News

Congratulations to Family Law Advice for the Neurodivergent Community (FLANC) on being named finalists in three categories at the Resolution Awards 2024. These awards honour the substantial contributions made by Resolution members to the family justice system and are grounded in their members’ commitment to helping families find a find a better way.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, hosted by Britain’s best known legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg, on Thursday, 19 September 2024, at Church House, London.

The FLANC campaign is in contention for:

• Equality Diversity and Inclusion Champion. This award recognises those driving positive change in equality, diversity and inclusion
• Innovation Champion. This award celebrates members who have taken bold, progressive approaches to their practice to benefit clients, their firm or the wider family justice community
• Community Champion. This award honours those who have used their professional expertise to make a positive difference in their local community.

Co-founded by Director Alia Lewis, FLANC is a ground breaking cross-firm initiative comprising expert family lawyers, all dedicated to dismantling the barriers obstructing the neurodivergent community's participation in family proceedings. FLANC is committed to increasing awareness and driving change through collaboration and education, spanning the legal sector and beyond.

The initiative is also led by Jenny Beck KC (Hon) from Beck Fitzgerald and includes Caroline Croft from Coram Chambers, and Solicitors Sheena Vadher and Fauzia Mumani from Duncan Lewis, as well as Jasmine Hollis and Flora Hughes from Beck Fitzgerald Solicitors. The group’s mission is to:

• Advocate for compulsory training on neurodivergence for all professionals involved in the family justice system;
• Develop best practice guidance; and
• Implement systemic and practical changes

Alia Lewis said: “I am enormously proud that FLANC has been recognised for our work in multiple categories of these prestigious awards. We have been in existence for less than six months so the fact that we are now Resolution finalists demonstrates just how crucial and ground breaking our work is, but also how much we have achieved in such a short space of time. The fact that being a parent carer to my autistic son was the catalyst for this work makes it even more special and meaningful for me personally.”

Through their dedicated mission to enhance inclusivity and access to justice for neurodivergent children and families, FLANC embodies the very spirit of the Resolution Awards. Their transformative campaign has catalysed tangible change, paving the way for a fairer family justice system. For these reasons, FLANC undeniably merits recognition, and we wish the entire team the best of luck at the awards ceremony.

About the Author

Alia leads a dedicated and friendly team of Family and Child Care solicitors within Duncan Lewis specialising in representing neurodivergent individuals and their families. She works alongside Sheena Vadher and Fauzia Mumani, who are also members of FLANC, to assist clients in cases involving neurodivergence (including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tourette Syndrome), learning difficulties, learning disabilities and special needs, in addition to assisting clients who are deaf or hearing impaired and children of deaf adults. The team’s sole focus is to advocate for the rights of neurodivergent clients and their families within Public and Private Children Law proceedings, including cases that are publicly funded. 

If you require specialist support from our Autism and ADHD Family & Child Care team, please contact Alia Lewis via email at AliaL@duncanlewis.com or via telephone on 02031141193