Mills & Reeve

Established over 200 years ago, we are a full-service law firm looking after a diverse range of clients, including some of the world’s most prestigious organisations, fast-growth start-ups and entrepreneurs, internationally mobile UHNW families, high-profile sports, entertainment and media personalities and landed estate owners. Our 1,100-plus people and over 600 lawyers share one vision – achieving more for clients. 

Family and children team

Our wealth of experience dealing with complex family law issues allows us to expertly navigate you through:

• Divorce and separation

• Divorce finances, including discovering and preserving hidden assets

• Wealth protection, including pre and post-nups

• Cohabitation

• Arrangements for where children live and the time they spend with each of you

• Child abduction

• Holidays or permanent moves abroad

• Relocation within England and Wales

• Issues on schooling

• Financial support for children

• Same-sex parenting

• Adoption

• Surrogacy and fertility

• Child inclusive mediation

• Child representation

• Specific Issue Orders

We’re renowned for our advice to HNW and UHNW individuals because we know getting the right outcome requires more than just family law expertise. Our team is part of a major national firm. We collaborate with our colleagues to provide you with expert advice on everything from tax, property and pensions to reputation management and immigration. We handle complex litigation firmly and effectively and are regularly involved in ground-breaking court cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, where legal principles are challenged. But that’s not what makes us different.What sets us apart is our approach: we do everything we can to help you avoid conflict in the first place. 

We’re known both nationally and internationally for our genuine commitment to alternative dispute resolution options that can keep your family case out of court. Not all cases need to go to court. There could be a viable option for couples who want a more amicable approach to agreeing the terms of their separation. 

Disagreements about finances, property, pensions and children can be emotionally fraught and highly stressful. Sometimes it’s necessary for a judge to make a decision. Often, though, there’s a more constructive alternative.

Our team of family lawyers, which includes qualified mediators, collaborative practitioners, arbitrators and litigators, can help sidestep the often-unnecessary stress of a court case and publicity. When we first meet with you, we will really listen and understand your objectives so together we can find the best way for you to separate well, so you can focus on taking care of your family and your future.

Separating well together

Our alternative dispute resolution options include:

Family mediation

Mediation keeps decisions about children and finances in your hands.

We believe passionately that mediation can succeed even in cases that are complex, where there are international issues or where agreement might initially seem impossible. 

We have four of the UK’s leading meditators: Suzanne Kingston, ‘The queen of mediation’; the ‘calm and confident’ Alison Bull, ‘excellent’ Tim Whitney and ‘experienced, personable, and pro-active’ former barrister Joanna Grandfield. 

Collaborative practice/law

Throughout collaborative discussion, you’re both supported by an independent collaborative lawyer with everyone working together to help reach an agreement. Independent research has shown that where a collaborative approach is suitable, it is very successful. The many people we’ve helped like that they have retained control over the decision-making but had the support of their own family lawyer.

Arbitration 

If you cannot reach an agreement, you can appoint an arbitrator instead of going to a judge at court. Family arbitration is effectively private judging. Decisions about any dispute are made for you, but the process is more flexible and quicker than going to court. An arbitrator’s decision is binding. We are qualified to act as arbitrators in children and financial matters, offering a genuine and valuable alternative to court.