Laurus

Family mediation should never be treated as a box-ticking exercise. Safety comes first and the right screening at the start (and throughout) can make all the difference.

For Mediation Week 2026, Ingrid Starcic, Associate Partner at Laurus, shares how mediators assess suitability, identify red flags such as coercive control and put the right safeguards in place so the process is safe and fair for everyone involved.

Read the full Q&A here:

Family Mediation Safety and Screening | Laurus Mediation Week 2026 How do mediators assess whether family mediation is safe and suitable? Ingrid Starcic, Associate Partner at Laurus, explains screening, safeguarding, co-mediation and managing power imbalances.

Mediation Week 2026 is a great moment to pause and ask a simple question: is there a better way to resolve things than going to court?

This week, we’re sharing a short series of Q&As with our mediation team at Laurus, designed to give you a clear view of how mediation works in practice, when it’s suitable and how it can help separating couples move forward in a more constructive way.

First up is William Hogg, Head of Alternative Dispute Resolution, who explains why mediation is still underused and what high-quality mediation looks like when it’s done properly.

Read the full Q&A here and keep an eye out for the next three across the week:

Family Mediation Q&A with William Hogg | Mediation Week 2026 | Laurus William Hogg, Head of ADR at Laurus, explains how family mediation works, when it is suitable, and why it can be a constructive alternative to court during separation.

January is when people get organised. Reviews happen, decisions get made and the “we’ll sort it later” jobs suddenly move to the top of the list.

One theme we’re hearing consistently through our conversations with experts across the wealth management and financial planning community is this: clients often have strong financial plans in place, but the legal framework beneath them has not always kept pace.

Wills drafted years ago, no LPAs in place, or assumptions around marriage/cohabitation that don’t stand up legally. It’s rarely urgent until it suddenly is.

At Laurus, we take a joined-up approach to legal wellbeing, working alongside trusted advisers to ensure the legal foundations properly support the wider plan.

Read the full piece here:

What Financial Advisers Are Seeing in January Reviews: Wills & LPAs Falling Behind January client reviews are highlighting a common gap: strong financial planning, but outdated wills and missing LPAs. Here’s what advisers are seeing and how to fix it.

Thinking of helping with a deposit this Christmas? Our new Property Law Unpacked guide explains how to protect a parental gift, what lenders require, and how a declaration of trust can give everyone peace of mind.

https://ow.ly/kHyv50XGqYW

The family courts are under growing pressure, leading to longer waits and higher costs for families. In this guide, our Family Law team outlines the key non-court options available, from mediation and collaborative law to arbitration and private FDRs, and how each can help families reach resolution faster and with less stress.

Exploring Non-Court Routes to Resolution | Laurus Family Law Delays in the family courts have led many separating couples to explore non-court dispute resolution. Laurus explains mediation, arbitration, private FDRs, and more.