In today’s episode Melanie Bataillard-Samuel is joined by a Family Law & Lattes alumni, Graeme Fraser, Partner and Head of Family at BBS Law in London.

Graeme has considerable experience in advising on financial settlements involving complex assets and substantial wealth, and on cohabitation, for which he holds the Resolution specialist accreditation.

Graeme is a regular media commentator including the BBC and national media. He is a member of the Family Procedure Rule Committee (FPRC) and sits on Resolution’s Family Law Reform Group. In 2018, he won the Family Law Commentator of the year award, voted for by the family law community in recognition of his published work highlighting the plight of unmarried couples. He chairs Resolution’s Cohabitation Committee and belongs to the Law Society Family Accreditation Scheme. In September 2023 he won Resolution’s inaugural Member’s Choice Award recognising his trailblazing work in cohabitation practice and policy.

In this episode they’ll be taking advantage of Graeme’s knowledge and work with the FPRC and Resolution’s Family Law Reform Committee to talk about NCDR, what it is, and why we need to talk about.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠MBS Family Law⁠

⁠Graeme Fraser - BBS Law

Resolution Together - https://resolution.org.uk/resolution-together/

In this episode Melanie is joined by a Family Law & Lattes alumni, Graeme Fraser, Partner and Head of Family at BBS Law in London.

During the pandemic many family law specialists found themselves with time to look at their lives, careers, and ultimately consider the changing landscape of family law. Over the last few years Graeme has written several thought provoking articles looking at the changes. Today I’ll be picking his brains about what he thinks are the topics to consider.

Graeme has considerable experience in advising on financial settlements involving complex assets and substantial wealth, and on cohabitation, for which he holds the Resolution specialist accreditation.

Graeme is well-known in the legal community and beyond not simply as an experienced specialist family lawyer, but also as a commentator, writer and trainer. He is a regular media commentator including the BBC and national media. Graeme is a consultant editor and author for LexisPSL Family on cohabitation. Additionally, he is the editor of Resolution’s Cohabitation Claims (second edition) (2019) and one of the authors of Resolution’s The Modern Family (2012). In 2018, he won the Family Law Commentator of the year award, voted for by the family law community in recognition of his published work highlighting the plight of unmarried couples.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel⁠ - ⁠MBS Family Law

Graeme Fraser - BBS Law

Resolution Together - https://resolution.org.uk/resolution-together/

Graeme’s articles:-

Changing times for family law practice - https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/changing-times-for-family-law-practice

Today Melanie Bataillard-Samuel is joined by Angharad Lynn, a partner in the private client team in the London offices of VWV.

Angharad is experienced at drafting Wills, administering Estates and also advises on trusts, inheritance tax planning and Lasting Powers of Attorney. She specialises in international work and cross-border estates (in particular France!) and speaks French, Italian and Welsh.

Before training as a solicitor Angharad was a national newspaper journalist specialising in personal finance, and her knowledge in this area provides a useful background to her current role. She enjoys writing on legal matters and has contributed to publications including the Mail on Sunday and the Spectator. She has also appeared on BBC Radio.

In this episode Angharad and I will be looking at the differences between English and French private client law, what pitfalls might appear and, most relevant for us family lawyers, what we need to be aware of.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Angharad Lynn - VWV

Today Melanie is joined by Ian McArdle, a family law barrister at Atlantic Chambers in Liverpool and Magdalen Chambers in Exeter.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Ian was a solicitor practising in all aspects of criminal law and children law. Admitted to the Roll in 2010 and being a member of the Law Society Children Panel since 2013, Ian practised in Liverpool before moving to North Devon in 2014 where he worked in a niche, award-winning practice specialising in all aspects of children law, with a particular focus on complex cases in which he represented local authorities, parents, children and other family members. A keen advocate, Ian acquired his Higher Rights of Audience in 2015.

Alongside his practice at the Bar, Ian is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in which he is researching the issue of parental alienation in the family justice system. Ian has written on the topic, with articles for Family Law Week and the Magistrates Association as well as delivered training for national training organisations.

