Collaborative Family Law
Specialist in Collaborative Law
Our Collaborative Family Lawyers work nationwide to help families achieve the best outcomes possible during the worst times. With a top ranking alternative dispute resolution team we are the people to turn to when you need a swift resolution.
“The family law team at Osbornes is one of the strongest in London; across all areas of work from international cases, financial and children work, Osbornes is a market leader.”
“Lisa is excellent – she’s efficient, has a very good rapport with her clients and has an enormously outgoing energy. She is very effective in managing clients’ cases.”
What is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative Law is an alternative to mediation used in family law disputes, such as divorce or child arrangements. Our collaborative lawyers can help you agree on an outcome that is binding without the need for a court battle. We can help you find and agree on an outcome that works so both parties can move on with their lives.
The Collaborative Law Process
Collaborative family law offers so much more than mediation and negotiation expertise – it involves collaborative solicitors all the way through the process. Each party involved in the process has their own solicitor who will meet with them to discuss the situation in a sensitive and compassionate manner.
Lisa Pepper, a partner in our family team, is a collaborative lawyer.
At Osbornes Law, we believe in transparency, so Lisa will guide you through how the collaborative process works at your initial meeting. As part of this process, you should expect to attend collaborative meetings involving you, Lisa, and the other party, along with their collaborative lawyer.
Your collaborative lawyer will discuss with you exactly what to expect and your claims. They will then speak to the other solicitor to form an overall plan for what should be discussed at the first meeting. This process will be repeated for any other subsequent meetings, basing the objectives on your wishes and the outcomes from previous meetings.
A timetable doesn’t drive the collaborative process so that you can dictate meeting schedules and the other party’s circumstances. Collaborative solicitors will work on a case until both parties are in full agreement and an outcome is documented and agreed upon by the courts.
Collaborative Divorce
Our specialist collaborative team will work with you until you and your partner can find an agreement you are both happy with. Matters that can be resolved through a collaborative approach include:
- Dividing assets
- Deciding what time each party will spend with the children
- Where children will reside
- When any ongoing support payments are due
Divorce is hard, and meetings where your personal lives and finances are discussed, can be incredibly painful. Our collaborative lawyer will support you during this time, and we assure you that any collaborative divorce we assist with is always treated with the sensitivity and care it deserves.
Benefits for Both Parties Involved in a Divorce
Whilst the process might well be difficult, it is worth bearing in mind that there are many benefits to working collaboratively to find a way forward. For instance, given that you and your partner will be communicating directly with each other, it can foster understanding and ultimately lead to a better relationship going forward.
Being able to sit together around a table can also lead to more creative solutions that work better for the entire family being found, and it can also speed up the process.
Working collaboratively may also bring more flexibility to work on discussions around arrangements when it suits you, allowing for your schedule and also your emotional needs.
Our Specialists in Collaborative Law Know How to Help You
Lisa Pepper is an experienced family solicitor. She will listen closely to your needs before offering the best advice. We are highly trained when it comes to collaborative family law and have extensive experience in the field. We listen closely to our clients before offering the best advice available.
She will listen and be skilled at negotiation and mediation and will use her skills to help you develop solutions that will work for your family.
Once we understand your needs and desired outcomes, we work hard on your behalf, and having one of our collaborative divorce lawyers on your side will certainly make the whole process easier.
Contact us today to discuss how we can help you. Our specialist team are always available for a confidential discussion regarding a suitable approach to achieve a workable outcome.
"Osbornes have been a sound firm forever. They have phenomenal work."
"They provide excellent advice and service to clients."
"Osbornes Law have a very broad family practice which does all areas of family law at a high level. They have an excellent practice; they are top quality across the board."
"Osbornes offers a unique service of high quality advice and representation across a wide range of areas of law."
"The team are all eminently approachable and down to earth, committed, hardworking and who support their clients in a very effective, pragmatic way."
"Osbornes offers an excellent family law service spanning the wide range of disputes that may arise, in relation both to children and finances."
"A family team that is able to offer the highest level of expertise across the family law spectrum from high-net-worth finances through to care proceedings and children matters."
Osbornes have been a sound firm forever. They have phenomenal work and an excellent skill set.
Osbornes have high-end partners doing high-end work. They are very impressive.
They have an excellent practice; they are top quality across the board.
Osbornes have a very broad family practice which does all areas of family law at a high level.
He is very hard-working, diligent and thoughtful in his approach. He is on top of the detail and makes strategic decisions.
He commits himself to getting the best results.
He’s a really tough litigator that you certainly want on your side. He will defend his clients to the hilt.
