Annual Report2012

Contents

02

From the Chair andChief Execu�ve

03 05 06 07What ourmembers told us

Commi�ee updates

08 14 16 18

Regional highlights

Influencinggovernment

19 20 21 23

Ge�ng our message across

Resolu�on team

25 26 27 28

Our Na�onalCommi�ee

Why I becamea member

Celebra�ng 30 years

A year in pictures

Our thanks

Resolu�on in the media

Training andprofessionaldevelopment

Financialoverview

Code of Prac�ce

From the Chair andChief Execu�ve

03

Would we be here without John? It is hard to envisage anyone else having theimagina�on and determina�on to gather together such a disparate group ofindividuals then undertaking family law and melding them into the cohesive group ofspecialist professionals commi�ed to construc�ve family outcomes that Resolu�onnow represents. John did not just conceive an idea, he worked �relessly to make theorganisa�on as strong as it needed to be and then went on to co-found the FamilyMediator’s Associa�on. Another of his colleagues has commented on how graciouslyhe then allowed the organisa�on to change shape – and even name!

John’s influence on this organisa�on will con�nue. Listening to John’s short speechas he collected the outstanding achievement award at the Family Law Awards 2012,and from considering ar�cles he wrote at recent landmark anniversaries of theorganisa�on, you cannot escape his challenge for us to avoid being complacent.

In the past year

■ We put together the first ever na�onal Family Dispute Resolu�on Week inSeptember. With the support of our members, we reached 10 million peopleacross all our regions and raised the profile of alterna�ves to court and ourmembers, through media coverage and promo�onal ac�vi�es. We will build onthe campaign’s success in 2013.

■ We launched Separa�ng Together, a guide specifically designed to direct thepublic towards Resolu�on members. This has been extremely well received byprac��oners, the judiciary, and voluntary sector organisa�ons such as Relate.Copies were also sent to every MP, offering Resolu�on members theopportunity to forge links with their local representa�ves and offer themsupport and guidance ahead of legal aid changes.

■ Our members' pioneering work in arbitra�on saw the launch of the Ins�tute ofFamily Law Arbitrators (IFLA) to promote and develop family arbitra�on. As oneof IFLA’s founding organisa�ons we will con�nue to develop this area - anotherflagship dispute resolu�on ini�a�ve we can all be proud of.

2013 marks 30 years sinceResolu�on’s incep�on and thisis cause to celebrate. Sadly ourfounder John Cornwell diedearlier this year and as onemember commented “it will be a sad conference withoutthe man in the purple velour dinner jacket.”

04

■ We issued a complete new edi�on of our Good Prac�ce Guides free of charge which have been extremely well received by bothmembers and the judiciary.

■ We held our hugely successful Changing Prac�ces for Changing Times and ‘Team DR’ conferences. Resolu�on's commi�ees havedesigned and delivered workshops and seminars on legal aid tendering, advocacy skills, accredita�on in domes�c violence, and ahost of black le�er and essen�al skills topics – as well as a con�nued focus on dispute resolu�on training. First class training remainscentral to Resolu�on's ac�vi�es.

■ Resolu�on successfully helped to widen the defini�on of domes�c violence and the gateway criteria in the Legal Aid, Sentencingand Punishment of Offenders Act. This remains a poor piece of legisla�on, but the changes we secured mean more vulnerable peoplewill con�nue to have access to family legal aid than would have without our influence. We will con�nue to let the government knowthis is nowhere near enough.

■ Resolu�on members and our staff team con�nue to raise Resolu�on’s profile with government, poli�cians, the media and thepublic so we are be�er able to posi�vely influence the future of family law for all members. In the last year, for example, we havemet with the new Family Jus�ce Minister, Lord McNally and numerous government departments on your behalf. We also met withleading na�onal journalists, and representa�ves from organisa�ons such as CAFCASS and Relate. This is all part of our work to buildand strengthen rela�onships, so Resolu�on is at the forefront of people’s minds in all ma�ers rela�ng to family law.

■ We revised the staff team structure so that we can perform our work to meet our members’ requirements more flexibly in thechanging world, and as a result have slightly more capacity with a reduced cost.

We are set for another exci�ng year: our Na�onal Conference in April incorpora�ngour 30th anniversary gala dinner; the con�nued development of the Resolu�onwebsite; and taking forward the feedback you gave in our recent membership survey, are just a few of the ac�vi�es that will be taking place to support membersin their day to day work.

There are undoubtedly some significant challenges that face the profession andResolu�on. The organisa�on now has 6,500 members, who deserve to be proud of what we do, not just as a collec�ve, but as individuals who are promo�ng on a daily basis the core objec�ves that John set for us at Resolu�on’s incep�on – a non-confronta�onal approach to divorce and separa�on.

Liz EdwardsChair

Colin JonesChief Execu�ve

From the Chair and Chief Execu�ve

And here’s what some ofour members had to say:

“Keep up the good work.”

“I appreciate the work done to try andraise public awareness but it needs tobe widened and public percep�on ofour value to society needs to change.”

“It has been very rewarding andhelpful for me personally as a result ofmy involvement in regional groups andthe commi�ee I'm a member of.”

“Resolu�on has considerable talentand exper�se - have more confidenceto promote it and its members!”

