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Articles by Philippa Dolan
Why timing is (almost) everything in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson
Collyer Bristow partner Philippa Dolan, family and divorce expert, explores the circumstances surrounding the court’s decision in Mei-Lin v Gudmundsson, and explains why the timing of messages, not the means of communication, was central to the outcome. A decision was reported last month in a case that has been in and out of the courts for a few years (nothing new there).
Gambling On The System - The Supreme Court Comes Up Trumps
The author examines a major UK divorce court case involving two Russians. The Potanina v Potanin case (the major divorce dispute involving a Russian oligarch and his ex-wife) returned recently to London’s Court of Appeal: part of a longer legal battle between the former couple which has previously been heard by the Supreme Court. Divorce cases frequently appear in guest articles here, and for good reason, given the issues touched upon: great wealth, cross-border financial complexities, etc.
No-Fault Divorce – The Verdict
Philippa Dolan March 26, 2025 The author talks about developments in the no-fault divorce process, such as how alternatives such as arbitration, non-court dispute resolution and other channels can be used.
Don’t Mention the Law: 2024 election manifestos and the absence of funding for the Courts & Legal Aid
Family law Partner, Phillipa Dolan, provides her thoughts on the absence of any fresh funding for the Court system and Legal Aid in any party’s 2024 election manifesto. Unless you’ve been off grid for the past year, you’ll be fully aware that there is serious trouble at court. As a general rule, courts and our justice system come very low down the agenda with both the voting public and (no coincidence) with our politicians. How things have changed.
Piloting Through Choppy Waters To Open Justice
There has been growing pressure to relax reporting restrictions on private and sensitive matters such as family law issues. The author of this article considers the effects. A pilot scheme, which allows family court proceedings to be reported, has just been extended; journalists can now report (with some restrictions) on 19 of the 42 family court centres in England and Wales.
Practical tips for spending Christmas Day without the children
Christmas is an emotional time regardless of anyone’s family situation. Whilst some separated parents remain able to put their differences aside and spend Christmas Day as a family, it is more usual for the children to spend Christmas Day on alternate years with each parent. Being without the children on Christmas Day can be a difficult and strange experience for the other parent and the children, particularly the first year. Below are some practical tips for doing so.
From Russia (to the English Family Court) with Love
Philippa Dolan, a partner in the Family Team at Collyer Bristow LLP, explains why Vladimir Potanin and his divorce proceedings might see the biggest award ever made by the English Family Court. Vladimir and Natalia Potanin were a very wealthy Russian couple. Vladimir founded Norilsk Nickel and is reputed to be the second richest man in Russia. In 2013 he announced to Natalia, apparently out of the blue, that their thirty year marriage was over.
Mediation, mediation, mediation: 7 things you should know
First of all, what is it? It’s not marriage counselling. It’s not about keeping couples together. And it’s not a quasi-court where you hand over control to the mediator who imposes decisions on you and your ex-partner about money or children. If you are breaking up, a trained mediator can help the two of you reach decisions. That’s mediation. Conventionally, there will be a number of sessions in the mediator’s office with both of you present.
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