2025 Jersey International Family Law Conference Non-Court Dispute Resolution
8th October 2025
Image: CLQ October Family Law Conference Jersey
Thank you to everyone who joined us this year at the Jersey International Family Law Conference. It was a wonderful weekend and it is always such a pleasure to see everyone having a brilliant time, learning from each other and to be around people who are so passionate about family law.
We really appreciate all the lovely feedback and posts on LinkedIn, it makes all the hard work worth while. Here are some of the comments we have seen and had to share...
"Thank you as always Corbett Le Quesne for another fantastic International Family Law Conference in beautiful Jersey. The Manders Law team see this is one of the highlights of our year … I think this is our 6th year of attendance! We have attended so many times that rituals have been established like our famous Backgammon sessions on the terrace at L’Horizon!... Well done Barbara Corbett and Lizzie Keogh for pulling it off so seamlessly yet again."
"Extending an extra special thanks to all involved in the amazing International Family Law Conference 2025. Storm Amy...didn't prevent a great series of talks with fantastic catch ups with so many of you. The ADR focus was a good one. Extra special thanks also to the indomitable Lizzie Keogh for all the coordination for the event."
"There are few conferences here you feel welcomed, comfortable and come away feeling like you’ve made friends as well as connections. Thank you Barbara Corbett for your company at lunch and the walk back. Thank you Lizzie Keogh for steering the ship and keeping everything ticking like clockwork. Over and out, goodbye Jersey, you’ve been brilliant!"
"Just reflecting on last week's Jersey Family Law Conference and yes! I made it back through Storm Amy with a slightly bumpy flight but plenty of good memories to carry home! It was lovely to catch up with colleagues and meet so many new people in family law. The conversations will hopefully grow into future collaborations, and the whole event was a great reminder of why I find family law so rewarding. A massive thanks for the organisers Corbett Le Quesne - I’m really looking forward to the next time we all come together."
"Such an honour to present a George's Law update to a 100 plus audience (standing room only!) at the Women in Family Law Corbett Le Quesne conference in Jersey yesterday. What amazing feedback we’ve had and I feel so lucky to work within such a supportive cheerleading profession. Seeing your faces and hearing your support keeps George’s legacy alive."
"Another inspiring year at the Corbett Le Quesne International Family Law Conference in Jersey last weekend! I’ve been attending this conference annually, and each year it somehow manages to raise the bar. This year’s theme — Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) — couldn’t have been more timely or relevant, with a programme packed full of insight, innovation, and practical takeaways... The speaker line-up was exceptional... The warm-up drinks on Thursday evening at The Yard, Jersey Museum were a perfect start — relaxed, welcoming, and full of great conversation. Huge thanks to Barbara Corbett and Nicholas Le Quesne for continuing to host this brilliant event year after year. And a special thank you to Lizzie Keogh — the organisational powerhouse behind it all — for keeping us all on track and making it such a smooth and enjoyable experience. The conference was rounded off beautifully with a delicious dinner at La Corbière Phare on Saturday — a perfect setting to relax and connect with colleagues despite the gale force winds outside. And then some of us took part in the Jersey Marathon. Just for fun. Thank you to my fellow Relay Runners for the support. And I managed to bring the Resolution Cohabitation Handbook to yet another country on its tour — a small but symbolic reminder of how far our conversations around family law reform are reaching. Already looking forward to next year’s October conference!"
"Lovely couple of days at the annual Corbett Le Quesne conference in Jersey. Loved catching up with so many friends. The recovery was less fun, but always worth it!"
"Delighted to have been part of the 2025 cohort at the Jersey International Family Law Conference Corbett Le Quesne. It certainly exceeded all of my expectations and I would like to thank Lizzie Keogh Barbara Corbett Nicholas Le Quesne and everyone involved for an enriching experience. So many highlights including the Women in Family Law event on the Friday morning with Keeley Lengthorn sharing her heartfelt journey with George's Law and charity ABIGAIL'S FOOTSTEPS. The focus of NCDR - out of court options provided the platform for so many insightful discussions... different perspectives and the love of the work we do. The lighthouse lunch was such a treat and I loved catching up with so many of you....Even had time for a few refreshing swims...."
"Once again the Jersey International Family Conference organised by Corbett Le Quesne and the inimitable Lizzie Keogh was a resounding success. With the highest attendance ever for a theme devoted entirely to NCDR it just shows that a tide has turned in the way we practice family law... Such a wonderful opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new but like-minded practitioners...Already looking forward to next year."
"Many thanks to Barbara Corbett with Lizzie Keogh (seen still smiling on Saturday afternoon) and Nicholas Le Quesne for organising such an interesting conference in beautiful Jersey. It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to consider many different initiatives to assist our clients in resolving their family issues, without resorting to our crumbling court system."
