Selena Arbe-Barnes

Selena is an FMA (Family Mediators Association) qualified mediator and is working towards accreditation. She mediates on the full range of family law issues, from the division of finances through to complex child arrangement disputes. Selena offers mediations in person and online.

Practising also as a family solicitor, Selena has a deep understanding of the legal issues that affect couples that separate or divorce – and of the legal framework that is in place. For many years, she has been consistently ranked in the family law world by Legal 500 (and other directories) as a leading family lawyer at her level. Selena is also highly attuned to the relational aspects of family breakdown, having undertaken training on systemic thinking with the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. With the benefit of this expertise, she is well placed to support couples navigating the practical, legal and emotional aspects of separation.

You can view Selena’s lawyer profile here.

Selena co-presented at a workshop at the 2025 Family Mediators Association annual conference on integrative mediation; the workshop brought together the expertise and experience of a financial planner, psychotherapist and mediators to educate and generate discussion with follow mediators on ways to bring in different professionals to the mediation space, to carve out thought through, nuanced solutions for mediation participants.

Selena’s recent mediations include:

• Mediating for a couple after more than 20 years of marriage, with a complex investment portfolio and properties in UK, Europe and Asia. The case required careful thought to balance the wife’s needs in later life against the husband’s high earning potential in a demanding role.

• Mediating for a couple who had competing proposals for an international relocation of their family following their separation and divorce. The issues were nuanced, culturally specific and emotionally charged; reframing the issues effectively in mediation enabled the parents to find common ground in a way that they had not been able to in their direct discussions.