Zoe Robinson
Head of Private Client Department
01423 566666
zoe.robinson@raworths.co.uk
Background
Born in Lincoln
Educated: Newcastle University (LLB (Hons)) and College of Law
Previous roles: Reynolds Parry-Jones and Crawford
Joined Raworths 1989
Trained Family Mediator
Advanced member of Law Society’s Family Law Panel
Qualified to conduct Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings
Practitioner Member of the Law Society Family Mediation Accreditation Scheme
Member of Family Mediation Council
LSC Certificate of Recognition for All Issues Mediation
Trained Collaborative Lawyer
Member of Resolution
Legal specialisation
Zoe is a family law specialist. Particular areas of expertise include financial issues on a divorce or separation particularly for high net worth individuals where business and farming assets may be involved. Zoe also deals with private law children issues. Zoe uses her mediation skills obtained since 1997 to offer a range of services to clients. Zoe is also instructed by many legal practices throughout Yorkshire to carry out Mediation Information Assessment Meetings. Zoe trained as a Collaborative Lawyer in 2007 and whenever possible will consider the use of mediation as an alternative to the Court process.
Experience
Cases Zoe deals with on a daily basis include:
- Residence
- Contact
- Removal of children from the jurisdiction
- Determination of specific issues in respect of children
- Injunctions in relation to domestic advice / disposal of assets
- Pre-nuptial agreements
- Co-habitation issues
- Divorce procedure
- Separation issues
- Financial settlements
- Pension sharing, business assets and farming assets
In conversation
Why did you originally decide to specialise in Family Law ?
Every client has a story to tell and, although there are common themes, each case is unique.
Which of the accreditations you have obtained means the most to you and why ?
The certificate issued by The Legal Services Commission which authorises me to carry out publicly funded mediations. It was a demanding process to obtain accreditation involving a presentation and many months of preparation.
Do you just represent clients in the Harrogate District ?
I actually advise clients throughout Yorkshire, nationally and internationally.
What two pieces of advice do you find yourself giving most often to clients who are about to embark upon a divorce ?
I always encourage parents who are separating or divorcing to put their children’s needs first. Divorce does not necessarily harm children, it is the conflict between the parents that ordinarily causes the damage. Secondly, the more that you can agree between yourselves the better as the legal fees will only eat into the available assets at a time when finances are already stretched.
What is the most striking change you have seen to Family Law during your time in practice ?
This has to be the extent to which going to Court to resolve issues is now the exception as opposed to the norm. Most cases are settled without the need for a Court hearing.
Which area of Family Law do you think still needs to be reformed ?
It is unfortunate that we do not have a no fault system for divorce in this country. As a result, it is still frequently necessary to refer to grounds in support of a divorce petition such as unreasonable behaviour or adultery. This creates a more adversarial approach to the process for many parties which is unnecessary and frankly outdated.
As Head of the Private Client Department, what do you think is the greatest strength to the offering by Raworths ?
I believe that the common thread which runs through our team of lawyers is the ability to be professional but at the same time to empathise with the situations in which individuals find themselves.
