LawTorn: Conversations from the Frontline of Family Fights

LawTorn: Conversations from the Front Line of Family Fights

Hosted by Samara Dutton, Partner in our Private Wealth Disputes Team, and Philippa Dolan, Partner in our Family Team. LawTorn is a podcast exploring family law, divorce, wills disputes, and inheritance challenges.

When family disputes turn into legal battles, emotions run high and the court system can feel daunting. In this new podcast series, Samara and Philippa draw on their experience in family and inheritance law to unpack the legal processes while honouring the very human stories behind this kind of litigation. They discuss the emotional and practical difficulties their clients face, the similarities and differences between family and civil court’s approach to these, and how lawyers can help clients find resolution and regain a sense of calm amid conflict.

Our hosts will explore topics including common-law marriage, will challenges, prenups and postnups, as well as the moral questions that arise when families fracture. With insights from guest experts and colleagues, LawTorn aims to demystify complex legal concepts and procedures while making family law and dispute resolution more accessible.

If you have a question you’d like Samara and Philippa to discuss, please send it to lawtorn@collyerbristow.com. New episodes will be released on the last Monday of each month.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Appropriate legal or other professional opinion should be taken before taking or omitting to take any action in respect of any specific problem. Collyer Bristow LLP accepts no liability for any loss or damage which may arise from reliance on information contained in this material.

Contributors

Host

Philippa Dolan

Philippa is a Partner in Collyer Bristow's Family Law Team.

Philippa has a well-deserved reputation as an experienced family lawyer and she is also a respected mediator and collaborative lawyer. She is a fellow of the IAML reflecting the significant international element of her caseload, particularly in relation to high value financial claims.

Philippa writes frequently in the press on a range of legal topics and currently writes a monthly online column for Family Law. She is heard regularly on BBC radio and had a high profile case in 2013 concerning the injection of children with the MMR vaccine against their wishes, leading to considerable media coverage of the case and the issues it raised.

Philippa gave advice on the legal aspect of the divorce story line in Doctor Foster, the television drama about the breakdown of a marriage.

https://collyerbristow.com/people-listing/philippa-dolan/

Host

Samara Dutton

Samara is a key member of Collyer Bristow's Private Wealth Disputes team, specialising in trust disputes.

She represents trustees and beneficiaries in breach of trust claims, removals, and disputed trust administration, including cross-jurisdictional matters. Samara also has extensive experience in contested probate, handling will challenges based on capacity, undue influence, and fraud, as well as claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.

With a background in real estate litigation, her in-depth knowledge of property law is invaluable in cases involving trust assets or legacies tied to UK properties. Samara has successfully represented clients in proprietary estoppel and constructive trust claims. She also advises on managing UK affairs in light of international sanctions and unexplained wealth orders.

https://collyerbristow.com/people-listing/samara-dutton/