Mark Heptinstall, Partner and Head of our family law team has officially qualified as a family law arbitrator under the IFLA scheme, authorised to adjudicate on financial matters arising from separation and Inheritance Act cases. With this achievement, Mark joins the esteemed Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), the world’s largest community of private dispute resolution professionals.
This qualification marks a significant milestone in Mark’s career, further strengthening our expertise in family law and significantly expanding our Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) offering. As a CIArb member, Mark is now part of a global network committed to providing effective, confidential, and legally binding alternatives to traditional court proceedings.
Commenting, Mark Heptinstall said: “I am delighted to have qualified as a family law arbitrator and to be able to offer Arbitration as a service for the first time at Slater Heelis in Family law. This allows me to offer an alternative and more flexible approach to resolving financial disputes, avoiding the often lengthy and costly court process.
“Our current system of litigation through the court process varies from region to region, and it is not uncommon for there to be delays of up to 2 years or more to resolve cases. Client’s lives are on hold, and costs increase, so they are rightly questioning this and are looking for alternative ways to resolve their disputes. Arbitration and other forms of NCDR are the key to this, and I am delighted to add this service as a new offering; not only should the process be cheaper, but it can often lessen the anxiety, stress and upheaval often associated with lengthy court cases.
“Importantly, the Arbitration process remains private and confidential to the parties only, so the default position as of 27 January 2025 in the Family Court where the media can report on any family cases being heard will not apply to Arbitration.”
Arbitration is becoming an increasingly popular method of resolving disputes and this new offering ensures that we continue to provide innovative legal solutions tailored to match the needs of the public.
See the published report in the Solicitors Journal here.