Family Solutions Group report calls for children to be put at the heart of the process of divorce

16 March 2026

Today's Family Lawyer's Matilda Battersby writes about the Family Solutions Group's recently published report, Putting Children First: The evolving role of the family law professional, which is co-authored by Edward Cooke, Founder and Managing Director of Edward Cooke Family Law, alongside Charlotte Bradley, Senior Consultant at Kingsley Napley. 

Matilda's article talks about the last damage that high conflict separations and divorces can cause, and shares some of the facts arising from the Family Solutions Group research which underpins their report.

The article quotes Edward Cooke: 

“Our survey shows a consensus is building that the time has come for a reappraisal of the way family law is practised.

Policy makers want a less adversarial, solutions-based approach to family law issues. Our report shows that family lawyers and parents agree and that attitudes are shifting accordingly.

In an ideal world, we recommend family professionals should be required to demonstrate ongoing training on essential non-legal skills every three years as part of their continuing professional obligations, as mediators need to do.”