"Great reading everyone’s posts from the Corbett Le Quesne annual International Family Law Conference and seeing how it not only creates a great knowledge base but a way of bringing the Family Law community together...Fantastic organisation as always from Lizzie Keogh"
"I really enjoyed attending the 2025 Jersey International Family Law Conference at L’Horizon, focused on Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR).
It was inspiring to hear from leading practitioners...as well as to hear how successful the Family Foundation Project is in Jersey — presented by our own Family Judge, Samantha McFadzean. A big thank you to Barbara Corbett and Corbett Le Quesne team for hosting such a well-organised and thought-provoking event, and for continuing to champion non-court pathways in family law."
"A hugely enjoyable weekend at the Corbett Le Quesne Jersey International Family Law Conference. It was great to see so many familiar faces at the conference but also to meet lots of new people. The weather was a little on the wild side but that added to the atmosphere at what must surely be the most beautiful venue on the conference calendar? Thanks to Nicholas Le Quesne Barbara Corbett Lizzie Keogh for your splendid hospitality and organisation. Such a superbly organised event."
"I had a fabulous few days attending the International Family Law Conference in Jersey hosted by Corbett Le Quesne. Brilliant as always to catch up with family law colleagues and meeting new ones in what is always and warm and welcoming event. Thank you once again Lizzie Keogh for all you do to organise such a great event."
"A huge thank you to the fantastic team at Corbett Le Quesne — Barbara Corbett, Nicholas Le Quesne , Lizzie Keogh, Kate Donohue and everyone involved for hosting yet another excellent Jersey International Finance Conference focused on NCDR. It was a real pleasure catching up with so many talented family lawyers... It is always so lovely to connect, share ideas, and exchange perspectives with colleagues who are shaping the future of family law. It was equally lovely to meet new colleagues and continue building meaningful professional connections."
"There was some stormy weather but was an absolute privilege to be in Jersey to present to the Corbett Le Quesne 2025 International Family Law Conference on NCDR on the role of civil style mediation for family lawyers. Many thanks to Barbara Corbett for inviting me to speak...Not forgetting of course the inimitable Lizzie Keogh who is the cat herder/ organiser par excellence."
"Thank you Barbara Corbett & Nicholas Le Quesne for yet another great conference where friends warmly re-connect and new connections are made. Smiles everywhere. Corbett Le Quesne have created a community where it is a total pleasure to revisit each year. Factor in the extraordinary organisation skills of Lizzie Keogh (thank you again) and the most beautiful Jersey landscapes and no wonder we all want to come back each year!"
None of this would be possible without our fantastic sponsors so a huge thank you once again to all of you and it was a pleasure to see you all:
This is our press release following the event:
Corbett Le Quesne’s Jersey International Family Law Conference took place on Friday the 3rd of October. The sold out event brought 250 visitors to the island, attracting delegates from as far away as New Zealand and Bermuda.
The conference focused on non-court dispute resolution (NCDR). A year ago changes were introduced in England and Wales designed to encourage families to resolve their issues out of court. Whether or not those changes have worked could impact how Jersey approaches the issue. Increasingly in England and Wales, because the court system is so overloaded, family lawyers look to alternative ways of resolving their clients’ problems. In Jersey our Family Court is in much better shape but it is almost always better to reach agreement without having to go to court for a contested hearing.
A very important part of the conference was a description from local Family Court Judge Samantha McFadzean, about Family Foundation. This is a peculiarly Jersey system where the Family Court assists parties to resolve matters without making a formal court application. The scheme, administered by Family Proceedings Office Louise Bond, uses mediation skills together with support from the judiciary and JFCAS (Jersey Family Court Advisory Service) to provide a free resolution service for people going through separation or divorce. It is especially helpful where there are children.
Renowned family lawyer Suzanne Kingston, nicknamed the ‘Queen of mediation and arbitration’ helped plan the conference and Sir Nicholas Francis, the key note speaker, was one of the pioneers of the private Financial Dispute Resolution process in the UK.
Advocate Corbett said “Our conferences are designed to benefit the local legal community as well as the international one. This year has been a particularly collaborative effort as Suzanne Kingston, who works with Carey Olsen helped arrange the conference and Sir Nicholas Francis is a consultant at Myersons. We are very pleased that so many leaders in their fields were able to come to share their expert knowledge with us and all the very many solicitors and barristers from the UK and further afield who came to make the conference such a success. It is also very gratifying that everyone who comes to the conference is bowled over by how lovely Jersey is, a sentiment with which of course we wholeheartedly agree!”
Corbett Le Quesne’s Office Manager Lizzie Keogh has been shortlisted for a Family Law Champion Award by the Family Law Awards for her contribution to the legal community for arranging these conferences.
Autism Jersey, Corbett Le Quesne’s charity of the year attended the event to raise money through a charity raffle and raised over £3,000.
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