Consilia Family Practice Conference 2026

Sponsored by RBC Brewin Dolphin and Nova Law

Join us on Wednesday 6th May 2026 for a day filled with insightful sessions, networking opportunities, and engaging discussions. This in-person event promises to be a valuable experience for all attendees. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with fellow family law professionals in the field and stay updated on the latest trends and developments in family practice. See you there!

Info: Jonathan Galbraith is an experienced pensions actuary, having spent over 20 years working in the UK pensions industry. Having joined Mathieson Consulting in 2017, Jonathan has written Expert Witness reports in the areas of pensions on divorce, loss of pension rights on dismissal / injury, negligence (in respect of pensions on divorce) and Inheritance Act cases. He has advised in over 2,000 such cases and is therefore able to draw upon some considerable experience. Jonathan is also co-author of Pensions on Divorce: A Practitioner’s Handbook (4th Edition), which is the leading textbook in respect of the treatment of pensions in family law matters.

Info: Katherine is a family law barrister with over 20 years of experience who specialises exclusively in cases involving the children of separated parents and their families (Private Law children cases).
She has experience of advising parents and representing them at Decision Hearings before Magistrates, District Judges and Circuit Judges. Katherine will talk us through the Pathfinder Pilot which has been implemented in West Yorkshire over the last 12 months. Family solicitor, Isabel Kerr from Consilia Legal, will ask Katherine some of the burning questions family law practitioners have about the programme and its success.

Info: It's not divorce itself that puts children at risk, it’s conflict and disconnection. Using Dr Dan Siegel’s 4 S’s of Secure Attachment and the Parenting Partnership Model™, this session gives a practical framework to help separating parents tune into children’s emotional needs, dial down conflict, and build a co-parenting relationship where children can thrive. Heather is an experienced parenting educator, founder of The Parenting Partnership, a co-parenting specialist, and consultant to the school’s advisory service Talk Education. She is a Care for the Family facilitator and on the Advisory Board of The Separated Parenting Programme Directory. She helps separating parents, and the professionals who support them, find constructive ways to work together as co-parents to raise secure, happy, confident and emotionally resilient children across two homes. In all her work, she draws on the latest child development research and her own experience of parenting her three children.

Info: James Evans is Head of Strategic Growth at Nova Law, a legal-tech platform combining AI and human expertise to support people navigating separation and family law challenges. Julia Nelson is a specialist family law barrister and arbitrator at Park Lane Plowden. In this session, they will explore how artificial intelligence is beginning to shape the early stages of family disputes and why professionals may increasingly encounter clients who have already used AI to explore options, organise their thinking and prepare for dispute resolution. The talk will also provide a practical overview of what AI can and cannot do, the opportunities and risks for family practitioners, and insights from Nova Law’s work developing AI-enabled tools.

Info: Sam Hillas KC is a family silk specialising in financial remedies. Sam was elected Leader of the Northern Circuit in January 2026, is the co-editor of the FLBA publication Family Affairs and sits on the editorial board of the Financial Remedies Journal. When time allows, Sam enjoys gardening and making lists. Sam is going to talk to us about what is on the horizon in terms of financial remedies from a legal, practical and procedural perspective, considering current trends and potential legislative reform.

Info: Our NCDR panel will share their experience and insights from the front line of family law practice including trends and developments in arbitration, neutral evaluations, mediation and collaborative practice over the last 2 years. It is intended to be an interactive session with questions opened up to the room.

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