Which is handy since today we are talking about parental alienation and in particular the widely anticipated judgement handed down last February by the President in the case of Re C on the issue of the instruction of experts in proceedings where there is an allegation of parental alienation. The particular focus of this judgment is not on the issue of parental alienation itself but rather for the Court to consider the instruction of unregulated psychologists as experts in the Family Court in general.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Ian McArdle - Atlantic Chambers Twitter Linkedin

In today's episode Melanie Bataillard-Samuel of MBS Family Law is joined by Steven Bradley, cybersecurity expert with Our Family Wizard. Steven had an extensive law enforcement career focusing on investigating crimes against persons, specialising in sex crimes, child abuse, domestic violence, and crimes against the elderly in the United States. He was recruited by the FBI to start a task force that would investigate technology and cyber-related crimes. After returning from the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, he began combating many types of technology crimes including child pornography, cyberstalking, financial exploitation, and apprehending child predators.

Now as part of the OurFamilyWizard professional team, Steven further promotes the empowerment and healthy communication between separated and divorced parents via technology. Steven is nationally recognised as an expert on law enforcement’s response to intimate partner violence, abuse of the elderly, and stalking/cyberstalking.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Our Family Wizard

In today's episode Melanie Bataillard-Samuel of MBS Family Law is joined by Zoe Fleetwood of Mills & Reeves.  Zoe is a highly experienced children lawyer and heads Mills & Reeves’ children law team.  Well-known for handling complex cases, Zoe’s experience includes child abduction, wardship, care proceedings, surrogacy, adoption and forced marriage, as well as disputes involving allegations of abuse. Zoë’s cases often have an international dimension.

In this episode Melanie and Zoe discuss a topic that is being raised more and more in family law – Parental Alienation.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Zoe Fleetwood - Mills & Reeves

In today's episode Melanie Bataillard-Samuel of MBS Family Law is joined by Gillian Bishop. Gillian is family law solicitor, she's a trained collaborative lawyer, children's law arbitrator, mediator and family law supervisor. She's also a lawyer at Family Law in Partnership of which she is a founding member. Gillian for many year chaired resolution's skills and support committee.

In this episode Melanie and Gillian will be discussing family law supervision.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Gillian Bishop - Family Law in Partnership

Show Notes:

Flip Faculty  - https://www.flipfaculty.org/

ReFLEx - https://www.reflextraining.co.uk/

In this Christmas Special we've decided to flip the script. James Evans of Our Family Wizard will be hosting a very special guest, Melanie Bataillard-Samuel.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

James Evans - Our Family Wizard

In today's episode Melanie Bataillard-Samuel of MBS Family Law is joined by Matthew Richardson of Coram Chambers. Matt is a barrister and a mediator. As a barrister he specialises in financial remedy and family property cases including divorce, the separation of unmarried people, the interests of wider family members (TOLATA), and financial support for children (Schedule 1).

As a mediator, specialises in family disputes across all areas of family law, including but not limited to family finances, the arrangements for co-parenting children, and the involvement of wider family members relating both to finances and children.

In this episode Matt will be providing us with a reminder of the things we should be considering when dealing with pensions in a financial remedy context.

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Matthew Richardson - Corum Chambers

In today's episode Melanie Is joined by Graeme Fraser, Partner and Head of Family at BBS Law. Graeme has considerable experience in advising on financial settlements involving complex assets and substantial wealth, and on cohabitation, for which he holds the Resolution specialist accreditation.

He maintains a keen interest in the legal rights of unmarried parents, and is chair of Resolution’s Cohabitation Committee, which has an agenda to reform cohabitation.  He is a consultant editor and author for LexisPSL Family on cohabitation. Additionally, he is the editor of Resolution’s Cohabitation Claims (second edition) (2019) and one of the authors of  Resolution’s The Modern Family (2012)Graeme. 

I have asked Graeme to come onto the podcast to discuss cohabitation law in England and Wales, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee report, the Government’s reaction to the report and what happens next…

Melanie Bataillard-Samuel - MBS Family Law

Graeme Fraser - BBS Law