National Committee Elections 2026 – Meet the Candidates: Vanessa Friend

I am familiar with Resolution’s governance and activities, meaning I would hit the ground running in this new role.

Why do you want to apply to be on the National Committee?

Resolution is the backbone of my family law career: I joined when I qualified as a solicitor in 2009. I have participated in its committees and activities ever since, and I would love to keep building on this:

1. I want to promote public awareness of Resolution’s brand. We all know the pressures of maintaining a thriving practice; we need to help members achieve this. Resolution should be the byword for professional,  compassionate and effective family law services and associated professionals.
2. I want to collaborate with other organisations to increase public awareness of family law issues and drive law and policy change. This would include partnering with a children’s safeguarding and wellbeing  organisation.
3. I want to continue delivering everything Resolution does brilliantly: high-quality training, networking, professional updates and lobbying.
4. I will carefully listen to members’ needs so that we deliver value for their membership fees.

What skills and experience will you bring to the role as a National Committee member?

First, I am the Head of Family Law and Mediation at Hodge Jones & Allen, and I have developed a brilliant team of professionals who operate within Resolution’s ethos. I will bring this practical experience of running a busy family law practice to the National Committee role, across internal delivery and external advocacy for members.

Second, I was a founding member of the Resolution Litigants-in-Person Committee from 2016, and I remained actively involved in it until 2026. I am therefore familiar with Resolution’s governance and activities, meaning I would hit the ground running in this new role.

Finally, I was a broadcast journalist prior to training as a solicitor. Since moving into law, I have regularly appeared in the media to discuss family law topics. I would use my wider professional background to communicate Resolution’s ethos to the public and influence law and policy stakeholders on members’ behalf.

I am organised and reliable, with good attention to detail, and I am comfortable contributing to discussions and putting forward ideas. I have also worked closely with colleagues on more complex cases, which has helped me develop a focused and pragmatic approach.

How have you been involved in and benefitted from Resolution as a member?

I joined Resolution in 2009 on qualifying as a solicitor, and I was a founding (and long-term) member of its Litigants-in-Person Committee. I am proud of what the committee has accomplished.

Further to this, I undertook Resolution’s family mediator training in 2017 and completed its hybrid mediation training in 2025. Mediation is now a major component of my practice, and I take deep satisfaction in helping couples to compromise without the time, expense and stress of litigation. I am grateful to Resolution for giving me this skillset.

I have also made Resolution membership a baseline expectation for all partners and associates in my team. They hold various specialist accreditations from the organisation, and two of them sit on its committees. Not only have I benefitted from Resolution in my own work, but in how it has strengthened my team in an often-difficult area of legal practice.