Arbitration is increasingly popular as an alternative means to resolve family disputes, both in respect of financial and children matters.
The Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) launched the financial scheme in February 2012 and then in 2016 IFLA published revised rules enabling specified children disputes to be resolved by arbitration.
Arbitration can be embarked upon at the outset of a matter or run alongside and in parallel with court-based litigation. An independent arbitrator is chosen by the parties and appointed either to determine a specific issue or to resolve the proceedings entirely, and this determination is final and binding (with the award then converted into an order of the court).
There are several benefits to arbitration - it is confidential, and it can be much more flexible (in terms of forum and structure) as well as being faster than the court timetable. It is therefore growing in popularity and prominence.
Our arbitration expertise
Our team have extensive experience in arbitrating matters and William Longrigg is a trained arbitrator. We were also involved in one of the leading cases on arbitration in family law, in A v A (Arbitration Guidance) [2021] EWHC 1889 which established the procedure to be followed following an arbitral award being made.
Arbitration is not suitable in all cases and our team can advise you further regarding this, and other dispute resolution options.