“I par�cularly enjoy the camaraderieof the na�onal conference, and otherconferences, and being part of a veryprofessional and suppor�ve and veryrelevant organisa�on.”

“Our reputa�on is high especiallyamongst judiciary and governmentofficials. We need to con�nue topunch above our weight.”

At the end of 2012 we asked all our members to tell us what they think of Resolu�on. Here are some ofour key findings.

What our members told us

05

Over 1,200 members completed the survey – nearly 20% of our membership.

96% said they were proud to be members.

95% of our members think the Good Prac�ce Guides are very or fairly important.

82% of our members think the membership fee represents value for money.

Over 90% of respondents regularly use nego�a�on to achieve out-of-court agreements,and nearly 60% regularly use media�on. Fewer than 60% find they regularly need to goto court.

Over 95% of our members said they would like to be contacted via email, with 79%sa�sfied or very sa�sfied with our current electronic communica�ons. Over the coming year we will tailor our member communica�ons in order to deliver �mely andappropriate messages to our members.

More than 65% read most of The Review (a third of these read it cover to cover).Overwhelmingly, the most popular parts of The Review are those covering black le�er law.

Two thirds of our members have a�ended Resolu�on training. Nearly 70% have a�endedregional Resolu�on training, half of those who haven't a�ended any, just haven't beenable to find anything that's interested them. As we introduce new training courses, wehope that more of you will benefit as you enhance your professional development.

84% of our members think that our work improving the profile of family lawyers is veryimportant, and 72% of our members are sa�sfied or very sa�sfied with our work in thisarea. We have a dedicated team working hard to engage with the media and raise theprofile of family law via ini�a�ves such as Family Dispute Resolu�on Week.

71% feel our work ensuring members adhere to the Code of Prac�ce is veryimportant. In 2013 we are revising our complaints and feedback procedure andenhancing our Specialist Accredita�on scheme by adding elements of the Code of Prac�ce into assessments.

Our members told us a lot more and we will use this to develop our work based onyour feedback.

Why I became a member

06

“I get many things from my role inResolu�on. I am more recognised in theregion, and have made many new friendsand acquaintances, which has led to mepicking up work purely as a result ofknowing more people. I also enjoy beinginvolved in the debate about the futureof family law and a�ending na�onalevents. I encourage anyone working infamily law to become an ac�ve memberof Resolu�on, whatever it is they areseeking to gain from their career.”

Philip Barnsley, Birmingham

“Resolu�on provides a forum for me to find other like-minded people and to hold discussions, and is also a vehicle that can see those changes put into effect.”

Stephen Anderson, Suffolk

“I would say that I get the most benefitout of the Resolu�on prac�ce guidesand training events, which are highlyregarded amongst the profession.”

Rachael Oakes, Oxfordshire

“I have stayed a member as I trulybelieve in the ethos of the organisa�on.We make huge changes to peoples lives and the way we deal with their cases can have significant impacts onthem, their children and wider family members. The networking aspect of theorganisa�on is important as it provides agreat opportunity to chat through trickyissues with other family lawyers, and torealise that everyone goes throughstressful �mes, simply because of thevery nature of our work.”

Elizabeth Hicks, London

“People should choose a Resolu�onlawyer because members havecommi�ed themselves to adop�ng asolu�on focussed approach to theirclients’ problems. The organisa�on haschanged family law for the be�er byintroducing and suppor�ng prac�calmethods of adop�ng solu�on focussedapproaches to the resolu�on of disputes within families.

Whilst I was Chair of Resolu�on, andthroughout my membership of NC, I was most proud to be a member of anassocia�on which rather than being aprofessional membership organisa�onwith the interests of its members at itsheart, con�nued to develop as anassocia�on which constantly strove torepresent the interests of those peopleits members represented.”

District Judge Greensmith, Burnley

“Soon a�er joining I was invited to jointhe South Yorkshire Commi�ee where I was able to sit alongside some of themost skilful prac��oners in the area.They have each supported andencouraged me in ways that other younglawyers would never get the chance toexperience. Now fully qualified, I’mapproached by other young members for advice, because they know I have myown support network in place and havelearned from the best. The resourcesavailable from Resolu�on make givinggood client care effortless. The trainingprovided at local level is always second to none because specialist Counsel andJudges are always delighted to supportthe organisa�on in any way they can.”

David Lister, Doncaster

“Resolu�on is the natural home of allfamily lawyers of worth in my opinion.Membership enables me to develop my career and mix in the right circles. As a member, I worry less about missingsomething or having gaps in myknowledge. The Code encourages best prac�ce, and membership hascommercial considera�ons in terms ofproviding a ‘badge’ to demonstrate toclients and referrers.”

Karen Barham, Surrey

Coverage highlights thisyear include:

■ Our Chair Liz Edwards interviewedon the Today Programme,Woman’s Hour and BBC Breakfastamongst others.

■ Past Chair, David Allison on ITV’s This Morning to speak about child abduc�on.

■ Our Vice Chair Jo Edwardsappearing on a BBC Radio 4Moneybox divorce special.

Stories to have hit the headlines in the last year,include changes to legal aid, no-fault divorce, FamilyDR Week and cohabita�on, all of which we havecommented on in the media.

