Relevant Work

In a groundbreaking decision, High Court judge Mr Justice Hedley established the concept of secondary parenting to describe the significant role played by two gay men, successfully represented by Harbottle & Lewis, who had entered into an artificial insemination arrangement with a lesbian couple. Rejecting the argument that the future relationship between the children and the men should be identity only, Mr Justice Hedley proceeded to make an order for regular staying contact for the men.

In this case in the family division of the High Court, the Harbottle & Lewis family team were successful in acting for the husband in his application for a discretionary stay of proceedings brought by the wife in London. After a five day hearing the husband's application was granted, despite being vigoroulsy opposed by the wife's legal team both on the facts of the case and on the applicable law. The case now stands as authority that the English Court still has the power to grant discretionary stays despite many commentators and several other authorities suggesting that this was no longer possible in the light of applicable European law.

For those interested in this area, the case is reported at BAILII.

Acting on a high value case involving the dissolution of a civil partnership. The case raises arguments in new and previously untested areas of law.

Acting for a divorcing client in the collaborative process, where the parties have signed a participation agreement not to use the courts to determine any issue between them.

Acting on several high value international cases where there is argument over which country should have jurisdiction.