Family Law Arbitration
The family team at 3PB is one of the leading sets in progressive non-court dispute resolution within family law. Within our 80-strong team of family barristers, we have four highly-skilled IFLA arbitrators: two of whom are qualified to arbitrate in financial remedy and property disputes, and two in private children law disputes.
Our members often serve as ENE specialists and Arbitrators in Private law Children Act matters and Financial remedy matters encompassing, private FDR hearings, family property disputes (TOLATA) and Child related matters.
The 3PB family team is strongly dedicated to helping parties resolve their cases outside the courtroom when appropriate. With a backlog of 110,000 cases in the family courts and six- month delays for first hearings 3PB’s commitment to providing an alternative is unwavering.
3PB views non-court resolution as a better way when used for cases that are suitable, Clients can handpick their Judge and have their undivided attention at a venue and time of their choosing with no danger of late adjournments and lost fees.
Chambers provides dedicated suites across four of our six centres in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Bournemouth, equipped with hearing rooms and private conference/breakout rooms. While these appointments are typically held in chambers, we can accommodate remote sessions for parties located at a distance or internationally. We also offer "special measures" to ensure parties do not come into direct contact with each other, where requested. Our members are flexible and willing to attend appointments at mutually agreed locations across England and Wales, and even beyond, as needed.
Family Law Arbitration - An Operational Overview
Initiation
The couple initiates the arbitration process by completing and personally signing the ARB1FS (Finances) or ARB1CS (children) form. ARB1 extends an invitation to a Family Arbitration Panel member to resolve their dispute in alignment with the IFLA Rules and The Arbitration Act 1996. Please find the forms here and here.
Arbitrator Selection
The couple can mutually agree to nominate an Arbitrator or alternatively the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators/IFLA will choose a suitable arbitrator on their behalf. Upon signing ARB1, the couple formally commits to inviting an Arbitrator to make a decision (Award) for dispute resolution.
Scope Definition
In ARB1, the couple outlines the specific scope of their dispute intended for arbitration.
Arbitrator Engagement
The nominated or chosen Arbitrator contacts both parties to establish their terms for acting. Once terms are agreed, the Arbitrator formally accepts the appointment, initiating the arbitration process.
Procedural Planning
Through discussions with both parties, the Arbitrator establishes procedural steps, either following bespoke timetables or using the IFLA standard procedure. If needed, experts can be instructed jointly by the parties or by the Arbitrator, with the parties agreeing to cover the expert costs.
Hearing Process
Agreement or Arbitrator decision may lead to a hearing, providing both sides an opportunity to present their case. Agreed matters are incorporated into the Award, and the Arbitrator ensures a fair and impartial process.
The hearing process can be dealt with in two different ways:
- Paper-Based Arbitration – this involves the production of a written bundle which is reviewed by the arbitrator and a decision returned in writing.
- In-Person Arbitration – a prepared bundle is reviewed by the arbitrator but is followed up by an oral hearing. The decision is again returned in writing.
Award Presentation
The Arbitrator issues a written Award promptly, covering case details, reasoning, jurisdiction (Seat), and the Award itself. The Award is structured for immediate conversion into a consent order for court submission where and when required.
Binding Nature
The Award is legally binding on the parties, and appeals are limited to specific grounds such as jurisdictional issues or serious procedural irregularities.
Distribution and Implementation
The Arbitrator sends the Award to the parties upon payment of fees. The parties, along with their lawyers, implement the Award, seeking a court order if necessary, especially following financial scheme arbitrations.
If you would like to discuss arbitration and what the 3PB family team can offer please contact Robert Leonard or Ian Charlton who will be happy to help you with the process.
Our Family Barristers...
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3PB are delighted to announce that family law barristers Stephen Wildblood KC and Nathalie Bull have both qualified as Children Law Arbitrators, able to hear children cases. Both become members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and are now members of the specialist panel of family law arbitrators, managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (“IFLA”). Stephen Wildblood KC (1980 call) practised as a specialist family barrister for 27...
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3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist family law barrister and former Designated Family Judge for Bristol and the surrounding counties, His Honour Stephen Wildblood KC (pictured here) is to chair a free virtual Financial Remedy Conference hosted by Family Law Week, Oxfordshire Resolution and RWK Goodman. “Financial Remedy Conference: An art, not a science: valuing companies, Daniels v Walker and the role of the expert in Financial Remedy cases” will take place on Monday 18 March from...
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HH Stephen Wildblood KC and Jennifer Kotilaine, specialist family law barristers at 3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), will present a free online conference for Family Law Week entitled “Deprivation of Liberty Orders (Children) – Practice and procedure”, alongside Felicity Groves of Bath and North-East Somerset Council. The conference will take place via Zoom on Thursday 14 March 2024 from 4pm-5:15pm and is tailored for lawyers, social workers and other users of the Family Court. Spaces...