Resolu�on in the media

07

At our conference Sir Nicholas Wall spoke about no-fault divorce, helping togenerate a sizable number of column inches that spanned The Guardian, TheTelegraph, The Mail and The Times.

We worked with the Independent on Sunday to produce a feature on legal aid cutsincluding a powerful case study of a father who had used a Resolu�on member.

We are contacted more and more by journalists asking for comment on family law issues. We have begun to forge excellent rela�onships with both legalcorrespondents and trade press and will further develop these in the coming year.

We will con�nue to support our network of Regional Press Officers and regionalmembers, in order to help them promote their services and raise the profile ofResolu�on locally. The Communica�ons team has provided guidance and newresources including a Regional Press Officers Handbook and launched a LinkedIngroup to encourage discussion and the sharing of best prac�ce.

During DR Week we es�mate that our coverage reached an audience of 10 million,and in 2013 we aim to be�er this. We achieved coverage in both print and on theradio, appearing in the Cambridge News, Crewe Chronicle and Birmingham Post andinterviews on BBC Radio Suffolk and Stray FM amongst others.

We promoted our members to 10 million people during DR Week

Commi�ee updates

08

Child Support Commi�ee Chair - Kim Fellowes, Newcastle

Key achievements■ Responded to various government consulta�ons

■ Con�nued to engage with DWP/government ministers

■ Lobbied for CSA change

Key priori�es■ Con�nue engagement

■ Lobby for changes where appropriate to CSA legisla�on, par�cularly on issues such as charges

■ Raise profile of CSA work generally and to raise profile of Resolu�on when opportuni�es arise

■ Train membership on new child support scheme

Children Commi�ee Chair - Anthony Morris, Sussex

Key achievements■ Provided substan�al considera�on and input to Resolu�on’s response to consulta�on legisla�ve changes (now Children and Families Bill)

■ Submi�ed evidence to House of Lords Adop�on Commi�ee on current legisla�on and proposed changes

■ Submi�ed evidence to the Jus�ce Select Commi�ee on dra� family jus�ce legisla�on

Key priori�es■ Raise awareness of the excellent work undertaken by members in the field of children law

■ Help develop skills-based training to further raise the standard of children work undertaken by members, including in a media�onand collabora�ve context

■ Help to re-launch the Paren�ng A�er Par�ng ini�a�ve and devise new and innova�ve resources for use by separa�ng parents andthose advising them

All Resolu�on’s ini�a�ves are driven by our members. The campaigning undertaken such as cohabita�on and legal aid is through our volunteers doing this work – they setthe agenda. Our members are at the coalface and they know what’s needed, andResolu�on is really strong because of that. Here’s a roundup of just some of the fantas�cachievements in 2012 by our commi�ees, and their priori�es for the coming year.

09Commi�ee updates

Cohabita�on Commi�ee Chair - Steve Kirwan, Stafford

Key achievements■ Maintained awareness of the need for Law Reform – e.g. a�er Gow v Grant

■ Responded to consulta�on on Equal Civil Marriage

■ Presenta�on of Cohabita�on Workshop at Na�onal Conference 2012

Key priori�es■ Con�nue work to raise awareness of lack of rights for cohabitants

■ Maintain push for reform of law - possibility of a new Cohabita�on Bill

Domes�c Abuse Commi�ee Chair - Jane Wilson, Crewe

Key achievements■ Contributed to the widening of the domes�c violence gateway to legal aid

■ Responded to the consulta�ons on forced marriage and disclosure of DV convic�ons

■ Development of training towards accredita�on, screening for domes�c abuse and on finding of fact hearings

Key priori�es■ Provide resources and training to ensure members get clients through the domes�c violence gateway

■ Monitor the working of the domes�c violence gateway and where the vulnerable fall through the gaps

■ Lobby on filling the gaps

DR Commi�ee Chair - Jo Edwards, London

Key achievements■ Commissioned a MIAMs survey which resulted in the President sending out further guidance to courts

■ Produced a Good Prac�ce Guide for media�on and reviewing all guides to ensure they are DR friendly

■ Organised yet another hugely successful DR conference in Oxford and two sell out PLO days

Key priori�es■ Thorough review, revision and update on all DR documents ensuring accessibility to all from the website

■ Produce prac�cal guidance on privilege in DR processes including where processes involve children, and where other professionalsare involved and running a related workshop at Na�onal Conference

■ Organise another even bigger and more successful annual DR conference!

