Lawyers trained in mediation at Bath-headquartered national law firm Stone King have been helping a growing number of people with relationship difficulties caused by the Covid-19 lockdown.
The firm said mediation – a procedure by which parties discuss disputes with an impartial trained mediator to help reach a settlement – has become increasingly helpful over recent weeks in reducing conflict and finding solutions.
Rebecca Eels, pictured, a senior associate in Stone King’s family & mediation team, said: “There has been an increase in mediation and also clients who may have resolved their finances/children arrangements coming back to us for advice on issues that have cropped up, be it financial or in relation to their children.
“There has been an added stress on families, those that are in the same house who had decided to separate before the lockdown are finding it extremely difficult.
“Mediation therefore has been a big help in assisting them with not only co-parenting issues but also interim financial arrangements.”
The uncertainty around employment as a result of Covid-19 has also led to conflict in families, with mediation helping to ease tension.
“There are also stresses on those who see their maintenance reduce due to their former partners being furloughed or issues over child arrangements,” added Rebecca.
“We would encourage all clients to talk about issues rather than take a unilateral decision and if they can’t, decide to consider use of mediation.”
Rebecca is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in domestic abuse and private children law and is also a Family Law panel member of the Law Society.
She is also trained in collaborative law, an approach to assist those in relationship breakdowns to find a fair and mutually acceptable solution without the threat of court proceedings.
As well as its offices at 3 and 13 Queen Square, Stone King also has bases in London, Cambridge and Leeds.
