I have been a family law specialist solicitor since 1995 and now further specialise in the area of collaborative law and mediation including child inclusive mediation. I am also one of a handful of qualified family arbitrators. I believe that divorce and separation should be dealt with, wherever possible, within the family and not by judges. Collaboration, mediation and arbitration are all ways of avoiding court and reaching swift amicable solutions for families who are separating. I am passionate family law and dispute resolution and, my colleagues and staff and Thornton Jones Family Law share that drive for high quality service and support for families going through separation.I also believe in sharing my expertise and am often asked to speak to various professional groups and run workshops at conferences. I am running a workshop at this year's national Dispute Resolution Conference in Nottingham and the Northern Lights conference in Leeds. I am proud to have recently won the Yorkshire Lawyer Award for Dispute Resolution.