10

Interna�onal Commi�ee Chair - Daniel Eames, Somerset

Key achievements■ Responded to several government consulta�ons rela�ng to the EU Maintenance Regula�on and Hague Maintenance Conven�on

■ Delivered a successful workshop at Na�onal Conference on the EU Maintenance Regula�on

■ Offered training to all regions on the new Hague PR Conven�on

■ Kept members updated on developments in interna�onal family law, including ebulle�ns and a regular column in Interna�onal Family Law

Key priori�es■ To con�nue to engage with government on proposed changes in interna�onal family law

■ To con�nue to offer training to the membership by delivering workshops at Na�onal Conference, regional seminars and hopefully aone day conference

■ To keep membership updated on developments through ebulle�ns, increased content on the website and new publica�ons

■ To build rela�onships with interna�onal lawyers and prac��oner organisa�ons to make interna�onal law advice more accessible to members

Legal Aid Commi�ee Co-chairs - David Emmerson, London and Elspeth Thomson, Newcastle

Key achievements■ Contributed to improvements in the domes�c violence gateway

■ Delivered training to help legal aid family lawyers

■ Raised awareness of the impact of LASPO

Key priori�es■ Training to help with the implementa�on of LASPO

■ Assis�ng with materials to enable members to manage LASPO changes

■ Public informa�on on accessing legal aid and publically funded media�on post LASPO, and then direc�ng them to a Resolu�on member

Membership Development Working Party Chair - Karen Barham, Surrey

Key achievements■ Successfully retained exis�ng members

■ A�racted new members to Resolu�on

■ Provided regional support, whether in the regions and/or in colleges and LPC providers

Commi�ee updates

11

Key priori�es■ Retaining exis�ng members

■ A�rac�ng new members – including significantly increasing affiliates and going global

■ Suppor�ng regions through closer monitoring and Na�onal Commi�ee outreach program – Direct Connect

Skills and Support Working Party Chair - Claire Blakemore, London

Key achievements■ Provided essen�al skills courses for our members

■ Recruited new members to the commi�ee

■ Con�nued to coordinate training

Key priori�es■ Con�nuing to deliver great essen�al skills workshops on a regular basis

■ Implemen�ng workshops in the regions

■ Growing the commi�ee

Precedents Dra�ing Commi�ee Chair - Caroline Ellio�, No�ngham

Key achievements■ Revision of Precedents for Separa�on, Pre-Marriage and Pre-Civil Partnership Agreements (last ed. 2008)

■ Embarking on revision of Consent Order precedents (last edi�on 2009). We tried a new and speedier approach which worked well

Key priori�es■ Comple�ng the revision of the consent order precedents, which we hope to publish by summer 2013

■ Rota�onal revision of other publica�ons

■ Con�nuing healthy debate on the detail of what we do!

Commi�ee updates

12 Commi�ee updates

Property, Tax and Pensions Commi�ee Chair - Pauline Fowler, London

Key achievements■ Educa�on and training for the membership was provided by way of a hugely successful and well a�ended pensions workshop at

Na�onal Conference 2012 and through an ar�cle in The Review on ‘elephant traps in tax’

■ Members of the commi�ee assisted with the redra�ing of the Precedents for Consent Orders in respect of tax and pensions

■ Assisted with the dra�ing of the Resolu�on response to the Law Commission’s Consulta�on Paper on matrimonial property, needsand agreements. The commi�ee also provided responses to the Family Procedure Rules Commi�ee consulta�on regarding the rulesand prac�ce direc�on on experts

■ Jason Lane of Saffery Champness was co-opted onto the commi�ee as a tax expert

Key priori�es■ Dissemina�on of informa�on to the membership regarding tax updates and regarding the implica�ons of the Pension Bill

■ Providing a response to the dra� Pensions Bill

■ Presen�ng workshops on pensions and tax at Na�onal Conference 2013

■ Considera�on of the Duxbury Tables and the state of knowledge in the profession as to their status

Skills Commi�ee Chair - Shona Alexander, London

Key achievements■ Development of content for 2012 Na�onal Conference

■ Co-organised a review of all training offered by Resolu�on and examined how it should develop

■ Oversaw an extensive array of training in skills and black le�er law

Key priori�es■ Offer a full programme of conferences and training that meet members’ needs and further Resolu�on’s aims

■ Review the results of the Commi�ee’s away day and implement changes as required

■ Ensure we are open to sugges�ons and feedback from all areas of the organisa�on

Specialist Accredita�on Commi�ee Chair - Peter Jones, Leeds

Key achievements■ Review of the accredita�on scheme■ Increased size of the commi�ee

13Commi�ee updates

Key priori�es■ Review and strengthen the prospectus to maintain the integrity of the scheme

■ Increase the areas available for accredita�on and develop closer contact with assessors etc

■ Improve the enthusiasm of our younger members and establish accredita�on as a natural career progression

Standards Commi�ee Chair - David Woodward, Bristol

Key achievements■ Revamped Good Prac�ce Guides and raised profile of family law protocol

■ Responded to consulta�ons on FP (amendment) Rules + PDs and FPR25 + PD 25A

■ Smooth running of the complaints and disciplinary procedure and ongoing review

Key priori�es■ Distribu�on and marke�ng of the Good Prac�ce Guides and Family Law Protocol to promote and energise the Code of Prac�ce

■ Complete review of complaints and disciplinary procedure

■ Take advantage of the appointment of Head of Standards to refocus our work

Training Commi�ee Chair - Shona Alexander, London

Key achievements■ Co-organised the Na�onal Conference and the Changing Prac�ces conference

■ Developed extensive programme of black le�er law training including Kerno� v Jones, advocacy, legal aid and Hague Conven�on

■ Prepared a good programme of training for 2013

Key priori�es■ Delivery of a wide range of courses

■ Ongoing planning of new training courses

■ Explora�on of new pla�orms and methods to deliver future training

Regional highlights

14

Resolu�on now boasts a network of 41 regions, with more than 20 YRes representa�ves. In 2012 our members raised money for local chari�es,enhanced their professional development and ofcourse made some �me for socialising! Here are some highlights from around the regions.

