FLiP’s Victoria Nottage and Kara Swift Featured in Family Law Journal

We are delighted that Family Law in Partnership’s practice development lawyer, Victoria Nottage, and Kara Swift, a senior associate at the firm have an article featured in the Family Law Journal, January 2023 edition.

In the article “Where is the case law on the doctrine of detrimental reliance and to a wider extend how does this impact the need for a change in the law on cohabitation?” Victoria and Kara begin with an analysis of the case of Hudson v Hathway [2022] EWHC 631 (QB). They then move on to a brief consideration of the timely Supreme Court decision in Guest and another v Guest [2022] UKSC 27, to look at the way the Court applies the doctrine of detrimental reliance and more widely, to consider the breadth of the Court’s approach to cases involving claims over property.

They set this in the context of the issues highlighted by the Women and Equalities Committee Report on the Rights of Cohabiting Partners and the (also timely) response of the Government rejecting those proposals. They reflect on the need for reform of the law applying to cohabiting couples who are left vulnerable in the event that their relationship ends.

Kara Swift 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 was named both Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year 2019 in the prestigious LexisNexis Family Law Awards, and a Rising Star family lawyer by the Legal 500 UK 2022.

Victoria Nottage is responsible for knowledge management and professional development at Family Law in Partnership.