Mark is an immensely capable lawyer, with vast experience and a well-deserved reputation for getting the very best for his clients.
Lisa Pepper is extremely hard-working and adored by her clients. She is a very empathetic and approachable lawyer.
She’s an extremely supportive and kind lawyer and has an increasing mediation profile too
"Mark Freedman is intelligent and personable and has a good selection of high-net work cases".
Andrew secured me the best financial settlement for my claim. He is a credit to Osbornes Solicitors.
"It has a strong and experienced team of solicitors who don’t take bad points, work sensibly to get a settlement and who you can always pick up the phone and speak to. They are good lawyers and know the strengths and weaknesses of their clients’ cases. They don’t posture and always pursue their clients cases appropriately. "
"Mark Freedman is a very capable lawyer, renowned for not being a pushover and pushing his clients’ cases as much as he can, but will always talk sensibly about settlement. He is among the best – tenacious, good judgment and tactically aware."
"Mark Freedman is a dynamic and highly experienced family lawyer who fights extremely hard for his clients and is always in their corner, thus ensuring their loyalty and confidence. In a trial you would always want him on your side."
"Bridget Thompson combines her excellent legal knowledge with a clear, succinct and robust style of advice and advocacy. Her approach clearly inspires a high degree of client confidence in her"
"She has impressed me as someone who fights my corner but also understands the importance of resolving issues without unnecessary escalation. She is calm and reassuring."
"Her mediation practice is exceptional; she is also a great solicitor and has a breadth of skill which is really useful."
"He is really experienced and wise. He has a lovely manner about him and clients feel safe with him."
"Jo Wescott is top notch and widely recognised as a rising star throughout the profession. She brings a winning combination of great judgement, an immense work ethic, and a relaxed and charming way with opponents and clients alike. Someone you want on your side”
"Osbornes is pre-eminent for family law in North London. Mark Freedman is a real rainmaker. He is an excellent lawyer and has a top-notch practice"
Mark Freedman is intelligent and personable and has a good selection of high-net work cases.
"Exceptional value for money. Highly competent and reasonably priced. Mark Freedman: one of the best in the field."
"Client-focused. Ready to fight the clients’ corner, but also ready where possible to steer client from unnecessary dispute. Mark Freedman – very experienced, with good instinct for the eventual result. Clients love him and he thinks ahead and directs the client to the best result for the client."
Mark Freedman is a serious player. A fearless family law litigator, who protects his clients’ interests passionately.
Breadth of knowledge and willingness to go the extra mile is what makes it stand out. Mark Freedman – devoted to his clients
Mark Freedman frequently takes on high-value financial and children proceedings that involve complex tax, trust and accounting issues. Sources praise the "tenacity and common sense" he brings to challenging disputes.
"Mark is very experienced, competent, good with clients and takes a sensible approach to cases. He knows exactly what he's doing."
Lisa Pepper is particularly recognised for her role as a mediator in complex cross-border disputes. Her practice also includes handling prenuptial agreements and issues arising from the dissolution of civil partnerships.
"Naomi Angell is a highly esteemed practitioner who is highlighted as "a leader in the field" and "extremely knowledgeable" by interviewees. She is particularly recognised for her experience in complex adoption disputes."
"An exceptional outfit. They take on difficult cases, fight hard and win."
"They are an outstanding firm to work with. They are consistently impressive in their work."
"The team frequently deals with cross-border estates for high–net-worth individuals."
"Mark Freedman is a real heavyweight litigator who has dealt with some very significant cases."
"Mark Freedman boxes clever, keeps his powder dry and when it comes to the end game he negotiates a really good deal."
"Mark Freedman has a specific focus on high-net-worth divorces and finance cases where there are overseas assets and trusts."
"Lisa Pepper somehow manages to get parties to settle on matters where there isn’t much hope to start out with."
"Well-regarded family practice assisting clients with substantial matrimonial disputes and sensitive children proceedings."
"Mark Freedman draws acclaim for his work in high net worth divorce cases, including those involving company structures, family trusts and overseas assets."
"He never gives up. He fights for you to the end and has boundless energy."
Bridget Thompson heads the family team, where client care is the top priority.
Mark Freedman advises high-net-worth clients and knows his stuff.
Highly regarded for his experience as a litigation and mediation expertise, Mark Freedman is tenacious and determined. Clients really feel that he is fighting their corner.
[The Family Law department] handles significant matrimonial finance cases and complex nuptial agreements. Respected for its expertise in cross-border children law matters.
They have a really good, strong team, with the junior elements punching well above their weight. It doesn't matter who you talk to; they are all switched on."
Lisa Pepper is a noted collaborative lawyer, and recently acted successfully on a client's leave to remove application to Australia.
