New Association further strengthens Watts McCray's international services
Media Release - Watts McCray - 1 September 2009
On 1 September 2009 Watts McCray was delighted to announce their association with the International Family Law Group (iFLG).
Each firm has a worldwide acknowledged specialisation in family law work with an international element. The (non-exclulsive) association will enable each firm to work more closely, quickly and efficiently for their clients in cross border cases. The two firms will be able to provide improved, combined specialist services to assist international families and their many clients with close connections between England and Australia. Each firm already receives many instructions from law firms in the other country and this association will allow them each to provide an even better service. They will share information on international and national family laws, collaborate on cross-border ADR, pool resources as required, and enable Anglo Australian exchanges of lawyers and support staff.
This is believed to be the first such arrangement between leading international family law practices in different continents.
The association has a combined force of 35 specialist family lawyers including seven mediators, nine collaborative lawyers along with two past members of the judiciary. The associated firms are able to offer cross-border mediation, collaborative law, arbitration and early neutral evaluation.
Ann Thomas and David Hodson of iFLG and Watts McCray Partners Justin Dowd and Barry Frakes are Fellows of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, probably the world’s leading network of specialist international family lawyers. Ann Thomas, Punam Denley (iFLG), Justin Dowd, Barry Frakes and Michelle Brown are also members of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
David Hodson, a Consultant and co-founder of iFLG is also an Australian qualified solicitor, barrister and mediator. Professor Patrick Parkinson, Special Counsel at Watts McCray, worked as an English lawyer before moving to Australia, and is regarded as one of the world’s leading family law academics and policy advisers to governments and international family law professions.
Justin Dowd of Watts McCray said “This continues our commitment to secure the best possible outcomes for our clients by linking up with a leading international practice in Europe. We look forward to working on a number of projects to help both our Australian based and international clients. Australia is a very multi national and multi cultural society and this association enables us to be better able to help our clients with any foreign proceedings.”
David Hodson of iFLG said “England has many close links with Australia, with cases concerning resolution of financial issues or the movement of children. We have worked with the lawyers at Watts McCray on a number of cases over the years. This close association will hugely benefit an understanding of how we can produce better outcomes for our clients. We are especially looking forward to implementing our co-working on mediation and collaborative law in cross border cases.”
Watts McCray runs an online divorce service in Australia offering significant advantages to clients overseas who have cases in Australia www.divorce.com.au. This complements the iFLG website, one of the leading family law firm websites in the world with substantial information for international families and interactive documents concerning both finance and child abduction issues. Watts McCray have a substantial international practice, with Europe and America and including significant connections with Hong Kong, Singapore and other parts of the Far East. They have a network of law firm connections across Australia in addition to offices in Sydney, Parramatta and Canberra.