Family Law Spring Update 2026

KEY SUBJECTS

• Financial Remedy Update
• Children Private Law Update
• Treatment of Conduct in Financial Remedy Proceedings
• Modest Asset and Income Cases
• Love, Law, and the Blockchain: Divorce in the Age of Crypto Assets

SPEAKERS

Lucy Loizou, Managing Partner, The International Family Law Group LLP

Michael Allum, Partner, The International Family Law Group LLP

Katharine Bundell, Barrister, 4PB Chambers

Ben Butler, Barrister, Westgate Chambers

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

09.30am CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

Financial Remedy Update

This talk will provide a practical update in respect of financial remedy case law over the last 12 months. To ensure the content is both topical and relevant the issues to be covered will be determined nearer the time but are likely to include:

• Division of capital
• Maintenance provision
• Miscellaneous judgements
• Other practical topics

Lucy Loizou, Managing Partner, The International Family Law Group LLP

Children Private Law Update

This lecture will provide a comprehensive guide to all of the hot topics and new cases and other material which is making headlines in private law children work. This is a lecture for largely specialist family lawyers who undertake private law cases as part or all of their case load It is suitable for all levels of practitioner.There will be comprehensive powerpoint materials and lots of additional practice tips.

• New case law 2025-2026;
• Covert Recording Guidance
• Pathfinder roll out and what to expect if you have case in a Pathfinder area
• Practice points on the above, to incorporate them into your daily case load

Katharine Bundell, Barrister, 4PB Chambers

Treatment of Conduct in Financial Remedy Proceedings

This session will provide a comprehensive update in relation to the current law and procedure on the treatment of conduct in financial remedy proceedings including:

• A recap of the history of conduct being taken into account in matrimonial proceedings
• A review of the recent case law demonstrating how the courts are currently dealing with conduct in financial remedy proceedings
• An explanation of the recent reports on conduct including from Resolution, Fair Shares and the Law Commission
• Consideration as to how domestic abuse (including financial abuse) can be taken into account in financial remedy proceedings
• Practical guidance for practitioners when dealing with cases involving allegations of conduct

Michael Allum, Partner, International Family Law Group

Modest Asset and Income Cases

This lecture will consider financial remedy orders from the perspective of modest asset cases which bring their own issues and challenges. We will pay particular attention to debts and income in capital poor cases and division and meeting needs where there is little to divide. This is a lecture for largely specialist family lawyers who undertake financial remedy cases as part or all of their caseload. It is suitable for all levels of practitioner. There will be comprehensive powerpoint materials and lots of additional practice tips.

• A consideration of capital, liabilites, income and the main cases which impact upon modest asset cases
• Each element will contain recent case law on division in modest asset cases and how needs are interpreted when there is not enough to go around
• We will pay particular attention to liabilities, insolvency and even no capital asset cases using recent case law examples to consider how the court approaches division when liabilities can be a real stumbling block
• Periodical payments in small capital asset cases: when is this appropriate, stepped orders, particularly for young parties and management of income need where capital is scarce

Katharine Bundell, Barrister, 4PB Chambers

Love, Law, and the Blockchain: Divorce in the Age of Crypto Assets

This talk aims to provide learning and practice points on the relevant rules and requirements for management of a case involving allegations of domestic abuse. It will look at evidence gathering, reports, when to seek a fact finding hearing, how to set up and run a fact finding hearing and the most up to date and seminal case law on the topic.

Over the past decade, cryptocurrencies have moved from niche technology circles into the mainstream economy. Along with this shift, they’ve entered the realm of family law, raising new and complex issues for practitioners. This talk will provide practical tips and guidance on how to deal with Crypto Assets in Financial Remedy proceedings.

• What are crypto assets?
• How does the law view them?
• How to deal with cases that have crypto assets?
• What to look for as practitioners?

Ben Butler, Barrister, Westgate Chambers

5.00pm CLOSE OF PROCEEDINGS