Cohabitation and Co-ownership interactive lunchtime webinars: “NCDR (including civil mediation and differences)”

Annie Ward delivered a webinar on recent developments in TOLATA and cohabitation claims, emphasising the importance of exploring non-court dispute resolution options before resorting to litigation. She covered procedural differences between family and civil lawyers, recent case law developments, and the challenges of proving changed common intention and constructive trusts without written agreements. The webinar concluded with a detailed discussion of alternative dispute resolution methods, including arbitration, mediation, and early neutral evaluation, highlighting their advantages over traditional court proceedings for efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution.

The slides from the session can be downloaded here (please email Chelsey Stuart if you would like to re-use the slides for your own purposes).

Annie has been dealing with cohabitation cases for almost 30 years and brings a wealth of experience to her cases. Unlike most solicitors, who will specialise in either family or civil procedure, Annie is experienced in both and can steer a claim through either jurisdiction. She has specialist knowledge of all of the types of litigation that cohabitation claims often overlap with – Children Act 1989 Schedule 1, engaged couples via the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 S.17, and claims for occupation rent or an equitable account. As head of the chambers NCDR Team, Annie will do her best to ensure that parties engage fully in mediation or arbitration to try and avoid the cost and uncertainty of court proceedings. As a qualified mediator and arbitrator, she has extensive experience of both processes and can give robust and practical strategic advice at an early stage (as an advocate) or she can be instructed to carry out mediations and arbitrations herself.