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How can mediation help couples discuss prenuptial agreements?
Connie Atkinson
Connie is a Partner in the family team and has experience of dealing with all aspects of private family work relating to both finances and children.
Connie regularly advises on cases involving:
- Complex financial arrangements with particular expertise in divorces involving business and trust assets
- International elements including
- International relocation (also known as leave to remove)
- Cross border matrimonial disputes
- Jurisdiction races
- Pre and post nuptial agreements
- Issues concerning the arrangements for children in particular regarding relocation within England and Wales or abroad, financial provision for children (often knows as “Schedule 1 claims”) and cases involving high conflict or parental alienation
- International surrogacy
Connie regularly assists clients with the practical and financial implications arising out of their separation. Most of Connie’s clients or their partners work in the City and many have an international connection. Connie therefore regularly works with solicitors in other jurisdictions. She is praised for her sound judgment on cases and by clients for her diligence and support.
Connie has expertise in international surrogacy cases and helps parents with the parental order applications required following their children’s birth. On these cases, she works closely with members of our immigration team to resolve any issues in bringing the children home.
Connie is also a qualified mediator and assists her mediation clients with all issues surrounding family relationship breakdown. She has a measured approach and a calm and compassionate nature when navigating clients through the process.
She is recognised as a Rising Star Legal 500 UK 2021 for Family: Mediation and ranked in Chambers UK 2021 as up and coming in Family/Matrimonial.
Connie was one of the legal advisers on the script of The Split, Seasons 1, 2 & 3, a BBC drama series.
Connie joined Kingsley Napley as a trainee in 2008 and qualified into the family department in 2010. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at a South Devon law firm where she undertook both children and financial work. Connie obtained a law degree from Exeter University before attending the College of Law in Guildford for her legal practice course.
What clients and directories say
“Connie Atkinson always has a constructive and pragmatic approach – she is building a good mediation practice”
Legal 500 UK 2021
"Connie is a shining beacon for the next generation of collaborative lawyers."
Legal 500 UK 2021
Growing in poise and experience. She has an eye for detail and a strong sense of direction for her cases"
Legal 500 UK 2019
“I would not have pushed through this without your professionalism, advice and support. Thank you so much for making this very traumatizing situation easier for me”
“Thank you so much for all your support, patience and brains throughout, it was quite a rocky ride and you always managed to stay so calm”
“You have a special knack of reassuring and calming which really helped me through the last 14 months or so. There aren't too many things that can be more stressful than the possibility of losing your child (other than knowing for certain).”
“Your calmness and professionalism stands in stark contrast to the chaotic irrational aggression of your opposite number.”
“Thank you for absolutely everything - for your legal advice, appearances at court, counsel and, yes, friendship throughout the process(es). We always felt that the advice and encouragement we got from you went well beyond a simple fee paying client.”
“As ever it has been a pleasure to work with you on this case - and it was as ever brilliantly prepared and evidenced to the highest standard.”
“Thank you for all the time, effort and support that you and Charlotte have given to help us over the last year. We both really appreciate everything you have done to help us achieve what we believe to be the best for our family”
“You two have truly been fantastic. I know I can always count on you all! You've been so great!”
REcent CASES
- Y v Y (Financial Remedy: Marriage Contract) [2014] EWHC 2920 (Fam) - financial remedy proceedings in the High Court concerning the weight to be given to a foreign marriage contract
- Re: N 2016 UKSC 15 - intervening on behalf of The International Centre for Family Law Policy and Practice
- Re: R 2016/1437 - intervening on behalf of The International Centre for Family Law Policy and Practice
PUBLICATIONS
- Valuing your business for divorce proceedings during the uncertainty of COVID, Business Matters, May 2020
- When solicitors divorce: calculating an equity partner’s income - Law Society Gazette, March 2020
- Connie was one of the legal advisers on the script of The Split, Seasons 1 & 2, a BBC drama series, which aired in 2018 and 2020
- International surrogacy - the legal challenges for US nationals bringing a surrogate child to the UK, The American Magazine, April 2018
- Residency tested - A landmark case concerning habitual residence shows how the courts are adapting to social change - The Law Society Gazette, January 2014
- Child abduction: do children’s views count? - The Times, January 2014
Professional Societies and memberships and Awards
- Listed in the 'Recommended' tier in the Spear's 2021 Family Law Index
- Resolution (the association of family lawyers committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes)
- The Law Society – including the Family and the Junior Lawyers’ Divisions
- The Family Mediation Council
Further information
In her spare time, Connie enjoys cooking (and eating), netball and running.
Insight from Connie
Blog
The importance of seeking support from your employer when going through a divorce
Connie Atkinson
Blog
The legal position of international surrogacy in England and Italy and the recognition of foreign parental orders
Connie Atkinson
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