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Arbitrators

Laura Buchan

3PB, London

Work Department

Family

Position

Laura Buchan is a busy private law children, financial remedies and TOLATA specialist barrister, appearing in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Family Courts. Laura has developed a particular specialism in cases involving crypto-assets and costs arguments. Her experience ranges from needs to sharing cases.

Laura prides herself on her unique blend of warmth and professionalism which enables her to communicate openly, clearly and effectively with both her instructing solicitors and her lay clients. She has long adopted a collaborative approach with those instructing solicitors, ensuring that clients get the best experience from their legal team working in unison.

A passionate advocate and exponent of non-court dispute resolution, Laura has been instructed within round table meetings, mediations, arbitrations and private FDRs, where she is often instructed as a private FDR evaluator. Just this month (January 2025), she completed a TOLATA mediation as well.

Laura is a regular contributor to the magazine, High Net Worth about divorce, access to children and disputes between parents. She also regularly delivers seminars both in person and online on a variety of financial remedy-related topics.

A former Joint-Head of Pupillage with her former chambers, Laura is a pupil supervisor and active in pupil recruitment and training.

In her free time, Laura is a rugby fanatic having previously played in Bristol and internationally. She still regularly attends rugby matches both at club and international level. Laura spends the remainder of her time with her husband and two labrador dogs.
Financial Remedy
Family barrister Laura Buchan is regularly instructed in financial remedy proceedings. She has extensive experience in dealing with complex proceedings, including pre-liminary issue hearings involving both commercial and family assets.

She frequently advises and attends court dealing with issues of inheritance, crypto-assets, maintenance, interim applications and whether assets are likely to be considered matrimonial or not.

Laura also has experience on navigating proceedings when the question of capacity has arisen and the involvement of the Official Solicitor.

Laura also accepts instructions as a private FDR evaluator.
Private Law Children
Laura frequently represents parties across the full range of family law issues, including child arrangements, non-molestation and occupation orders.

She has particular experience in matters involving complex issues of UK and international relocation, change of residence, alienating behaviours and cases involving allegations of serious emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Laura also has experience in recovery orders and enforcement.

She is regularly instructed in international relocation disputes and is currently assisting a client with an ongoing case of relocation to Australia.

Laura is often instructed to act for parents, grandparents and the child, through their 16.4 Guardian (both CAFCASS and NYAS).

She is frequently instructed on behalf of the child where there are serious emotional, physical and sexual allegations as well as alienating behaviours. She receives excellent feedback about the quality of her counsel and her understanding of the child’s perspective and the impact of changes and delay in proceedings; which has helped Laura when representing Guardians in both public and private proceedings.

Alongside her practice, she has provided Section 7 training to Local Authorities in consultation with CAFCASS and seminars on an array of private law matters. She is also a regular host of the Family Law Week podcasts and has been interviewed by Our Family Wizard and Lawyers Who Care.

Career

Called 2016.

Memberships

Private FDR evaluator ADR Accredited civil and commercial mediator Member, Sussex Resolution Member, