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Joanne Edwards

Joanne Edwards

Jo is a partner and Head of Family at Mayfair firm Forsters LLP. She specialises in financial remedies on divorce for high net worth couples, both in ...

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Domestic Abuse, Nuptial Agreements and Financial Remedies: A Cultural Shift?

Domestic Abuse, Nuptial Agreements and Financial Remedies: A Cultural Shift?

As family practitioners will know, the dynamics involved in negotiating nuptial agreements are no less nuanced than those in other parts of our work. There can be power imbalances, cultural clashes and differing perceptions of fairness. As we become more alive to the prevalence and forms of domestic abuse and

Pre-Nuptial Agreements: an ‘Oven-Ready’ Solution to a Pressing Problem? A House of Lords Debate

Pre-Nuptial Agreements: an ‘Oven-Ready’ Solution to a Pressing Problem? A House of Lords Debate

Late last month, Baroness Deech brought a motion in the House of Lords, ‘That this House takes note of the law relating to prenuptial agreements’. The debate came against the backdrop of Baroness Deech having (of course) long pursued financial remedies reform through her Divorce (Financial Provision) Bill. She has

Interview with Nigel Shepherd

Interview with Nigel Shepherd

Nigel Shepherd is a former partner and national head of Family Law at Mills & Reeve, retiring as a consultant at the firm in October 2024. He was national Chair of Resolution 1995–1997 and again 2016–2018, the only person to have held that role twice and was given

DR Corner: Fair Shares – Mediation Under the Microscope

DR Corner: Fair Shares – Mediation Under the Microscope

1 November 2023 saw the launch of the Fair Shares report, which presents the results of the first fully representative study of the arrangements families make on separation and divorce.[[1]] Following a bespoke survey of 2,425 individuals who had divorced in the last 5 years, the report helps

DR Corner: Book review of (Almost) Anything But the Family Court

DR Corner: Book review of (Almost) Anything But the Family Court

Earlier this year, my good friends at Only Mums and Only Dads, Rebecca Giraud and Bob Greig, with a stellar author in the ever-fabulous Jo O’Sullivan, launched (Almost) Anything But Family Court at the Resolution national conference. The President, Sir Andrew McFarlane, was present in person to reinforce themes

Whose Fault Is It Anyway?

Whose Fault Is It Anyway?

The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which comes into force on 6 April 2022, represents a significant and positive shift away from investigating reasons for marriage breakdown and towards individuals’ autonomy. Whilst very few practitioners oppose the introduction of no fault divorce,[[1]] in certain quarters of the media

Joanne Edwards

Jo is a partner and Head of Family at Mayfair firm Forsters LLP. She specialises in financial remedies on divorce for high net worth couples, both in the context of complex litigation, often with an international element, and in her mediation practice. She also has extensive experience in children work.