Today's Family Lawyer Podcast host David Opie welcomes Kate Daly, co-founder of amicable to discuss the evolution of the business since it launched in 2015; to a point where it now is one of the largest providers of family law services in the UK by virtue of the number of consent orders it submits annually.

Founded by Kate, a psychologist by profession, and Pip Wilson, and driven by a desire to find a better way to separate following Kate's own separation, the goal initially was to create an app to help couples prepare for divorce by organising their finances and child arrangements before seeking legal help. However it soon became apparent people wanted more.

Kate speaks candidly about the impact of the High Court case which ultimately validated amicable's service offering and centred on the delivery of legal services as an unregulated entity.

Kate also discusses the role technology plays in the business and how it underpins the human element of the business; tackles hourly billing and increasingly accounting for changing consumer attitudes including payment credit options; and the delivery of high quality legal services, regardless of regulation.

In 2023 Octopus Group acquired a majority stake in amicable enabling it to further expand its service offering and provide financial and legal support, and a holistic approach to divorce and separation.

"We are trying to change the narrative around divorce and separation" concludes Kate, acknowledging there is no one size fits all and amicable is not always the best route for couples. "We are just one of the many ways, but the more the public has an understanding of the different ways (including mediation and arbitration) the better."

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsor; VacantC Legal Recruitment.

The Co-Parent Way is a co-parenting methodology developed by Marcie Shaoul; with a history working in the diplomatic service in 2016 Marcie launched her consultancy aimed at helping co-parents better communicate with one another and place their children at the centre of the relationship.

She describes how she saw the same patterns emerging in separating couples after her work with government and civil society. Of her work Marcie says "you can have the same north star, the same place you're heading to; but you're doing it in very different ways" referencing the importance of language, culture, and listening.

Her book, The Co-Parenting Method, launched in 2025, details her six step process which not only helps those going through separation, but professionals working with couples in conflict to help them navigate the unexpected next steps of their lives.

In the course of the discussion Marcie explores her six steps which broadly cover

1) moving from a short term mindset and understanding you are co-parenting for the rest of your life

2) the ability to manage strong emotions; not ignore them, adds Marcie, but find ways to put them to one side to enable better communications

3) recognise changing boundaries and redefine new boundaries between you and your co-parent and children

4) establish ways to communicate without conflict, recognising it takes two to be in conflict so by using the right tools and not escalating situations, potential flashpoints remain calmer

5) making good parenting decisions; including how often do you meet, where do you meet, how you behave etc

6) moving from surviving to thriving; taking control of the things you can and understanding you can make a conscious choice around things you can't control.

The book comes three years after the landmark "No-Fault Divorce" legislation and at a time when the language of family law is under scrutiny, which, says Marcie, has changed, and will continue to change, the divorce landscape.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.

In the latest episode of the Today's Family Lawyer podcast, host David Opie sits down with James Nutt, Laboratory Operations Manager at Cansford Laboratories, to explore a fresh perspective on the use of hair strand testing in the family courts.

This episode delves into the complexities behind what many might see as a straightforward scientific process. James offers an alternative view on how hair samples are prepared, how substances such as drugs or alcohol are extracted and tested, and what the results actually mean when they're presented in a legal setting.

A key focus of the discussion is the interpretation of results—particularly the often-misunderstood concept of cut-off levels, which determine whether a substance is reported as present or not. James explains the industry standards around these thresholds, their role in ensuring consistency across laboratories, and the importance of recognising both their strengths and limitations.

The conversation also touches on the variability of hair types and colours, external environmental factors such as UV exposure, and even how conditions like pregnancy can impact hair growth and potentially influence results. With such variability, James urges caution against over-reliance on hair strand test results in isolation.

Listeners will also gain insights into how hair analysis can help build a historical pattern of substance use, the challenges of testing for emerging drugs, and the importance of ongoing education and awareness for both practitioners and the courts.

The Today's Family Lawyer podcast is available on your preferred podcast provider and at www.todaysfamilylawyer.co.uk.

Subscribe to Today's Family Lawyer to receive our FREE weekly newsletter, out every Thursday and listen in to the podcast to hear all the latest news and views from across the family law sector. Thank you to our Podcast Sponsors; LexTox and VacantC Legal Recruitment.