Member Article

Taylor&Emmet Mediator Secures Industry Recognition

A family law expert at Sheffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP has achieved official acknowledgement of her mediation skills, after receiving clearance to handle legal aid cases.

Fay Bunting has approval from the Family Mediation Council (FMC) to offer mediation to local couples needing legal aid, complementing her work with private clients.

The experienced solicitor successfully completed the FMC’s competence assessment procedure, having qualified as a mediator last year. To achieve this industry benchmark, Fay had to demonstrate she has sufficient insight and expertise to mediate competently in all issues relating to children and financial matters.

Michaela Heathcote, Taylor&Emmet’s head of family law, said: “We are extremely proud of Fay’s achievements. The portfolio of work upon which she was assessed was the result of many hours’ hard work and dedication. She is a talented solicitor and mediator who can now offer clients a much broader range of legal services, enabling divorces and separations to be handled sensitively and appropriately.”

From April 14 this year, all separating couples will be required to attend a mediation information and assessment meeting before submitting legal proceedings. Despite cuts to the legal aid system, funding is still available for those willing to attend mediation, to encourage more families to resolve disputes without court intervention.

Taylor&Emmet offers a full range of family law services from its offices in Sheffield and Derbyshire and can provide independent mediation through sister company, Hallam Mediation, which has branches across South and West Yorkshire. For more information, telephone (0114) 218 4000, visit www.tayloremmet.co.uk or follow the firm on Twitter @tayloremmet.

Issued: 20.02.2014

For further information please contact Nina Sorby at CORNER PR

Tel: 01246 433 451 Email: nina@corner-pr.co.uk Web: www.corner-pr.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nina Sorby .