Everything you need to know about family mediation at Duncan Lewis Solicitors (24 January 2020)

When relationships break down, families face a number of challenges, many of which can be sensitive matters that have the potential to cause resentment, anger, and hurt. Issues such as child arrangements and financial aspects in particular can be extremely difficult to discuss fairly. Professional family mediators act as neutral third parties to help separating or ex-partners manage their issues collaboratively and productively.

During family mediation, participants meet with an impartial or specially trained family mediator in an attempt to explain what issues need to be settled, explore all available options, and consider the best methods to reach an agreement that suits both parties.
Family Mediation Week, organised by The Family Mediators Association (FMA), takes place from 20-24 January 2020, and raises awareness of mediation and how it benefits separating families. During this time, the campaign aims to:

• Explain family mediation, answering frequently asked questions and discrediting common misconceptions


• Help couples decide if mediation is the appropriate option for them


• Discuss the benefits of family mediation


• Connect separating couples with mediation professionals

At Duncan Lewis Solicitors, our family mediation services are available all year round. Our family and child care lawyers are experts in dealing with family disputes and wherever possible, encourage mediation and out of court settlement rather than litigation, with a number of lawyers being members of Resolution, a family law association for solicitors who are committed to resolving family matters fairly and amicably.
Child care solicitor Sophie Burchett and local family mediator fully supports family mediation, saying;

“Mediation is such a valuable tool and can be a much cheaper and less stressful way of resolving disputes and difficulties. It can help empower people to have difficult conversations and to reach an agreement that suits everyone without the stress and costs of going to court.”

We offer lawyer supported family mediation in a wide range of disputes and issues – particularly those arising during divorce - in addition to the services Sophie offers as a qualified mediator. These include matters such as; child arrangement orders; custody of children; finance and property matters involved in a divorce; formal and informal separation; international divorce; parental responsibility; and both prohibited steps and specific issue orders.


Sophie Burchett is a solicitor specialising in family and child care law at Duncan Lewis. She specialises in both public and private law children matters, representing children, parents, and other family members in a wide range of matters. She is a family law mediator committed to resolving disputes in an amicable and considerate way, and has considerable experience handling applications for protective non-molestation orders, child arrangement orders, prohibited steps, specific issue orders and special guardianship orders.

Contact Sophie on 020 7014 7382 or at sophiebu@duncanlewis.com



Duncan Lewis Family and Childcare Solicitors

Our family and childcare teams are specialists in all aspects of family and private/public children law matters from offices across London and throughout the UK. Recognised by The Legal 500 2020, the team is significantly experienced in complex financial matrimonial matters (ancillary relief) relating to the breakdown of a marriage/relationship, with a broad practice representing parents, family members and children through their guardian in all children public law proceedings.

For expert advice, contact one of our team of specialist solicitors on 033 3772 0409.