NEWS NEW FAMILY PARTNER FOR CLARKE WILLMOTT in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the other leading independent directory, Chambers and Partners. Adam specialises in advising on the complex financial issues arising out of divorce and relationship breakdown being regularly instructed in cases which involve significant wealth. Adam has considerable experience advising clients in cases which involve businesses, trusts, pension arrangements and arguments relating to nuptial agreements, third party interests in land, and pre-marital and inherited assets. In addition, Adam is often instructed to deal with high conflict private law children matters involving elements of domestic violence and relocation issues. He also has niche experience of private adoption proceedings. National law firm Clarke Willmott LLP has added a new partner to its family team in Birmingham. Clarke Willmott continues to expand its national family law team with the addition of Adam Maguire as partner in the Birmingham Office. Adam joins Clarke Willmott from national law firm Shoosmiths where he latterly headed their Birmingham Family team. Adam has been recommended in the leading independent industry directory, the Legal 500, since 2017 being recommended as a "Rising Star" in the 2021 and 2022 editions. He was also recognised as an “Associate to Watch”
time; time to adjust; time to assess and time to build a relationship. The expert needs to know how the child will communicate; will they speak? Use a computer? Can they complete a written exercise? Do they need their crutch i.e. a teddy, a fidget toy? There also needs to be consideration of where meetings will take place, will they need someone that they are comfortable with in the meeting? Does it need to be somewhere familiar to the child? Does the child have a particular fear that needs to be addressed when going into new environments i.e. fear of loud noises, sensitivity to light. My child can tell you where every fire alarm, fire bell and fire exit is in his school, take him to a new environment and this would be his first concern. There needs to be awareness that issues such as lack of eye contact doesn’t mean that the child isn’t listening or doesn’t understand. They will be processing in their own way.
Rayner Grice, partner and head of the Birmingham family team at Clarke Willmott, said: “Adam is highly commended for his technical ability and expertise as well as being the Vice Chair of Resolution West Midlands. I have admired Adam’s approach to resolving matters sensibly and pragmatically for a number of years. “Adam’s tenacity and reputation as a no-nonsense practitioner who takes a smart and strategic approach to cases as well as delivering excellent client service is well suited to the ethos of our team. We are delighted that he has agreed to join us and he will be greatly beneficial to our busy team.”
There has to be acceptance that some autistic children can be prone to tantrums or outbursts, noises, stimming (such as arm or hand-flapping, rocking or other body movements), or lack of eye contact. These aren’t a sign of bad parenting or that a child isn’t listening. They are signs of coping or lack of coping and of self-regulation. If these behaviours exhibit during a meeting, how do you address it? If a parent spends time with a child and the child returns to the other parent and exhibits these behaviours, then is the child coping and do steps need to be taken to address the cause? Ignoring and simply saying they will cope is not an option. Change can be one of the biggest hurdles for autistic people. How can this be managed in a child? They will possibly already be coping with major life changes such a parental separation, move of home, even move of school and if further changes
LEGAL COMMENT ON THE SUE GRAY FINDINGS Gerry Bermingham, Barrister at No5 Barristers’ Chambers and member of Birmingham Law Society, comments on the impact of Sue Gray’s findings on those who have already received penalties as a result of breaking restrictions: “The important question is what is the Law and what has a person done? In the case of COVID, there were rules laid down which were meant to be obeyed by everyone and these were approved by Parliament. There were penalties attached which applied to all and so the question is, has that person breached the rules? “Boris Johnson is a citizen like anyone else and the rules apply to him equally. It will be for the Courts and others to determine who has broken the rules and, if so, what penalties will be imposed. “Penalties already imposed can only be removed by a general amnesty, no matter the findings from today’s report. The rule of law applies to everyone equally.”
are to be introduced then how can these be managed in a way that causes as little distress as possible. It might take longer than the “norm” for arrangements to embed. It might require a very gradual build so that the child can adjust and in all cases it will require patience from both parents. In a Family Court system that is already under pressure and with stretched resources, the concepts of taking time and building relationships are not always a luxury that can be afforded. For autistic children they are unavoidable and have to be respected to secure an outcome that is in the best interests of the child. Alternative approaches to court proceedings should always be considered, such as arbitration, family therapy, and child inclusive mediation. These alternatives can provide more time and space to take an autistic child’s needs into account and shape a process which works for them.
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