Taylor Walton LLP are delighted to announce the arrival of Family Law specialist and Arbitrator Olive McCarthy, who joins our St Albans office as a partner adding to our ever-expanding family team. Olive has over 18 years’ experience in Family Law with a particular interest in alternatives to Court proceedings.
Who is Arbitration for?
Arbitration is not just for the rich and famous who crave the confidentiality that it affords over the Court process where the media can apply to attend. Launched in 2012 as an alternative to Court proceedings to resolve disputes including a financial settlement on divorce, finances for children, cohabitation and related property disputes and as of 2016 specific children matters, it has numerous advantages over the Court process; it is quicker, cheaper and more flexible.
Advantages of Arbitration
Quicker
The parties can dictate the pace and invariably an Arbitrator’s decision (Arbitral Award) can be achieved within months as opposed to years.
Cheaper
The average contested final hearing for financial proceedings on divorce will see each party incurring costs circa £35,000-£50,000 (ex Vat), Arbitration by comparison and depending on the Arbitrator chosen and the issues to be determined, will see costs for the Arbitrator averaging £3,000 – £8,000 (ex Vat) which is usually shared between couple.
Flexible
The parties will have the same family law specialist Arbitrator throughout the process. The Arbitrator can decide one discreet issue such as the amount of spousal maintenance or settlement overall. This can be done by mirroring the Court process or on the papers alone, provided by the parties representatives or the parties themselves if not represented.
As well as being an Arbitrator (one of just over 200 in the UK) Olive is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer; an option that allows a couple to resolve all aspects of their matter by agreement with the help of their collaboratively trained lawyers with a commitment to not involve the Court. A process heralded in recent times in relation to marriage breakdown as the “least painful way to divorce”.
You can contact Olive on 01727 818519 or by email olive.mccarthy@taylorwalton.co.uk for further information.