Family Law
Our specialist family lawyers provide clear, practical and discreet advice to help people navigate complex personal circumstances and challenging family situations.
When circumstances change, perhaps unexpectedly, you are often required to make important decisions in an emotionally charged atmosphere. We will work with you to understand your situation, your priorities and what you hope to achieve. With empathy and sensitivity, we will give you the advice you need to enable you to move forward.
Divorce, separation and finances
The ending of a relationship can have life-changing consequences: legally, financially and personally. We’ll give you clear advice on your rights and the procedural steps involved, and will work with you to develop a strategy tailored to your circumstances and priorities. Financial issues are often central: we are experienced in high-value and complex cases, including ones that involve business interests, pensions and multiple jurisdictions.
Children and parenting
Decisions about children and parenting can take many forms: where a child lives, how parental time is shared, financial support, and welfare issues such as education and medical care. Sometimes, where people caring for children disagree about important aspects of their welfare, legal advice or intervention may be needed. We can advise you on your rights and responsibilities and explain the available legal options. If necessary, we can help you pursue remedies through the court.
Cohabitation
People who are living together with a partner have different legal rights and responsibilities from married couples and civil partners. We have extensive experience of advising on making or responding to legal claims when these relationships end.
Nuptial agreements – whether they are signed before or after a marriage or civil partnership begins – can be a useful way to protect existing assets, family wealth or business interests. A well drafted agreement offers the reassurance of knowing how financial matters will be addressed if circumstances ever change.
We can help with all aspects of this, including when there is more than one jurisdiction involved. We can also provide you with advice on your options if you have entered into an agreement which you now feel was unfair.
International family law
Family matters can involve more than one country or jurisdiction, including issues related to divorce and financial arrangements or the care and upbringing of children. We can explain your options, advise on the enforcement of orders made in other countries, and coordinate advice with advisers in other jurisdictions. We provide careful analysis and clear advice to help you navigate the cross-border aspects of your situation.
Mediation, arbitration and collaborative law
Not all family law disputes require to be resolved through litigation in court. It is often possible to find solutions in other ways that are better suited to your circumstances. Our team includes trained experts in all the main forms of ‘alternative dispute resolution’, including mediation, family arbitration and collaborative law.
Surrogacy, assisted reproduction and fertility law
Modern families are formed in many ways. We have the specific expertise required to help you build your family, whatever path you have chosen, Clear and timely advice can avoid uncertainty or even legal challenges in future.
Our experience in this area is unrivalled. One of the heads of our Family Law team, Robert Gilmour, has been described in Chambers as “a real pre-eminent voice” in this field. and has acted in a number of landmark Scottish cases in relation to surrogacy and parentage. He works with all types of families and individuals to help them navigate their journey to parenthood. Whatever your particular circumstances, we will work with you with empathy and sensitivity to achieve your aims.
Adoption
We help people create families through adoption, and have experience of all aspects of adoption law and procedure, including where more than one country is involved. We can guide you through the adoption process, securing the court order you need.
Meet our key contacts
Alison Edmondson
Partner
Robert Gilmour
Partner
Related articles and insights: Family Law
9 November 2026
Shepherd and Wedderburn launches Family Law practice
Contributors:
Alison Edmondson, Robert Gilmour, Andrew Hall
Contact us
Alison Edmondson
Partner
Robert Gilmour
Partner
