Virtual

Domestic Abuse: Effect on Children and Financial Proceedings

03 Mar 2025

Location: 3:00-4:00pm UK Time (Zoom)
Members: - Book by 03 Mar
Non Members: - Book by 03 Mar

Domestic Abuse: Effect on Children and Financial Proceedings

Highlights

Domestic abuse and how to deal with the issue as a practitioner:

Key Discussion Topics Include:

  • How to support clients who are survivors of domestic abuse through their court proceedings
  • Role of the IDVA
  • Safelives training and how this assists lawyers in their role
  • New Cafcass Domestic Abuse Practice Policy
  • Fact finding hearings
  • Domestic abuse/coercive control in financial cases / Resolution report Domestic Abuse in financial remedy proceedings
  • Solicitors firms own domestic abuse policies
Sarah Higgins
Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys

Sarah handles all areas of family law with particular focus on financial applications, children, cohabitation and marital agreements. Sarah advises those involved in disputes concerning their financial arrangements following relationship breakdown, whether as spouses/cohabitants or third parties such as trustees. Many clients are international or have assets abroad. Sarah is experienced in advising civil partners. Children issues include acting for parents or other family members.

Sarah is experienced in dealing with cases with substantial and complex assets in various jurisdictions in particular where there are trusts, and where there are issues of non disclosure and disputed valuations. She drafts and advises on both marital and civil partnership agreements. Her children work includes acting in cases where one parent wishes to relocate to a different country with a child. Sarah is experienced in dealing with matters where there are allegations of drug or alcohol abuse. She is a trained mediator and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Sarah is admitted to practise in England and Wales.


Sarah Higgins
Sarah Higgins Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys
Charles Richardson
Barrister
1KBW

Charles accepts instructions in all areas of family law and has experience appearing at all levels up to and including the High Court. He joined chambers as a tenant in October 2023 after successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Peter Newman, Jennifer Perrins and George Gordon.

Prior to starting pupillage, Charles worked as a paralegal at a boutique London law firm specialising in high net worth matrimonial finance, often with an international element. He assisted with a variety of cases, gaining experience in multiple areas of family law including private law children and international child abduction proceedings.

Whilst pursuing his legal studies, Charles volunteered with the Schools Consent Project, where he led workshops in secondary schools discussing the law relating to sexual consent. He also mooted extensively, including as a finalist in the international Monroe Price Media Law competition, and volunteered with Big Voice London as a mooting mentor to aspiring young lawyers from disadvantaged backgrounds.


Charles Richardson (1KBW)
Charles Richardson Barrister
1KBW
Jamie Kennaugh
Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys

Jamie’s experience includes a wide range of private family law proceedings, including contested divorces, civil partnership dissolution, financial relief, pre/post nuptial agreements and arrangements for children on separation.

Jamie acts for and against individuals across a broad range of industries and backgrounds – including the sports field, entrepreneurs and those with wider family wealth.  She has clients based both in the UK and globally, with a reach beyond Europe in the Middle East and the U.S.  She has a strong interest in dealing with complex trust assets on divorce.

Complementing her experience in dealing with finances on separation, Jamie is a particular specialist in private law children work and her cases are often cross jurisdictional. She advises individuals on wide-ranging arrangements for their children, including internal and external relocation.  Jamie also has experience in dealing with domestic abuse matters. 

She has contributed to various publications and legal sources, including the mainstream press.

Jamie joined the Firm as a Trainee in 2007, qualified in 2009 and was promoted to Partner in 2018.

Jamie is admitted to practise in England and Wales and is a member of Resolution.


Jamie Kennaugh
Jamie Kennaugh Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys
Brandy Hubbard
Head of Training and Development
SafeLives

Brandy Hubbard
Brandy Hubbard Head of Training and Development
SafeLives
Zoe Harrison
Barrister
1KBW

Zoe accepts instructions in all areas of family law. She joined chambers as a tenant in October 2022 following the completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Nicholas Anderson, Charlotte Hartley, Martha Holmes and George Gordon.

Prior to joining chambers, Zoe was a paralegal at a boutique London law firm specialising in complicated high net worth divorce and covering all aspects of family law. She has also previously worked as a tutor and lecturer at Kings College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies.


Zoe Harrison
Zoe Harrison Barrister
1KBW

Agenda

2:55pm
Audience Log On
3:00pm
Chair's Opening Remarks
Speakers:
Sarah Higgins - Partner - Charles Russell Speechlys
3:05pm
Domestic Abuse: Effect on Children and Financial Proceedings
Speakers:
Sarah Higgins - Partner - Charles Russell Speechlys
Charles Richardson (1KBW) - Barrister - 1KBW
Jamie Kennaugh - Partner - Charles Russell Speechlys
Brandy Hubbard - Head of Training and Development - SafeLives
Zoe Harrison - Barrister - 1KBW
3:45pm
Panel Q&A
4:00pm
Chair's Closing Remarks
Speakers:
Sarah Higgins - Partner - Charles Russell Speechlys

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