Collaborative Law Solicitors

Our Directors are fully trained in collaborative law and can help you separate or divorce in a calm, respectful way that minimises emotional distress.

Collaborative law is a structured process for resolving family disputes entirely outside the court system. Both you and your former partner each appoint your own collaboratively trained solicitor, and all four of you meet together in a series of face-to-face meetings to discuss and resolve the issues. Your solicitor is present throughout every meeting, giving you legal advice and helping you reach decisions that genuinely work for your family.

At the outset, everyone involved signs a Participation Agreement committing to the process and agreeing that if collaborative law breaks down and court proceedings become necessary, neither collaborative solicitor can act in those court proceedings. Collaborative law is well-suited to separations where preserving a working relationship matters, such as when there are children, shared businesses, or complex shared finances are involved.

At Purcell Solicitors, our directors, Pauline Purcell, Mandi Austin, and Lisa Buckridge are all trained Collaborative Lawyers. We advise couples across Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, and the wider Thames Valley. Our team are highly ranked in Chambers and Partners for family and divorce law, and all of our solicitors are Resolution members committed to helping you reach sensible, fair agreements in a non-confrontational manner.

Our Collaborative Law Services

We offer the following collaborative law services:

• Advising you on whether collaborative law is appropriate for your situation and what the process involves before you commit to it.

• Acting as your collaboratively trained lawyer throughout a series of four-way meetings with you, your former partner, and their solicitor.

• Drafting and signing the Participation Agreement at the outset of the process.

• Helping you prepare for each meeting, advising on your legal position, and supporting you to say clearly what matters most to you.

• Bringing in other professionals to the process where helpful, such as an independent financial adviser or a family consultant who can assist with communication and children’s issues.

• Negotiating financial settlements in a collaborative setting, covering the family home, pensions, savings, and income provision.

• Agreeing arrangements for children, including where they live, how time is divided, and how decisions about their lives will be made.

• Drafting the formal legal agreements to record what has been decided and making those agreements binding through a Consent Order where required.

• Advising on what happens if the collaborative process does not conclude successfully and on the options that remain.

Why Choose Purcell Solicitors for Collaborative Law?

Collaborative law requires specialised training beyond general family law practice. If you and your former partner choose this process, you can work with an experienced team without needing to look elsewhere. Our collaborative lawyers know how to use the process to its full potential and how to keep four-way meetings productive, even when discussions become difficult.

The results of a successful collaborative process tend to last longer than court orders because they are shaped by what both parties genuinely need. We will work to make the most of that opportunity for you. For a full picture of how divorce finances are approached outside court, see our divorce financial settlement page.

Our core family law team is made up of:

• Pauline Purcell, Managing Director, Family Solicitor, Mediator, Collaborative Lawyer and Family Arbitrator, with over 30 years of experience.

• Mandi Austin, Director, Family Law Solicitor, a member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel, with over 25 years of experience in family law as a qualified solicitor.

• Lisa Buckridge, Director, Family Law Solicitor, Collaborative Lawyer, Family Mediation Council-accredited Mediator, and fully accredited in Child Inclusive Mediation, with over 20 years of experience in family law.

• Haidee French, Family Law Solicitor, a Member of Resolution and an accredited specialist on the Law Society Family Law Panel, with over 12 years of experience in family law.

• Stephanie Dodman, Family Law Solicitor, member of Resolution.

• Chantelle Pusey, Trainee Solicitor.

Please get in touch on 01908 693000 or book an initial consultation with us by filling in our contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is collaborative law?

Collaborative law is a process in which each party appoints a trained collaborative lawyer, and all four people meet to negotiate an agreement. Everyone signs a Participation Agreement committing to the process and agreeing that the collaborative lawyers cannot represent either party in court if the process breaks down. This creates a genuine shared incentive to reach a settlement.

What happens if collaborative law fails?

If the collaborative process breaks down and court proceedings become necessary, both collaborative lawyers must withdraw. Each party will need to instruct new solicitors for the court proceedings. The time spent in the collaborative process often narrows the issues considerably, so any subsequent court proceedings are more focused.

Is everything said in collaborative meetings confidential?

Yes. The collaborative process is confidential, and the discussions in four-way meetings cannot ordinarily be used in court proceedings. Both parties can speak more freely about their needs and concerns than they might in a formal court setting.

Can other professionals be involved in the process?

Yes. An independent financial adviser can provide expert input on complex financial matters; a family consultant can assist with communication and the children’s perspective. The composition of any extended team is agreed upon by the parties within the process.

Do I have to be on good terms with my former partner to use collaborative law?

You do not need to be on good terms, but you both need to be willing to engage constructively in meetings. Collaborative law can accommodate a degree of conflict; it is designed to help parties work through disagreements in a structured setting. What it cannot accommodate is a situation involving domestic abuse or where one party would be unable to participate safely and on an equal footing.

Is a collaborative law agreement legally binding?

An agreement reached through collaborative law is not automatically legally binding, but it can be made so by recording it in a Consent Order, which a court approves on paper. We will advise on the steps needed to formalise your agreement once the collaborative process is complete.

How long does the collaborative law process take?

This depends on the number and complexity of the issues to be resolved. The process typically involves a series of meetings over several months, with the timetable set by the parties. Some cases are resolved in a handful of meetings; others take longer when the finances are complex or when children’s arrangements require careful thought.

How much does collaborative law cost?

Costs depend on the number of meetings involved and the complexity of the issues. Please check our pricing page for more details.

Get in Touch

Please contact us on 01908 693000 or complete our contact form and one of our Collaborative Law Solicitors will call you to discuss your situation.