"Mark Freedman receives a lot of instructions from clients based abroad, often relating to complex divorce proceedings. Sources say: “His main strengths are his enthusiastic passion for the job in hand and his total dedication to his clients.”
News & Insights from our Family Law SolicitorsVIEW ALL
22.3.2023Cohabitation Agreements
Unmarried couples who live together do not have the same legal protection as married couples and civil partners when they...
Read more
7.3.2023What is legal parenthood and how is it...
This issue was in the news recently, when a married Oklahoma same-sex couple were in court over a dispute about...
Read more
7.12.2022IR v OR: Judge Dismisses Pre-Nup in Landmark £184...
One of the reasons I am still passionate about family law, after 20 years in the field, is that it is...
Read more
31.8.2022What if my partner predeceases me before we...
A review of a recent case concerning consent during fertility treatment. When going through fertility treatment as a couple, it...
Read more
31.8.2022Declaration of parentage after mistake at register office
Recently in the news has been the outcome of the case of Osborne & Anor v Cambridgeshire County Council [2022] EWHC 1982 (...
Read more- 2.8.2022
New strategy to make fertility treatment more accessible
In July 2022, the Department of Health for England released its strategy aimed at improving Women’s Health. While women represent 51%...
Read more - 5.7.2022
Proposed Changes to Gamete Donor Anonymity Laws in...
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has proposed changes to the law surrounding gamete donor anonymity in the UK....
Read more 
12.4.2022Mediation or Arbitration: What’s best for my...
Is arbitration or mediation better in a divorce? Few divorcing couples want to end up in court, which is why...
Read more
8.12.2021Do I need permission to take a child...
The Importance of Getting Permission Before Taking a Child Abroad Taking a child abroad requires more than just booking flights...
Read more- 18.11.2021
Legal considerations in the surrogacy process
What Are My Surrogacy Options at Home and Abroad? When you’re considering surrogacy as an intended parent, you may...
Read more - 20.10.2021
Birth parent fails to overturn adoption order
Most adoption applications go through smoothly and it is only in the minority of cases that birth parents seek to...
Read more - 21.9.2021
Changes in Fertility Law Benefit Families
Following campaigning by those working in the fertility sector and public consultation in 2020, the Government announced on 6th September 2021 that...
Read more - 5.3.2021
Can you contest a prenuptial agreement?
Contesting a prenup Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are getting a divorce after nearly seven years of marriage. According to...
Read more - 25.3.2019
Russian Adoptions
Adopting a baby from Russia can give a chance of a family to a child who would otherwise spend their...
Read more 
25.3.2019Financial Rights of Cohabiting Couples: Case Law
Introduction to Gow v Grant [2012] UKSC 29 Gow v Grant [2012] UKSC 29 is a decision of the Supreme Court dealing with the...
Read more
25.3.2019Do You Pay Child Maintenance if Your Ex...
Does cohabiting with a new partner affect child support? – Case Law The case X v Y (Maintenance Arrears: Cohabitation) (2012) considered...
Read more- 26.2.2018
Thai Case Shines The Light on International Surrogacy
This week, a story reported by the Telegraph raises some interesting questions about international surrogacy. The reporting states that a 28...
Read more - 17.6.2010
When did Prenups become Enforceable in the UK?
On 20th October 2010, the highest court in the land had the final say in one of the most eagerly awaited...
Read more
Accreditations
Most Visited Family Law Pages
Our Family Lawyers View the whole team
Claire Andrews
Partner
Family LawMark Freedman
Partner
Family LawLauren Hall
Partner
Family LawMaria Kitsiou
Partner
Family LawLisa Pepper
Partner
Family LawMartin Ross
Partner
Family LawAndrew Watson
Partner
Family LawJoanne Wescott
Partner
Family LawNaomi Angell
Consultant
Family LawDiana Bastow
Associate
Family LawEmily Charlesworth
Trainee Solicitor
Family LawAmy-Jo Fletcher
Solicitor
Family LawLauren Gaines
Solicitor
Family LawSara Gatt-Floridia
Paralegal
Family LawAlicja Glabicka
Paralegal
Family LawHannah Goldstein
Trainee Solicitor
Family LawIsabelle James
Solicitor
Family LawJonathan Jonas
Associate Solicitor
Family LawChloe Khor
Paralegal
Family LawDavid Leadercramer
Consultant
Family LawNikki Lyttleton
Legal Assistant
Family LawSimone McGrath
Consultant
Family LawHarriet McMorrin
Solicitor
Family LawJessica Moore
Solicitor
Family LawView the
whole team
