Family Mediator

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Rachael Oakes (Oxfordshire)

About Rachael

Working as an accredited family mediator I specialise in helping couples and families in dispute. I also sit as a Deputy District Judge. Before setting up Family Mediation and Mentoring LLP with my friend and colleague, Claire Colbert, I worked for almost 30 years as a specialist family lawyer and led a very successful family team in a major National Law firm. I understand in great detail the issues involved with separation, divorce and family disputes.

Going through separation and divorce and the transition that this requires can be very emotional and challenging. Family breakdown and family disputes are statistically one of the most stressful things a person can face in life. People are often worrying about the future, their children, how they are going to pay for everything and even where they are going to live.

At Family Mediation and Mentoring LLP we offer all the different types of mediation and we can meet with children. Our focus is to facilitate the resolution of any issue involving family breakdown, separation, divorce and its financial consequences, arrangements for children and any other kind of family dispute. Our aim is to keep people out of court and their legal fees to a minimum.

Whilst working as a family lawyer I was conscious that many couples wanted to meet with us together to obtain an understanding of the steps and options involved in divorce situations before they thought about instructing lawyers.

We have a unique Family Law Information Service so that individuals or couples can obtain from us the knowledge they need to help make informed decisions about what to do next. This service can reduce the risk of conflict, help reduce legal fees and assist people if they are representing themselves in the family court.

I can also support, through coaching and mentoring, clients dealing with family disputes and the lawyers that work with them. Our bespoke training programmes are aimed at supporting professionals working in the field of family law. I am professional, empathetic and friendly and provide my clients with solutions tailored to meet their individual needs and those of their family.

What clients say...

" You did not just sort out a divorce and a sensible settlement but you delivered a really elegant job that has enabled me to walk away feeling that the marriage had a fair end. Your skill gave me the confidence to move on. "

" When we felt completely out of our depth you went the extra mile to make us feel at ease and comfortable. Thank you for being so kind and helpful and for sorting my future life out! "

How I can help

Achieving an amicable separation and divorce, helping people to stay out of court and save legal fees
Resolving all sorts of family disputes, not just separation and divorce
Meeting with couples together to provide information about separation and divorce as a first step before lawyers are involved. This is our Family Law Information Meeting (FLIM)
Helping business owners and directors who have complicated business structures that need careful consideration in any separation or divorce situation
Supporting people where ongoing financial support is essential
International cases involving offshore and foreign assets, to include UK and foreign pension funds
Acting for people in the public eye in relation to their divorce so that everything remains private and confidential
Helping to sort out farming cases and landed estates
Wealth preservation with pre and post-marital agreements and separation and co-habitation agreements
Cohabitation claims including issues relating to the financial support of children of unmarried parents
Complex children cases to include both UK and international relocation
Child inclusive mediation – this gives children a voice in the divorce and separation process
Hybrid Mediation – where solicitors/lawyers can be involved in the mediation meetings and help their client reach an amicable agreement