The Family Conference at Scots Law 2024

Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.

We are delighted to welcome Alison Edmondson of SKO Family Law who will be chairing our new Family Conference which will cover a range of topics that reflects the needs of the modern client from the latest cases on financial provision on divorce and the impact of domestic abuse legislation to share valuations and how to deal with crypto currency and digital assets.

Alison will be joined by a panel of expert speakers, including Jenny Jarman-Williams of Turcan Connell, Lisa Rae from Lisa Rae & Co, Donna McKay of Brodies, Christine Rolland from Henderson Loggie, Amy Donachie of Westwater Advocates and Fiona Henderson from CMS.

Early booking is strongly advised.

Questions to be considered will include

• 5 years on from the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 - what have we learned?
• what are the key takeaway points from recent case law on financial provision?
• what are the fundamental provisions of The Children (Scotland) Act 2020?
• what do you need to know about the valuation process?

Financial provision on divorce – cases from the last year and what we can learn from them

The 1985 Act is now almost 40 years old.  While much of the law is well settled there have been a number of interesting and instructive reported cases in the last year. The Courts have considered setting aside, the valuation of matrimonial property, school fess, unequal division and resources. We will look at the most important of these judgements and the key takeaway points.

Jenny Jarman-Williams, Turcan Connell

5 years on from the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 - what have we learned?

Lisa Rae, Lisa Rae & Co

Re-visiting The Children (Scotland) Act 2020

The Children (Scotland) Act 2020 received royal assent on 1st October 2020. Four years on and numerous provisions are not yet in force.  In this session we will  ascertain which provisions are in force and will examine the impact of the legislation on a number of child law matters including:- 

• ascertaining the views of the child
• the protection of children from abuse
• the explanation of court decisions to the child
• the duty to investigate failure to obey court orders made under section 11
• support to keep children on contact with siblings  
• vulnerable witnesses and parties in civil proceedings
• child welfare reporters/Curators ad litem
• alternative dispute resolution models
• child contact centres

Donna McKay, Brodies

The essentials of share valuations for family lawyers

Everything you wanted to know about valuations but were too afraid to ask – the session will cover the valuation process and most common methodologies before considering matters such as minority discount, directors’ loan accounts and information requirements. It will also cover briefly share options and deferred bonuses/shares.

Christine Rolland, Henderson Loggie

Digital assets and crypto currency – what family lawyers need to know

Fiona Henderson, CMS

Current child law issues

In this comprehensive session, Amy will consider current important child law issues, as well as discussing the decision in recent cases and the impact on your advice.

Amy Donachie, Westwater Advocates