chair – Devon Resolution)
Front Row: Valentine Le Grice QC – 1 Hare Court; Nigel Shepherd – Mills and Reeve (National Chair of Resolution); Rhys Taylor– 36 Bedford Row; Professor Rebecca Bailey – Harris 1 Hare Court; Margaret Heathcote – Bishop and Sewell (Resolution National Committee); Liz Trinder – Professor of Socio-legal Studies University of Exeter; Sue Jacklin QC – 1 Garden Court (Chair of Family Law Bar Association); Sir Peter Singer – 1 Hare Court (Retired Judge and leading Arbitrator)
Our Designated Family Judge: Her Honour Judge Robertshaw was our keynote speaker. Here is (more…)
I am the Chair of the Devon Region of Resolution. Devon Resolution has a membership of around 160 family law solicitors in Devon. We also have a vibrant committee of a dozen solicitors drawn from different practices around the county.
Last year we held our first day conference. The day went so well that we decided to repeat it… but better.
The Conference is in May 2016
Here is the booking form: Devon Resolution Family Law Conference 2016 Flyer and Booking Form
The Early bird has now expired, but the day will still be excellent value. So far we have over 80 bookings for the main day, which should translate to well over 100 by the time we get to 20 May. We may even sell out.
This week is Resolutions annual Dispute Resolution Week. The idea is to raise awareness of constructive ways of dealing with divorce and other family disputes.
I am a big supporter of the aims of Dispute Resolution Week. I am Chair of the Devon Region of Resolution. I have been on the Devon Committee for over 10 years and a Resolution member for around 20 years. I was one of the first Family Mediators trained by Resolution in 1996 and I am was also an early adopter of Collaborative Family Law.
We are not doing anything in Devon this year as we have other things in the pipeline for 2016, but those of us who are members encourage anyone with an interest to read the research commissioned by Resolution for Dispute Resolution Week and to watch the new video (embedded in this post)
Here is a summary of the research
New polling has found that around eight out of ten children and young people with experience of parental separation or divorce would prefer their parents to split up if they are unhappy, rather than stay together. (more…)
We invest a lot of ourselves in our personal relationships. The break-up of a marriage or long term relationship is likely to unleash a lot of negative emotions.
As an experienced family law solicitor I know in this emotional maelstrom there is a serious risk that one or both of the couple may make poor decisions which they might later regret.
Before taking any steps on behalf of a client, I would always wish them to be clear that they are certain in any decision to separate. “The grass is not always greener”. On the other hand some relationships do reach the point where they are broken beyond repair and are even harmful. (more…)
Each year the Family Law Solicitors organisation Resolution run Dispute Resolution or DR Week.
Here is a link to the DR Week Homepage which tells you more about it.
Resolution DR Week Web page
DR week will run from 24 to 28 November. Resolution has commissioned polling among young people and adults, to show the impact a divorce or separation has had on them. The results promise to be interesting, and (more…)
