Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Family Law Solicitors in London
Established in 1972, we are a distinguished family law firm with a global reputation for excellence. Our team comprises 12 partners leading specialist financial and children departments, supported by dedicated lawyers with decades of collective experience. Recognised as a top-tier firm by Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, we combine innovative strategies with pragmatic solutions to navigate complex family law matters.Our expertise spans international child abduction, high-net-worth financial settlements, and ground-breaking reported cases, reflecting our commitment to shaping family law. We prioritise a constructive, cost-effective approach, ensuring accessibility through lawyers at all seniority levels while maintaining rigorous adherence to ethical standards and client confidentiality.
Services
Separation and Divorce
Financial Claims
Child Arrangements
International Family Law
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Cohabitation Agreements
Surrogacy Cases
Forced Marriage Protection
Details
- Year established: 1972
Highlights and features
- We have over 50 years of dedicated family law experience since 1972
- Our 12 partners lead specialist financial and children departments
- Award-winning international child abduction and forced marriage expertise
- Consistently ranked top-tier by Chambers and The Legal 500
- Emergency services available for child abduction and urgent cases
Associations and certifications
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
What people say
First rate family law firm
Top-flight experts
Award-winning service
Constructive approach
Internationally recognised
Services
Separation and Divorce
We specialise in all aspects of relationship dissolution including pre-nuptial agreements, judicial separation, and contested divorces. Our team handles complex financial settlements and child custody matters with sensitivity and expertise. Clients benefit from our proven track record in high-net-worth cases and international disputes.
International Family Law
Our globally recognised expertise covers cross-border child abduction, forced marriage protection, and jurisdictional disputes. We maintain partnerships with legal professionals worldwide and offer multilingual support in over 20 languages. The firm regularly advises embassies and handles complex international surrogacy arrangements.
Financial Claims
We manage high-value financial settlements including property division, spousal maintenance, and cryptocurrency asset tracing. Our specialists handle complex pension arrangements and enforce financial orders across jurisdictions. The department is particularly noted for investigating hidden assets in divorce proceedings.
Child Arrangements
Our children law specialists handle custody disputes, international relocation cases, and adoption matters. We represent clients in wardship proceedings and care cases while prioritising child welfare. The team has particular expertise in surrogacy arrangements and post-divorce child support.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
We offer mediation, collaborative law, and MIAM-compliant dispute resolution to minimise conflict. Our accredited mediators help clients reach amicable solutions for financial and child-related matters. This approach often reduces costs and emotional stress compared to court proceedings.
People
Russell Bywater
Partner and Head of Matrimonial Department
With over 30 years' experience, Russell leads our matrimonial department and specialises in complex financial settlements and international divorce cases.
Carolina Marn Pedreo
Partner and Head of Children Department
Recognised as Band 1 by Chambers, Carolina specialises in international child abduction cases and complex custody disputes involving multiple jurisdictions.
Simon Bruce
Partner
A leading authority in family law, Simon handles high-profile cases involving financial settlements and child arrangement disputes with international elements.
Forum Shah
Partner
Ranked in The Legal 500, Forum is renowned for expertise in international surrogacy arrangements and complex child custody cases.
Charlotte Conner
Partner
A Chambers-recognised specialist in financial remedy proceedings and pre-nuptial agreements with particular experience in cryptocurrency asset cases.
Questions
What areas of law does Dawson Cornwell specialise in?
We specialise exclusively in family law, covering divorce, financial settlements, child arrangements, international family disputes, and alternative dispute resolution.
Do you handle international family law cases?
Yes, we're internationally recognised for cross-border cases including child abduction, forced marriage protection, and jurisdictional disputes across multiple countries.
What emergency services do you offer?
We provide 24/7 emergency support for child abduction cases, forced marriage situations, and other urgent child protection matters via our dedicated hotline.
How are your legal fees structured?
We offer transparent pricing with lawyers at different seniority levels. Costs vary by case complexity, and we provide detailed estimates during initial consultations.
Can you assist with prenuptial agreements?
Yes, we draft and review prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect assets and clarify financial arrangements in case of future separation.
