National Committee Elections 2026 – Meet the Candidates: Madeleine Young

I want to help shape and expand Resolution’s structured support for NCDR and raise the public profile of Resolution.

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

After 24 years as a committed member of Resolution, and a member of the SFLA for 5 years prior to that, I now have the time and desire to contribute more actively to its strategic direction and decision-making. My extensive background as a CILEx lawyer, alongside specialist training in collaborative law, mediation, and Resolution Together, strengthens my conviction that the future of family practice lies in non‑court dispute resolution.

I want to help shape and expand Resolution’s structured support for NCDR, raise the public profile of Resolution whilst robustly supporting and promoting our members. I believe the organisation provides an invaluable standard for both practitioners and the public, and I am motivated to contribute to sustaining and developing this impact at a national level.

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

I am a CILEx lawyer, qualifying as a Fellow in 2000, and have recently surfed the Mazur wave along with hundreds of CILEx colleagues, many of whom practice in family law. I trained as a collaborative lawyer in 2009, as a mediator in 2012, and as a Resolution Together practitioner in 2024.

I have a wide experience of practice from Legal Aid through to high net worth cases, dealing with divorce, finances, private children, domestic abuse, nuptial agreements, and cohabitee disputes.

I have a good understanding of different working practices, and the challenges that may be faced by many of our members on a day to day basis. Aside from personal interests, of which I have many, I am the co-treasurer of my local collaborative pod, and have recently set up a Resolution Together “cluster” bringing together RT practitioners in the Thames Valley area.

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

I have benefited significantly from my membership of Resolution. The organisation has supported my professional development over the last almost 30 years, through high-quality training, provided the structure and guidance of the Code, and offered access to support from fellow members.

Through Resolution, I have been able to build valuable professional connections that enhance my ability to support clients and have helped me develop both my business and my practice as a lawyer, and to work collaboratively with other professionals.