England - London • Private client
Jointly headed by Russell Bywater and Carolina Marín Pedreño, the team at Dawson Cornwell LLP is ‘undoubtedly an exceptional, all-service family law firm. They have an unwavering reputation for providing high-quality advice on the most complex divorce and financial matters, including those cases with an international element’. The firm has an abundance of talent at all levels, including the ’financial remedy heavyweight’ Simon Bruce. Amy Rowe is regarded as a specialist in complex cross-border children matters, while Sarah Jane Lenihan concentrates on financial remedies and private law children cases. Jessica Reid is a key figure who regularly handles complex cases involving financial claims and jurisdictional disputes. Charlotte Conner and Charlotte Image-Flower are other key members of this ‘outstanding’ team. In team news, Lisette Dupré joined Stewarts Law LLP and Amy Barrow joined Payne Hicks Beach LLP in October 2022 and April 2023 respectively. At the start of 2023, Hilka Hollmann joined the team from Freemans Solicitors, while the ’exceptional’ Anna Shadbolt was promoted to the partnership.
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Rising stars
Partner specialising in private and public children law and care proceedings. As an expert public children law practitioner she is also an active member of both the Central Family Court and the East London Family Court Duty Solicitors' Scheme.
Partner specialising in private and public children law, with particular expertise in international child abduction and relocation. She receives instructions directly from the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). She acts for both applicants and respondents in cases concerning the 1980 Hague Convention/wardship and non Hague Convention countries. Forum also acts for parents and other family members in care proceedings (her expertise in international children law means she is often chosen by parents residing abroad and who are seeking their child to be placed with them), in living and contact arrangements, applications to relocate abroad and cases involving allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse and parental alienation.
Leading individuals
Partner specialising in financial matters, particulary complex HNW cases. He also has wide expertise in children matters as a result of his caseload in pro bono family law clinics in London. Simon is known for his naturally empathetic and caring style. He is also an experienced mediator and collaborative lawyer.
Partner specialising in divorce, high-value ancillary relief, cohabitants’ disputes and non-marital finance.
Partner specialising in financial remedies and private law children matters. Widely regarded for her expertise in complex cases, Sarah Jane has extensive experience in challenging and emotionally charged matters involving allegations of domestic abuse, parental alienation and safeguarding issues. She is also known for advising individuals with substantial income and assets with complex international elements, and a variety of financial, business and trust structures.
Partner specialising in international children work: child abduction, jurisdiction disputes, registration and enforcement of foreign contact orders, leave to remove, contact, adoption, cross borders placement and public law cases. She also has experience in the law relating to surrogacy (both domestic and international), family formation and assisted reproduction rights.
Next Generation Partners
Partner specialising in divorce and all issues relating to relationship breakdown, including complex financial remedy proceedings, pre and post nuptial agreements and issues relating to cohabitants including contentious trusts and probate.
Partner known for her expertise in international and domestic adoptions, surrogacy and alternative families, cases involving the relocation and international movement of children, abductions, jurisdictional disputes, and complex care proceedings, often involving cross-border issues, and the most serious allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries, factitious illness and radicalisation, with concurrent criminal investigations/proceedings.
Partner and Mediator; specialises in divorce, financial and private children cases. She is especially known for her experience in complex high value financial cases, often involving non-disclosure trusts, pensions, and the preparation of pre-nuptial agreements often for international clients.
Partner advising on all aspects of family law, particularly financial issues arising upon divorce or separation of cohabiting couples. She advises on a range of complex legal issues, including financial provision for children of unmarried parents, claims in respect of property owned by cohabitees, pre and post nuptial agreements, the treatment of non-disclosure by one party and cases involving a significant asset base. She is also experienced in international cases including advising on complex issues of enforcement in other jurisdictions, securing financial provision for parties who have obtained an overseas divorce, the treatment of offshore trusts or other international assets, and multifaceted jurisdictional issues concerning competing legal proceedings in other countries.
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Russell Bywater, Carolina Marin Pedreño