Members of Resolu�on West Sussex Commi�ee, pictured withCounsel from 1 Hare Court Chambers in London (middle) at FamilyLaw Half Day - Weald & Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton,Chichester in September.

Dawn Harrison from Resolu�on Kentpresented Kent Family Media�on Serviceswith a dona�on for £500.

Cambridge and Ely Child contact centre was presented with a £2,000 cheque,

raised at a charity auc�on by Resolu�on Cambridge and West Suffolk. Chair

Juliet Harvey (centre) is pictured with Mary Parker (contact centre) and

James Taylor, a local District Judge and patron of the centre.

Resolu�on West Midlands members pictured at

their charity Christmas recep�on.

Regional highlights 15

Resolu�on Hull and East Yorkshire Christmas social. Pictured – AdeleWilkinson, Ashlie Presco�, Claire Ward, Catherine Lazenby, Stormm BuxtonHill, Jane Hockless, Alison Benson, Nicki McMaster and Louise Garner.

Sophie Hughes, Toni Young, Mike Barry and Susan Hilton pictured withthe Olympic torch at the Resolu�on South Wales Annual Dinner.Launch of a new YRes group in Hampshire. Pictured –

Patrick Goodings, Kate Barber (Chair), Elizabeth Ford (Vice Chair),

Claire Collins, Nicola Whitley, Catherine Day, Helen Davies.

19832013

Celebra�ng 30 years

16

Sadly our founder John Cornwell recently passed away.John had a vision to change the face of family law, sogathered a small group of like-minded professionalstogether to achieve this. His determina�on has had animmeasurable impact on separa�ng families and on thefamily law profession as a whole. We owe him a hugedebt and he will be sadly missed.

Resolu�on has grown significantly over the last three decades. When we were first established, in 1983, we had 35 members. Now, in 2013, we have over 6,500family law prac��oners commi�ed to reducing conflict in separa�on.

There are many things we have achieved since our incep�on. The Paren�ng a�erPar�ng ini�a�ve, the introduc�on of collabora�ve law training and our first na�onalawareness-raising week are just a few of the key milestones for us and our members.

We have influenced government policy and family law for the be�er, andminimised the nega�ve impact of some of the more damaging legisla�on we have seen in recent years.

One thing that has remained unchanged, however, is the Resolu�on Code of Prac�ce and the dedica�on of our members to suppor�ng families through separa�on.

There are undoubtedly challenges ahead for our members and the profession as a whole, but we want to ensure we remain the ‘go to’ organisa�on for government,prac��oners and the public, and will con�nue our work to remain ‘first for family law.’

17

2013

Celebra�ng 30 years

“Resolu�on is doing (collabora�ve law)....to help families who otherwise will comebefore the courts. It is an admirable scheme run by an admirable organisa�on.”

Baroness Butler-Sloss

1983

Training and professional development

18

This year we’ve provided our members with a fullprogramme of training courses, offered a range ofpublica�ons, three conferences and opportuni�es to gain accredita�on.

We sent out 6,600 new copies of the Guides to Good Prac�ce. There are 16 guidesin all, including seven new guides in the latest edi�on.

80 courses took place last year which were a�ended by over 1,600 delegates.

196 CPD hours were available last year.

Between them, 1,600 delegates earned 313,600 CPD hours last year.

383 delegates a�ended our Na�onal Conference in Leeds, earning nearly 4,000 CPD hours.

Our biggest ever DR conference to date was a�ended by 190 delegates in Oxford.

And our latest one-day conference, Changing Prac�ces for Changing Times, wasa�ended by over 250 delegates - that's a whopping 1518 CPD points earned in one day!

In 2012 we saw 105 members achieve specialist accredita�on.

286 exis�ng specialists were reaccredited, which means we now have over 1,630accredited specialists altogether.

And this is what a�endeesthought about the courses…

“An excellent course – lots to take back with me.”

“Excellent speakers – thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“Very helpful.”

“Really informa�ve and easy to follow.”

“Very interes�ng and well run course –thank you.”

“Many thanks, it was excellent.”

“A thoroughly enjoyable course.”

We have engaged withmany other influencers in the family law arenaincluding:

■ Par�cipa�ng in the Jus�ce Select Commi�ee’s pre-legisla�vescru�ny of the Children andFamilies Bill currently beforeParliament.

■ Responding to the LawCommission on matrimonialproperty, needs and agreements –their consulta�on was heavilyinfluenced by a survey ofResolu�on members.

■ Persuading HMCTS to pilot, ratherthan simply introduce, proposedchanges to face to face serviceprovision in the family courts.

■ Working closely with a range of civil servants and members ofthe judiciary, including Mr Jus�ceRyder, Judge in charge of theModernisa�on of Family Jus�ce, as the recommenda�ons from the Family Jus�ce Review are taken forward.

In the last year we have, on behalf of our members,heavily lobbied government, MPs, Peers and otherpolicy influencers on the Legal Aid, Sentencing andPunishment of Offenders Act 2012.

