Alex Davies
- Partner
- Family & Divorce
For those who want a calmer divorce – the Resolution Together model
Not every separation needs to turn into a battle. There is a different way of manging divorce and separation — one lawyer, acting for both partners, helping them work through the practical and legal issues of separation. So, working with each other, not at each other.
This is called The Resolution Together model, which was developed by Resolution, a community of family justice professionals who work with families and individuals to resolve issues in a constructive way.
Why Resolution Together?
For many couples, the appeal is obvious.
It’s calmer, quicker and more cost‑effective than traditional two‑lawyer approaches. Instead of angry letters flying back and forth, everything happens transparently, in joint meetings, with open disclosure and conversation. That means fewer misunderstandings, fewer entrenched positions, and a much better chance of preserving a relationship for the future – particularly important where children are involved.
For the lawyer it is a more positive experience, helping a couple to explore issues calmly and rationally. And it delivers on the promise of saving legal fees.
Clients also like the sense of control. The focus isn’t on “winning”, but on finding fair, workable solutions that make sense for their family, their finances and their future.
That said, Resolution Together lawyers are aware of the risks in a divorcing couple getting in a room together and discussing their divorce, and safeguarding sits right at the heart of the model.
Before it starts, and throughout the process, suitability is kept under review. If there are concerns about safety, vulnerability, coercion, dishonesty or imbalance of power, the model simply won’t proceed. Confidentiality is joint, but with clear safeguarding exceptions, and either party can step away at any point to get a second opinion. The lawyer knows the limits of the model and must step away from the process if it is not appropriate to for it to continue.
In short, Resolution Together works well for those who want less divorce and more conscious uncoupling.
How Wedlake Bell can help
Alex Davies, partner and head of the family team at Wedlake Bell is one of the first lawyers in the UK to train in the Resolution model and is taking instructions from couples wanting to divorce amicably.
If you’d like to explore whether the Resolution Together model could work for you, contact Alex Davies, Head of Family on adavies@wedlakebell.com. A short initial conversation can help you understand whether it’s suitable — and what a calmer, more constructive process might look like for your family. Feel free to get in touch.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or a comprehensive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should always be sought in relation to individual circumstances.
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