Finance & Forum

Special Counsel

Prof David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb is co-founder of iFLG. He is a highly sought-after family lawyer. He specialises in complex international and national family law cases, especially with issues of finance and forum. He is an English and Australian solicitor and mediator, a family law arbitrator and sits as a DDJ at the PRFD. David won the Jordans Legal Commentator of the Year Award in 2011 and was nominated International Family Lawyer of the Year 2013. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2014, he was appointed OBE for his services to International Family Law. In March 2022 was awarded an Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa) for his ‘outstanding work and ongoing contribution to Family Law’.

English solicitor (1978 and specialist accredited 1996), mediator (1997), arbitrator (2002), deputy district judge at the Central Family Court, London (1995), Australian (NSW) solicitor, barrister and mediator (2003) and IFLA arbitrator (2012). Joint founder (1995), one of the world’s first metropolitan practice to combine family lawyers, mediators and counsellors with an emphasis on a conciliatory and holistic approach. Previously partner at two leading City firms.

Author of the definitive international family law text ‘The International Family Law Practice’ (6th edition Lexis Nexis), ‘Divorce Reform: a Guide for Lawyers and Mediators’, ‘The Business of Family Law’, and co-author of ‘Cupids Arrow: A Guide for International Families’.

David writes and speaks extensively on topical family law and he is a regular contributor and keynote speaker at conferences abroad. David also runs a Masters Module annually, over many weeks at one of the worlds top 50 universities, The University of Queensland, Australia.

The Legal 500 UK 2024

'David Hodson is a leading light on family law matters. Passionate in his pursuit of fairness and at the forefront of driving through change for the better'.

Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Law Society; Law Council of Australia (Family Law Section); Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; FJC International Committee; past chair Solicitors Family Law Association’s financial provision reform committee, training committee and good practice committee; past vice-chair of the UK College of Family Mediators; member, Lawyers’ Christian Fellowship; chair, Centre for Social Justice, Family Law Review; advisory committee, Law Commission, marital agreements.