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.
LawTorn: Conversations from the Frontline of Family Fights
The Role of Financial Coaching in Family Disputes with Kristin Cunliffe
In this episode of Law Torn, Samara and Philippa are joined by their first guest, Kristin Cunliffe, to discuss the role emotions play in financial decision-making during family litigation.
Kristin is a financial planner, financial coach and educator with over 25 years’ experience supporting individuals through divorce and bereavement. She explains how financial coaching differs from traditional financial advice, focusing on a client’s relationship with money rather than budgeting or financial management.
The episode explores why clients may struggle to settle disputes, even when they understand the legal and financial risks of litigation. Samara and Philippa reflect on the challenges of advising clients where emotions, grief or a sense of injustice influence strategic decisions, particularly in disputes arising from relationship breakdown or loss.
Kristin also discusses how early experiences with money, financial personality types and unresolved emotional responses can affect behaviour during legal proceedings. The conversation considers how financial coaching can complement legal advice by helping clients separate emotional responses from the practical realities of litigation, engage more constructively with settlement discussions, and begin to plan for life beyond the dispute.
This episode provides insight into the emotional and financial dynamics that often sit beneath family litigation, and the value of additional support alongside the legal process.
Stay tuned — new episodes will be released on the last Monday of each month.
For questions or feedback, please contact us at lawtorn@collyerbristow.com.
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