Why great results don’t require a London law firm – success for Bridger’s Law.

We recently had a very satisfying outcome in a ‘David vs Goliath’ Family case at court, with our opponents being a large London law firm. 
The case was multi-faceted, in that it included Child Arrangements and an Occupation Order application that went over 5 days in court, which is extremely rare in private matters.

Whilst we always hope an amicable solution can be achieved between the parties, this is not always possible and sometimes a case will have to proceed to a Final Hearing.

Preparation

Preparation for a Final Hearing can take many days/weeks to complete, as was the case in this instance, including:

• Preparing the bundle
• Preparing statements
• Booking & briefing a barrister
• Two pre-hearing conferences with the barrister
• Discussions with the other side on the scheduling
• Correspondence with the court
• Arranging for the court to have access to all files (in this case so many that hard copies were made as a backup)
• Arranging with the court for video evidence to be exhibited (the courts are not known for being tech-savvy!)
• Speaking with the client daily with updates and answering concerns that they had.

The Hearing

The Hearing itself was originally listed for 4 days, but after some discussion within the court about how long a private matter could be listed for, it ran for 5 days. Weeks of meticulous preparation and planning meant that no matter what questions were thrown at our barrister, we were prepared! 
A well-prepared matter means that the Judge can access all of the documents for the case with ease, thereby minimising potential delays.

We apply this same level of preparation to our clients, as Final Hearings often require each party to be examined and cross examined – knowing what to expect is absolutely key.
We ensure that the client is as comfortable as possible when appearing in court, and is not left in the dark about what the court will expect of them.

Hearings can be stressful for everyone involved and it is important to ensure that the parties are coping and that they understand the entire process – we are with our clients, advising them every step of the way.

The Result

After almost 18 months of intense litigation, our client (the father) achieved a fantastic result. This, despite the general feeling towards Family Courts that they favour the mother.
At the centre of every dispute concerning children, is the children’s welfare. the court is concerned with which party can best meet the child/children’s physical, educational and emotional needs. The court in this case considered that the child spent an equal amount of time with each parent.

We hope that after the dust has settled from the unenviable position of having to go to court, a co-parenting relationship can flourish between the parties.

Despite the prestige often afforded to London law firms, the law is the law, no matter where your legal team is based. 

How to choose the best law firm for you

Make sure that you are choosing the right law firm for you and your particular needs, look at each firm’s reviews, look at their responsiveness and most importantly look at how they build a relationship with you, their client.

You can find out more about our team here.

Whilst what is written above is an extremely condensed version of events, we hope it has given you a little insight into the workings, often thought of as secret, Family Courts.

If you have any questions about your situation or are worried that you might not be as well prepared as you could be, please just let us know and we would be more than happy to help.

Read more about Bridger’s Law – Why Choose Bridger’s Law
Find out more about how our Family Team can help you.