Elizabeth Isaacs QC – Qualified Arbitrator; The Numerous Benefits of Arbitration
Arbitration offers parties the opportunity to opt out of the Court process completely and obtain a final, binding determination from a jointly appointed, family law specialist. Arbitration offers an affordable and reliable alternative to ensure that disputes are resolved quickly, fairly and at proportionate cost. The parties can agree the level of detail and disclosure they wish to provide. Another advantage of arbitration is that, unlike Court proceedings, it is absolutely confidential with no access to the press. The parties can choose their arbitrator and even choose to limit the issues to put before the arbitrator at any one stage.
Arbitration offers numerous significant benefits when compared to traditional litigation, including the opportunity for the parties to:
- handpick an experienced family law specialist arbitrator to deal with their dispute continuously from beginning to end;
- choose where, when and on what timetable their dispute should be determined;
- set their own procedural and evidential parameters, including as to:
- the nature and extent of the disclosure required; and
- the nature and extent of any hearing;
- include as much or as little material in the bundle as is appropriate to the case;
- deal singly with discreet issues, at either an interim or final stage; and
- agree how any issues regarding costs should be approached by the Arbitrator.
Elizabeth is the Head of St Ives Chambers. She is a specialist child law silk, Deputy High Court Judge and Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. She is a qualified Children’s Arbitrator registered with the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators. She has a national reputation for a strategic and collaborative approach, excellent advocacy, forensic preparation and is highly regarded for her compassionate style with clients. She is a contributing editor to the Family Court Practice. In 2019 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Coventry University in recognition of her contribution to family law and equality law. Elizabeth is a member of the Family Law Bar Association, LGBT Family Law Institute UK & Ireland, and is a trustee of the Donor Conception Network. She is an expert authority in all aspects of private child law disputes, with particular interests in LGBT parenting issues, parental alienation, habitual residence, relocation, disputes about education, religion and medical issues, and surrogacy and fertility law. She is frequently instructed in cases following breakdown of surrogacy arrangements or same-sex parenting arrangements.
Elizabeth is able to conduct arbitration hearings in person in chambers in Birmingham, London, Liverpool or Manchester, or is very happy to travel to any venue as requested. She is also able to conduct hearings remotely if required, and at weekends or out of normal working hours.
Elizabeth is available for instruction via Chambers and as member of; Integrated Dispute Resolution (IDR), a legal and associated support services directory and FOMAS, the Family Online Mediation and Arbitration Service. FOMAS is a subsidiary of IDR and is an organisation which aims to make alternative dispute resolution available to everyone, regardless of the issues surrounding their dispute and their personal circumstances by having a nationwide network of expert lawyers, mediators, private ‘judges’ and arbitrators, all with a wide range of specialist skills and experience.
To view Elizabeth Isaacs QC’s profile please click here.
To visit Integrated Dispute Resolution please click here.
To visit FOMAS please click here.
