Allegations of domestic abuse are made in more than half the cases heard by the family courts of England and Wales, the president of the High Court family division said last week. Why are they so difficult to resolve?  The answer, as Sir Andrew McFarlane (pictured) explained, is that it is often one parent’s word against the other’s. If there is independent evidence, the courts may have to wait months for it. ‘We need to increase the ability of the court to get information from the police and from other agencies,’ McFarlane told me in an interview for Law in […]

Many judgment creditors are forced to effectively decide whether they are willing to go double or nothing. Allison Speigel is a commercial litigator and partner with Speigel Nichols Fox LLP, a boutique commercial litigation law firm. Nobody realizes just how discouraging our judicial system can be until they are faced with the prospect of having to collect on a judgment debt – particularly when the debtor in question is a fraudster. I have had many discussions with prospective clients who ask: “We sued somebody and won, but they haven’t paid – how do we collect what is owing?” Many of […]

Mediation vs. Arbitration vs. Litigation: The differences you need to know about in business As a business owner, it’s extremely important to familiarize yourself with dispute resolution and the processes you need to take depending on the severity of a case. Whether this is for your own protection, for example if you are offered poor advice or a service, or if you are facing a legal case with one of your clients.  For the purpose of this article, we will explore the following example and apply it to the mediation, arbitration and litigation process: You have paid for […]

Home > News Social Security Advisory Committee publishes report A new report published by the Social Security Advisory Committee highlights steps needed to improve the welfare of separated parents and their children. There are 2.5 million separated families, including 3.9 million children, in Great Britain. The report considers the experience of separated parents and their children in the social security and child maintenance systems. It particularly looks at the experience of parents who are not the main carers, but who want a continuing parental role. Overall, it recognises the difficult public policy choices faced by governments but asks whether separated […]