The Today's Family Lawyer Podcast welcomes UK managing director at Stowe Family Law Rachel Roberts on to discuss leading the UK's largest specialist family law practice through an era of unprecedented change.

Stowe now span roughly 100 offices across England, Wales, and Scotland and like law firms up and down the country, is grappling with balancing growth, staff development, private equity investment and investing in technology, with the deeply personal, human touch required in family law.

Roberts talks candidly about how the firm is approaching these challenges; from managing shifting expectations of modern consumers, who increasingly rely on tools like Google and ChatGPT to research their legal issues; to major digital investment, building a bespoke case management system featuring early-stage artificial intelligence; and building career paths that offer distinct progression routes for those focusing purely on legal practice and those pursuing leadership roles.

The business is also exploring how it can expand its services by introducing unbundled options for cost-conscious clients, and a "two-client, one-lawyer" service offering a less adversarial approach.

Given the timing of the discussion, the conversation inevitably turns to the topic of cohabitation reform where reform is long overdue. Roberts reflects the views of many family lawyers who have campaigned for greater protection for cohabiting couples and welcomes the consultation. There is, she acknowledges, a tension between providing protection and imposing legal obligations on people who have not actively chosen them. But focusing on meeting needs rather than sharing, goes some way to addressing this and addressing public misconceptions about “common law marriage” is both important and right; public education will be essential to ensure individuals understand both their rights and any options to opt out of the new regime.

Looking ahead, Roberts predicts that worsening court delays will accelerate the adoption of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) methods and drive a gradual shift away from traditional hourly billing toward outcome-based pricing models. Indeed, ensuring family law remains dynamic, flexible, and forward-looking is just as important as core legal expertise concludes Roberts.

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