Influencing government

19

Resolu�on’s work to influence family law policy has also seen us respond togovernment consulta�ons on a wide range of issues. These include co-paren�ngfollowing family separa�on – where we sat on the Department for Educa�on ExpertShared Paren�ng Group; broadening the cross government defini�on of ‘domes�cviolence’; and making forced marriage a criminal offence.

Changes to the legal aid system have dominated 2012, and whilst LASPO remains a poor piece of legisla�on, Resolu�on’s campaign has achieved some posi�veoutcomes including:

■ A significant widening of the evidence criteria to enable vic�ms of ‘domes�cviolence’ to access private family legal aid with an extension of the evidence �melimit from 12 to 24 months.

■ A wider defini�on of ‘domes�c violence’ when assessing eligibility for private familylegal aid, in line with that currently used by government departments and ACPO.

■ The reten�on of legal aid in some circumstances where domes�c child abduc�onhas happened or is feared.

■ Assurances that funding could s�ll be made availablefor collabora�ve law and other dispute resolu�on inthe future, in addi�on to media�on.

■ The possibility for areas of law to be added to thescope of legal aid in the future, without the need forprimary legisla�on.

Head of Policy Rachel Rogers and former Chair David Allison

outside Number 10.

Ge�ng our message across

20

More than ever before, we are communica�ng withour members, other organisa�ons, and the public.

Last year we introduced monthly all member e-bulle�ns, alongside our monthlyupdates to legal aid prac��oners.

We’re using social media, such as LinkedIn and Twi�er more o�en, to help get ourmessage across. Last year’s Family Dispute Resolu�on Week a�racted 500 newTwi�er followers to @ResFamilyLaw. And tweets about the campaign reached over50,000 users.

Our website, www.resolu�on.org.uk, now receives around 25,000 visits per month –up around 40% from this �me last year. And the ‘find a member’ page received150% more visits in the two months following DR Week.

All of this in addi�on to the popular member magazine, The Review, whichcon�nues to be sent, free of charge, to every single Resolu�on member.

Website visits up 40% on last year

®

2012 was a busy and exci�ng year for Resolu�on and our members. We delivered threesell-out conferences, launched our first dedicated family dispute resolu�on week and sawsome of our members celebrated for their outstanding contribu�on to family law.

A year in pictures

21

Our biggest ever DR conference took place in Oxford and coincided with our first dedicated Family DR Week in September.

Member Rachel Horman wins Family Legal Aid Lawyer

of the Year Award in June.

Our sell-out Changing Prac�ces for Changing Times conference in June.

22 A year in pictures

Media training was held in London and Birminghamahead of Family DR Week.

Resolu�on founder John Cornwell (right) receiving his OutstandingContribu�on to the Field of Family Law Award in October.

Our Na�onal Conference took place in Leeds last year where we delighted

to be joined by Sir Nicholas Wall as our keynote speaker.

In 2012, Resolu�on’s income totalled £2.4m. Of this,nearly half came from member subscrip�ons, with thebulk of the remainder coming from income from trainingand learning, including seminars.

We have used this income to support our members by engaging in key ac�vity areasas outlined in this document. Breakdowns of income and expenditure are outlinedbelow, and in addi�on our full audited accounts can be found on the members’sec�on of the Resolu�on website.

Membership is the lifeblood of our organisa�on, both for the promo�on of the Codein Prac�ce and in terms of our finances through subscrip�ons and training income.2012 saw a revised staff structure and a five year strategic and opera�onal plansupported by a sound financial review and budget. The Na�onal Commi�ee hascommi�ed just under 26% (£0.35m) of free reserves to support members, and we will con�nue to invest our remaining reserves to reflect our members’ needs.

In response to member feedback, developing training and learning will be a prioritymoving forward and, together with influencing government and the public, we willcon�nue to invest in new and innova�ve ways to enable Resolu�on members toremain first for family law.

Financial overview

23

Income £000s

Subscrip�ons 49% 1,183

Training and Learning (inc seminars) 42% 1,025

Accredita�ons 4% 88

Publica�ons / Other 4% 109

Investment income 1% 31

TOTAL 100% 2,436

49%42%

4%4% 1%

24 Financial overview

Expenditure £000s

Training and Learning, Accredita�on 25% 606& Publica�ons - General

Training and Learning, Accredita�on 26% 646& Publica�ons - Dispute Resolu�on

Membership Support 13% 315

Influencing & Engagement 12% 279

Office Costs & Administra�on 7% 179

Commi�ees & Governance 8% 180

Underspend / Projects* 9% 231

TOTAL 100% 2,436

*The 2012 surplus of 9% represents delayed expenditure on our consent orders and other publica�ons, due toslippage in the produc�on �mes and an underspend on staff, and associated project and ac�vity costs, as we did notrecruit as quickly as we had an�cipated following a restructure in the staff team.

