Resolution Together – One couple one lawyer: one year on

A year ago, Sydney Mitchell’s Family Law team unveiled its new divorce service Resolution Together – One couple, one lawyer for couples seeking a fast-cost-effective divorce whilst looking to work together and avoid conflict.

To mark the one-year milestone, Emma Gray, associate in our Family team shares her thoughts on the impact and success of the one couple, one lawyer approach.

Positive impact

“I am very positive about how this approach has changed the way that we can help clients navigate separation and divorce. The training I completed, and introduction of the new service has been pivotal for me as a family lawyer and instrumental in changing both my mindset and the way that I approach cases.

This new way of working allows couples to work with a single lawyer to facilitate financial agreements and child arrangements. The goal is to give couples the choice of a more co-operative approach to separation and divorce, with both parties going into the process with a shared goal of avoiding conflict.  This allows them to conduct their divorce separation in a fair and calm way, which is especially positive if they have any children.

For many couples, the traditional model of each having their own lawyer feels adversarial and counterintuitive. This often creates unnecessary conflict – sometimes even where separating coupes are amicable and aligned in their goals.

Clients often ask whether one lawyer can help both of them. Resolution Together allows me to offer exactly that where it is appropriate to do so, enabling couples to make mutual, well considered decisions about their separation together, away from heated correspondence and the court arena.

Prioritising fairness

The positive impact on our clients cannot be overstated. Many have expressed relief at finding a route that prioritises open discussion and fairness. I have been able to assist clients to avoid unnecessary court applications and costs.

For couples with children, the benefits are even starker: separation and divorce are hard enough without the added strain of conflict damaging co-parenting relationships long term. Resolution Together helps parents cooperate so that arrangements for their children can be discussed and agreed. The service combines mediation techniques with the ability to provide clear, actionable legal advice and guidance, driving constructive discussions that achieve results.

I am very proud of the impact Resolution Together has had on my clients. The feedback that I have received from my clients has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m excited to see how it will further transform the landscape of family law, in particular given the huge shift that we are rightly seeing towards non court dispute resolution.”

Get in touch

If you’re considering separation and want to explore whether Resolution Together could work for you, please contact Emma Gray on 0121 746 3300.