Kim Beatson

26 Fox Hill
London, London SE192XE
United Kingdom
Office Phone: 0207 940 4011
Member since 2005
Membership Type: IACP

Profession(s)

Lawyer

I have specialised in Family Law since 1984. I was one of the first lawyers in England to train as a mediator and one of the first solicitors to qualify as a collaborative lawyer. I am the past chair of Resolution, a member of the Law Society's Advanced Family Law Panel, which recognises exceptional expertise in Family law and also the Law Society's Advanced Mediation Panel. I am a Resolution accredited specialist lawyer (finance and cohabitation disputes are my specialisms).

I joined the IACP board in July 2008.

Area(s) of Practice: Collaborative Law, Family Law, Mediation

Professional Activities

Resolution -- Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Member ~ ~IACP Board member ~ ~Frequent contributor of commentary on Family Law issues in the national press and the specialist media. ~ ~Voluntary adviser -- Families Need Fathers

Professional Education

Law Degree

Solicitor's Final Qualification (1982)

Diploma in Conciliation (North East London Polytechnic) 1986

Accredited Mediator (trained with Family Mediators Association in 1988)

Member of the Law Society's Advanced Mediation Panel and Court of Appeal Mediator

Resolution Accredited specialist (Cohabitation and Advanced Financial Provision)

Member of the Law Society's Advanced Family Panel

Basic Collaborative Law training (2003, Pauline Tesler)

Continuing education in Collaborative Law/Conflict resolution, mediation, so that I meet Law Society, Resolution and IACP minimum standards

Comments

Most specialist family lawyers in England and Wales are members of Resolution and we believe in a client-directed, child-focussed approach to dispute resolution. My aim is to encourage clients to consider collaborative law or mediation before contemplating litigation, so that alternative dispute resolution becomes principal dispute resolution. I believe that clients require a range of services to suit their particular circumstances, priorities and values. I am committed to an inter-disciplinary approach, promoted internationally so that we all develop best practice from each other. The collaborative service is my preference, but I am absolutely committed to diversity, which is why I am a mediator as well as being a traditional lawyer.