25%

26%13%

12%

7%

8%

9%

Resolu�on team

25

Rheem Al-AdhamiCommunica�onsManager

Ma� Bryant, DirectorCommunica�ons

Patrick DanielsOpera�ons Manager

Claire EastermanDirector, Opera�ons

Colin JonesChief Execu�ve

Angela Lake-CarrollHead of Standards(Consultant)

Sarah Lloyd, DirectorDispute Resolu�on

Euan MackinnonHead of Publica�ons

Rachel RogersHead of Policy

Victoria Su�onCommunica�onsManager

Kayleigh CellaMembership andTraining Administrator

Louisa GrisdaleDR and GeneralAdministrator

Sue Gunn, DirectorMembership Support

Lisa RibbensAccredita�on andGeneral Administrator

Laurie ShelleyGeneral Administrator

Paul Smith Director, Finance

Denise SullivanDR and GeneralAdministrator

LondonOffice

Pe�s WoodOffice

Our Na�onal Commi�ee

26

Elizabeth EdwardsChair, Resolu�on

Execu�ve Commi�ee

Chair, Paren�ng a�er Par�ngWorking Party

Amphle� Lissimore, London

Joanne EdwardsVice Chair, Resolu�on

Chair, Regional LiaisonCommi�ee

Chair, DR Commi�ee

Manches LLP, London

David Woodward Secretary, Resolu�on

Chair, Standards Commi�ee

TLT Solicitors, Bristol

Steve KirwanTreasurer, Resolu�on

Chair, Cohabita�on Commi�ee

Nowell Meller Solicitors,Stafford

David Allison

Family Law in Partnership,London

Elspeth ThomsonCo-Chair, Legal Aid Commi�ee

David Gray Solicitors LLP,Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

David EmmersonCo-Chair, Legal Aid Commi�ee

TV Edwards Solicitors LLP,London

Lisa Pepper

Osbornes LLP, London

Nigel ShepherdExecu�ve Commi�ee

Mills & Reeve LLP, Manchester

Kim FellowesChair, Child SupportCommi�ee

Silk Family Law, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

James PirrieChair, Publica�ons Team

Family Law in Partnership,London

Godfrey Freeman

Morecro�s Solicitors, Liverpool

Karen Barham Chair, MembershipDevelopment Working Party

Barlow Robbins LLP, Woking

Jane Wilson Chair, Domes�c AbuseCommi�ee

Hall Smith Whi�ngham LLP,Crewe

Daniel EamesChair, Interna�onal Commi�ee

Clarke Willmo� LLP, Taunton

Shona AlexanderChair, Skills Commi�eeChair, Training Working Party

Forsters LLP, London

Lucy LoizouChair, YRes

The Interna�onal Family LawGroup, London

Anthony MorrisChair, Children Commi�ee

Anthony Morris Solicitors,Crawley

Grant CameronLamport Bassi�, Southampton

Resolu�on owes its success to the �reless work and dedica�on of our volunteers.

Our commi�ees, networks of Regional Press Officers and POD Liaison Officers all share the drive to raise the profile of our memberswith the public, government, media and key influencers. We are extremely grateful for their efforts. We’d also like to thank thosemembers not listed here, who although are not on a formal commi�ee, promote the Code of Prac�ce day in day out and support thosefamilies who are separa�ng.

Our thanks

27

Shona AlexanderPeter AlisonNicholas AllenDavid AllisonSital AminStephen AndersonAmanda AndrewsFiona ApthorpeTricia AshtonLyn AyrtonSue BaileyEmma BaillieJanet BainesRichard BakerSheridan BallKaren BarhamMelanie BarnesPhilip BarnsleyLouise Barre�oSusie BarterKim BeatsonPatricia BeechingKiran BeeharryMarilyn BellSarah BenfieldDaniel Benne�Emma Benyon-TinkerPeter BerryWendy BestSimon BethelSimon BlainClaire BlakemoreEmily BoardmanLisa BoileauCaroline BournCaroline BowdenCharlo�e BradleyAndrew BreakwellLyn BrisleyLaura BrownSimon BruceAlison BullBarry BunyanJulie BurgerGrant Cameron

Rebecca CarlyonGillian CarrBenjamin CarterRobin CharrotDeborah ChismKate ClarkNigel ClarkeAdrian ClossickEmma CollinsClaire CooperSarah CooperJames CopsonBarbara Corbe�Emma CordockAnn CorriganMichelle CounleyElizabeth CowellJane CowleyGraham CoySimon CraddockFiona CraigJane CraigJulian CreaseyRobert CresswellTracy CrossLoraine DavenportFiona DavidsonBen DaviesNeil DaviesTina DayMarcus DearleClive DelvesPunam DenleyHelen DerrySusan DiplockPeter DoddAngela DonenNatalie DrewValen�ne DunnRebecca DziobonDaniel EamesElizabeth EdwardsJoanne EdwardsCaroline Ellio�David Emmerson

Amy FallowsTom FarrellKim FellowesSara-Jayne FildesChantal FindlayKim FinnisMiranda FisherTom FisherClaire FitzgeraldJohn FotheringhamPauline FowlerVanessa FoxGraeme FraserGodfrey FreemanKerry FretwellCamilla FuscoMarie GallacherSally GandonDamian GarridoRebekah GershunyIan GiddingsKatherine GieveRichard GilbertWilliam GilesChristopher GouldenWendy GouldingayMichael GourietOliver GravellEmma GreenMiranda GreenFiona GreenerSue GunnKatherine HadenCatherine HallamKatherine HamiltonPaula HamiltonJulie-Ann HarrisEmma HarteJuliet HarveyAlison HawesAnnabel HaywardMargaret HeathcoteMichaela HeathcoteLaura HeatonGavin Henshaw

