Collaborative Law is designed to achieve a settlement that is fair to both parties and leads to reduced animosity and future conflict.

Only qualified professionals can conduct cases collaboratively and our team of experts has extensive experience in this specialised area of law.

Many couples going through a divorce or separation would usually prefer to avoid the court process if possible.

If this is the case, then the collaborative law process may be right for you. Each person appoints their own collaboratively trained lawyer and then you all meet together to work out a solution that is right for your family. Both parties have their lawyer by their side throughout the process and so you will have their support and legal advice throughout. An agreement reached in a collaborative proceed will be ‘rubberstamped’ by a court.

As everyone involved in the process is totally committed to finding the best solution, you and your lawyers sign an agreement that commits you to try to resolve the issues without applying to the court in the traditional way and in fact, prevents them from representing you in court if the collaborative process breaks down.

As a Resolution Collaboratively trained lawyer, we can help you decide which process is right for you and your family, but most of all, we will do everything we can to assist you in finding and agreeing on a fair outcome as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

Gillian Graveson, head of Birchall Blackburn Law’s Family Team, has over 30 years of experience in family law, having strengthened her expertise to practice collaboratively since 2008. She will happily see clients seeking a collaborative solution at any of our offices across the region.

Gill is a qualified collaborative lawyer with Family Law Panel accreditation and is a member of Resolution.

We have individuals on our team of our team who have earned The Law Society’s Family Law accreditation. This means they have shown a high level of competence and extensive knowledge in family law matters. Some of our solicitors also hold The Law Society’s Children Law accreditation, so they have the ability to work directly with children and understand their needs and wishes.