Kara Swift
Senior Associate
Kara advises on all aspects of private family law, supporting a wide range of married and unmarried clients following separation to resolve matters relating to their children, finances and property rights with diligence and care. Kara is a qualified collaborative lawyer. She was named Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year 2019 in the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards, and is ranked as a Rising Star family lawyer by Legal 500 UK.
“I want to help each of my clients select and then navigate the process that is best for them by providing pragmatic advice on the options available and by instilling a sense of confidence in their future. I understand the need to be adaptable and can provide effective advice on solicitor led negotiation, mediation, the collaborative process and litigation”
Expertise →
Kara is a Senior Associate at Family Law in Partnership. She advises on all aspects of private family law, supporting a wide range of married and unmarried clients following separation to resolve matters relating to their children, finances and property rights with diligence and care. Kara is a qualified collaborative lawyer offering her clients the opportunity to use the collaborative process to reach a solution to their family law matters.
Kara was involved in preparing the firm’s submission to the Women and Equalities Committee on the Rights of Cohabiting Couples (July 2021). In this video, Kara talks in detail about the rights and responsibilities of unmarried couples.
Kara has a particular interest in the law relating to surrogacy. She ran an awareness campaign at FLiP for National Surrogacy Week 2023 and has recorded a podcast with a barrister specialising in this field of law which can be accessed here.
The Legal 500 UK has ranked Kara as a Rising Star for family law for a number of years, including in its 2024 edition. Earlier editions note: “Kara Swift would be exceptional in whichever field of law she chose. I am particularly glad that she chose Family. I completely depended on her for calm and effective advice – in what could have been an exceptionally difficult divorce but which Kara kept on track”. The 2023 and 2024 editions of UK Best Lawyers have also named Kara as ‘One to Watch’.
Kara was named Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year 2019 in the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards, having been shortlisted for the award the previous year too. Kara was also named winner in the Lawyer Monthly Magazine Women in Law Awards 2019.
Kara is a member of the Young Adviser Network where she has built strong relationships with wealth managers, international tax advisers and forensic accountants.
Representative Matters →
Kara’s recent work includes:
- Representing a client with an interest in an extensive property portfolio and associated taxation issues on their divorce.
- Advising unmarried clients on the financial claims arising from having a child.
- Representing parents who both seek to stop the other parent from moving the child abroad and parents who apply to the court for permission to move the child abroad.
- Advising on a pre-nuptial agreement to separate the beneficiary’s interest in a trust from marital assets.
- Representing the legal owner of a property in court proceedings where the former cohabitee sought to claim a beneficial interest in the property.
- Representing a client in relation to an application for a stay of the English court proceedings where the other party wanted the divorce to be dealt with in another jurisdiction.
Reported Cases →
Kara’s reported cases include Dobson v Griffey [2018] EWHC 1117 (Ch) in which she represented the defendant in his successful defence against a claim by his former partner for a share of the proceeds of sale of the property in which they had previously lived together. A detailed analysis of this case appeared in the legal publication, LexisNexis which can be found here.
Career →
Kara trained and qualified as a solicitor at Taylor Vinters before moving to Family Law in Partnership in 2016.
She is a graduate of the University of Reading (Bachelor of Laws (LLB), First Class) where she won the Boyes Turner negotiation competition and was awarded the University of Reading Family Law Prize. Kara achieved a distinction in the Legal Practice Course.
In her spare time, Kara mentors law students at the University of Reading.
Kara’s Clients Say…
“Thank you for being amazing”
Former client
“I’ve felt that you have gone the extra mile. I was very despondent before I walked into our first meeting at your offices but left feeling very positive and more importantly I had total confidence in the company and you as an individual. I felt you were totally the right person to represent me”
Former client
“You have been a huge support, I think beyond the call of duty, and I shall always be grateful for that…..I would have no hesitation recommending you”
Former client
“Kara is truly epic!”
Former client
“I have no hesitation in extolling Kara’s professionalism, ability to conduct demanding litigation and skills as a leading solicitor”
Barrister
“Well resourced and knowledgeable, Kara offers a professional service and a clear and focused strategy. Highly recommended”
Former Client
“Kara’s manner, advice and professionalism belie her youth. She has a forensic mind and a tactical “nose” for cases. She is also able to react quickly to evidence as it changes and respond intelligently to challenges unanticipated when the case began. Her careful attention to detail as well as a clear ability to see the bigger picture in cases is also noteworthy.”
Barrister, QC
“Kara is a very impressive junior solicitor and is always a pleasure to work with. She is completely on top of her game and is an extremely impressive and able solicitor.”
Barrister, QC
“Kara prepares cases with meticulous detail. She has an astounding ability to see a case through various lenses ensuring that a holistic and reasonable approach is taken. In complex cases, Kara hones in on the crucial case defining elements whilst also keeping the bigger picture in sight. I have also seen the incredible warmth and care Kara has for her clients. She understands that sometimes what appear to be the biggest sticking points are actually emotional ones and she navigates that complex path with kindness and razor-sharp precision.”
Tax Consultant
“I have been more impressed than I can say with how Kara managed the recent case on which we worked together.”
Barrister
“Kara combines an unusual level of efficiency with pinpoint accuracy. My clients have always spoken in the highest terms about Kara. They like her for the fact that she is both extremely robust and extremely kind – which is not always an easy combination to achieve.”
Barrister
“Working with Kara Swift….. is a masterclass in how family law should be done….forward thinking, highly creative and committed to fixing family problems in a pragmatic and empathic way”
Legal 500 UK 2023
11th December 2023
Family Law: A Look Back at the Key Moments of 2023
Kara Swift
Senior Associate Kara Swift looks back at some of the key moments in family law in 2023.
19th December 2023
Kara Swift Writes For DCN Perspectives Magazine, Winter Edition
Senior Associate Kara Swift has written an article for the DCN Perspectives winter edition magazine on modern families.23rd November 2023
FLiP’s Cohabitation Week – Video #4 – The Importance of Obtaining Legal Advice
Senior Associate Kara Swift highlights the importance obtaining legal advice when going through a separation from your partner.7th August 2023
National Surrogacy Week: Proposed Law Reform
Kara Swift
To round off National Surrogacy Week, Kara Swift discusses the proposed law reform for surrogacy. Kara provides a…21st April 2023
Separated Parents: Travelling with Children: A Podcast
In this episode of the FLiP podcast, we examine the issues that separated parents need to think about…24th January 2023
Divorce & Separation: Enforcing a Financial Order
Kara Swift
In this blog, FLiP’s Kara Swift explains how you can enforce a financial order made following a divorce…Get Started Online
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