Bloomsbury Professional
Family Law Conference

Chair’s Introduction: Her Honour Judge Reardon

Private Children Law: Changes and Developments

Alex Laing and Matthew Richardson, Coram Chambers

• Changes to the structure of private children law: Cobb J's working group, where are we now?

Surrogacy: The current law and proposals for reform

Martin Kingerley QC, 36 Group

• An overview of the Law Commission proposals
• Current practice
• A ’New Pathway’
• The future of Parental Orders

International Child Abduction

Nicholas Anderson, 1KBW

• 1980 Hague Convention
• The inherent jurisdiction of the court
• Recent developments
• Impact of Brexit

Adoption in the New Decade

Leslie Samuels QC, Pump Court Chambers

• The current legal framework
• What does the research material tell us?
• Comparative views, adoption outside of England and Wales
• Contact to adopted children in the digital age

Vulnerable witnesses in family proceeding

Caroline Harris, 1KBW

• The system currently in place
• Recent case law
• The President’s working group
• Looking forward

Chair’s Morning Closing Overview Her Honour Judge Reardon

Chair’s Introduction to Afternoon: Her Honour Judge Reardon

Introduction from Platinum Sponsor, Our Family Wizard

Address from Keynote Speaker: His Honour Judge Hess

Spousal Maintenance - Five Years on from SS v NS: Where are we now?

Nicholas Allen QC, 29 Bedford Row

• Term orders or joint lives orders - is the pendulum swinging once again?
• Extension of term orders - is "exceptionality" still required?
• The renewed importance of budgets
• Investment return and amortisation after Waggott and O'Dwyer
• Variation applications - de novo or light touch review?

Tax on Divorce

Sofia Thomas CTA, Sofia Thomas Ltd

• Changes to CGT from 6 April 2020
• Changes to taxation and reporting of income
• Tax planning for couples…HMRCs changing view
• Making tax digital…increasing transparency of income

Brexit and Related International Family Law Update

David Hodson OBE, The International Family Law Group LLP

• What happened 31 January 2020?
• What is the position in 2020, transition period?
• What will happen after 31 December 2020?
• What will be global family law opportunities of the UK?
• Envisaging international innovations and influencing ideas
• Forum criteria, jurisdiction, marital agreements, ADR and more

Reforming the Family Court – What Does the Future Hold?

Laura Moys, 1KBW

• The Digital Reform Project;
• Developments in case management;
• Financial Remedies Courts;
• Openness and transparency

Chair’s Afternoon Closing Overview Her Honour Judge Reardon