View from the Chair
We have achieved plenty, but we can’t sit still in 2025. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together in recent years, and know we will continue to be a force for good in family practice
I have lost count of the number of times I have written, or stood before you all, and said what an “honour and privilege” it is to be the Chair of Resolution’s National Committee. But I only have a handful of opportunities left to say that, so forgive me for starting the New Year in such a familiar way.
When I first became a member of Resolution, or the Solicitors Family Law Association as it was known then, I could never have dreamt of being your Chair. During my time in post I have had the opportunity to meet members up and down the country, and it has highlighted to me the vital role all of our volunteers play in building this organisation.
I am delighted that your Vice-Chair, Melanie Bataillard-Samuel, also shares the same passion and drive to enthuse and support the regions, and I’m looking forward to seeing how our regions continue to thrive up and down the country.
Over the last 40 years Resolution has achieved some major milestones – no-fault divorce, the introduction of new practices, the development of YRes and the continued development of our committees who are producing exceptional guides and putting on invaluable events to increase our members’ knowledge.
I am now in a particularly reflective mood as my time as your Chair nears its end. I am incredibly proud of what we have managed to achieve together in my time in role. We launched the Resolution Awards as a standalone event, celebrated 40 years of Resolution, published our Vision for Family Justice, and our podcast, Talking Family Law, won the Family Law Commentator of the Year award at the Family Law Awards. Most importantly, though, I am immensely pleased to see that the push for Cohabitation Reform is picking up pace.
In my introduction interview as your Chair (Review 225), I said: “We are crying out for Cohabitation Reform. We are seeing clients come to us in a situation where the law simply isn’t fit for purpose, and you’ve got some real inequities that result from it. The current law isn’t good for many people and their families. It’s unhelpful and antiquated. There has been so much debate over the years as to how the law could change, or should change, and if on our watch we could really move cohabitation reform forward, that will be a terrific achievement.”
I am delighted, then, to see that members up and down the country have been meeting with their local MPs to highlight the importance of reform in this area, and the tireless work of our Family Reform Group and our Head of Policy, Rachel Rogers, are keeping the conversation going at the very top tables of Westminster. Change is near, I am sure, so let’s keep shouting about reform at every opportunity.
In that interview, I also said that I would like to see a lot more non-lawyers joining Resolution and being part of this great organisation. It is so important to have all professionals who are going to be helping our clients to be on the same page with regards to how we work, with the Code of Practice at the very heart of every conversation. I still think there is far more we can do to align all of our sectors, to ensure that the voice of the child is heard, and that separation becomes more amicable for everyone concerned.
There really is no other organisation like Resolution. I am proud that being a member of Resolution has been the backbone to my career. It is a fantastic organisation underpinned by the support of our members around the country and a wonderful staff team who constantly go above and beyond.
We stand out because we have so many elements to what we do: the lobbying arm, the educational arm, the networking provision that is so valuable to each and every one of us in our career. There’s so many elements our members can benefit from. We also stand out because of our Code of Practice.
2025 is the Year of the Code and it is imperative that all of us who practise in the area of family justice, whatever our professional background, embrace the values of Resolution.
The code shapes how we deal with one another, how we support our clients and how we can make a difference in this challenging and demanding area of work. Adhering to the Code’s values makes us better professionals in our given fields of expertise. We cannot lose sight of the Code and how essential its values are to our day-to-day practice.
I have been proud to witness many successes as your Chair. I do not want these to be viewed as a signal to rest on our laurels, but as an invitation to stay ahead of these changes, to anticipate new challenges, and to proactively shape the future of family justice.