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3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist Court of Protection barrister Matthew Wyard (pictured here) analyses the recent Court of Protection property and affairs decisions of PSG Trust Corporation Ltd v CK [2024] EWCOP 14 and Re: P (Statutory Will) [2024] EWCOP 12. In PSG Trust Corporation Ltd v CK [2024] EWCOP 14, the Court considered how a property and affairs deputy should approach the issue of whether to inform P of the value of a...
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3 Paper Buildings (3PB) has welcomed family barrister Rachel Temple (2004 call) to its 80-strong team of family law counsel. Rachel specialises in public and private law children work and has practised exclusively in disputes over children for the last 14 years and built up an exceptional track record in complex care work. Formerly at Thomas More Chambers in London, Rachel now lives in the West Country and practises principally from 3PB's Bristol office. Rachel...
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3PB are delighted to announce that family and education law barrister Aimee Fox has qualified as a Financial Remedy Law Arbitrator, able to hear divorce and family finance cases. She becomes a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and a member of the specialist panel of family law arbitrators, managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (“IFLA”). Aimee has an established practice specialising in financial remedies and private...
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3PB’s specialist family law barrister and financial remedy law arbitrator Aimee Fox (pictured here) has been featured in the “60-seconds with” segment of TL4 HNW Divorce Magazine Issue 16 – Valentine Edition. In the interview, Aimee answers quick-fire questions on a range of topics including choosing a legal career path, career role models and advice, trends in practice and personal goals. To read Aimee’s full interview, as published in TL4 HNW Divorce Magazine, please click here...
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3PB's family law barrister Stephen Wildblood KC is one of six well-known divorce and financial remedies lawyers at a free webinar about the new FPR provisions on NCDR, hosted by Financial Remedies Journal (FRJ). This latest free FRJ webinar, "The new FPR provisions on NCDR. Fresh carrot, Bigger stick (but no mandation)" is available to watch tomorrow, Friday 16 February 2024, from 1pm to 2pm. The Designated Family Judge for Bristol and the surrounding counties...
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3PB welcomes family barrister Emma Mabey from 2 Dr Johnson Building in the Temple, London where she has built a busy and varied public and private law family practice, focussing on disputes over children. She is regularly instructed to represent parents and local authorities in fact find hearings, DOLs and final hearings and represents all parties in increasingly complex cases. A former social worker, Emma spent 16 years in children and families social work, focusing...
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3PB Barristers’ (3 Paper Buildings) specialist family law barrister Andrew Duncan (pictured here) has written for The Barrister on the importance of a proper identification of risk in cases involving child welfare evaluation. In his article entitled “A timely reminder: Risk Identification and Mitigation”, Andrew uses reported case examples, such as H-W (Children); H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022] UKSC 17, as well as his own experience within the family courts, to explore the importance of...
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3PB's family barrister Steven Howard has co-authored The Standard Family Orders Handbook: Volume 2, which is the approved source of guidance to the official Standard Family Court Orders, covering Children and Other Orders. The handbook has expert commentary from Steven, His Honour Judge Kambiz Moradifar, Nastassia Hylton, Edward Bennett and Alexander Laing. What's new in this 3rd Edition, published by Class Legal, are details of the substantially revised orders in Volume 2 of the May...
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SE-Solicitors, with offices located in the heart of England in Banbury, Bicester and Brackley have been announced as a finalist for The Family Innovator Award in recognition of their new service called Divorce Together™. The British Family Law Awards celebrates excellence in the profession, bringing the family law community together for its biggest night of the year. The Family Law Awards recognises the important, valuable work of family lawyers across the country, and commemorates their...
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3PB Family Law Mediation Debate with VWV, Stone King and Burges Salmon
Date: Thursday 16th May 2024 Time: 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Venue: on Zoom Motion for debate: 'Separating couples should both be required to attempt mediation to resolve family issues, except where genuine safeguarding issues preclude it.' Thursday 16 May - 4:30pm on Zoom You are invited by 3PB's Family Law Team to attend a debate on family mediation with VWV, Stone King and Burges Salmon. Event format The event will start with a vote on the motion – your chance to say what you think. Each of our two speakers will then present their…
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Women in Family Law networking event - hosted by Anthony Collins in Birmingham
Date: Wednesday 26th Jun 2024 Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Venue: Anthony Collins 134 Edmund Street Birmingham B3 2ES Women in Family Law networking event on Wednesday 26 June between 5.30pm and 7pm, hosted by Anthony Collins in Birmingham. The event is open to members and non-members of WiFL alike and is free to attend.
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