Elizabeth HicksSarah HigginsMichael HinchliffeRichard HoareWilliam HoggBelinda Hornsby CoxSophie HughesMa�hew HumphriesClaire HunterAlison Jane AutySamantha JeanesCaitlin JenkinsCarol JessopSarika JetwaniKatherine JonesPeter JonesSharon KayLisa Kelle�Margaret KellyMar�n KellyJacqueline KemptonSuzanne KingstonJulie�e KinseyStephen KirwanEdward KitchenMark KosminKirs�e LawStephen LawsonMar�n LeechJus�n LeesPaul L'EstrangeVicky LingSamantha Li�leLucy LoizouSarah LondonNicholas LongfordJane LongworthAlastair MacleodCaroline MakinAlan MarkhamPeter MarshallJayne Mar�nsCaroline MasonNicola Ma�hewsSusan McArthur

Cris McCurleyJulian McEvoyMaura MckibbinVictoria McLynnSean McNallySandra MeakinsRowan MellalieuVictoria MellingSarah MellishJudith MiddletonJonathan MillerTracey MillerBarbara MillsSophie MitchellBina ModiAdam MoghadasMina MoghaddamPolly MorganJonathan MoriartyAnthony MorrisSimon Mor�merEmma MouldJennifer MundyDavid MylesSusan NashCarolyn NathansonToby Ne�ngAndrew NewburyDeborah NicholsonRosalyn O'Donnell-TeelanJohn OsborneRachel OsgoodJus�ne OsmotherleyJoanne O'SullivanAshley PalminteriRobert ParkerDipal PatelDemelza PatricioMonica PayneEmma-Lisbeth PearmaineLisa PepperHannah PerryRichard PhillipsHelen PidgeonJames Pirrie

Jessica Pi�Duane PlantJoanna PurnellMaggie RaeGreg RandallZoe RantellLisa RawcliffeKatherine RaydenFiona ReadClaire ReidUrsula RiceEmma RiesJoanne RileyMaggie RobertsNeil RobinsonPatricia RobinsonStephen RootStuart RuffKaren RushtonNadia SalamVicki SalesDavid SalterBhupendra SankhlaGareth SchofieldPhilip Sco�Lorna SearJennifer SeviourHeather SewardThowheetha ShaahRichard SharpHelen ShawFelicity SheddenJohn SherahiloMargaret SimpsonJulia SmartMoira SofaerColin SpannerRachel SpicerJames StewartAlison StrawElizabeth SulkinElizabeth TaitJonathan TalbotCarolynn TanIan Taylor

Karen TaylorNorman TaylorDavid ThompsonGail ThompsonZen ThompsonElspeth ThomsonPhilip Thorneycro�Clare ThorntonJames ThorntonAmanda ThurstonAmanda Trappes-LomaxJanet TresmanClaire TrundleyBrigid TurnerMichelle UppalCarolynn UsherKarin WalkerAndrew WareingJulie WaringBeth WatsonPhilip WayClive WeirJacqueline WellsSian Whi�akerAdele WilkinsonPrudence WilldayElizabeth WilliamsStephen WilliamsGreta WilliamsonHannah WilsonJane WilsonAndrea WoelkeRachel WooddSarah WoodsfordDavid WoodwardDenise WoodwardElizabeth WoodwardAnna WorwoodKatharine WrightNicholas Wynn-WilliamsLindsay YatemanDavid Young

...and many, many others!

Membership of Resolu�on commits family lawyers toresolving disputes in a non-confronta�onal way. Webelieve that family law disputes should be dealt with ina construc�ve way designed to preserve people’sdignity and to encourage agreements.

Code of Prac�ce

Members of Resolu�on are required to:

■ Conduct ma�ers in a construc�ve and non-confronta�onal way

■ Avoid use of inflammatory language both wri�en and spoken

■ Retain professional objec�vity and respect for everyone involved

■ Take into account the long term consequences of ac�ons and communica�ons as well as the short term implica�ons

■ Encourage clients to put the best interests of the children first

■ Emphasise to clients the importance of being open and honest in all dealings

■ Make clients aware of the benefits of behaving in a civilised way

■ Keep financial and children issues separate

■ Ensure that considera�on is given to balancing the benefits of any steps against the likely costs – financial or emo�onal

■ Inform clients of the op�ons e.g. counselling, family therapy, round table nego�a�ons, media�on, collabora�ve law and court proceedings

■ Abide by the Resolu�on Guides to Good Prac�ce

This Code should be read in conjunc�on with the Law Society’s Family Law Protocol. All solicitors are subject to the Solicitors Regula�on Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct.

Resolu�on, PO Box 302, Orpington, Kent BR6 8QXDX 154460 Pe�s Wood 3

T: 08457 585671 I F: 01689 896 972E: info@resolu�on.org.uk I W: www.resolu�on.org.uk

Resolu�on is the trading name of the Solicitors Family Law Associa�on, which is a company limited by guarantee.Company number 05234230 | Published and produced by Resolu�on - first for family law

©Resolu�on 2013. All rights reserved.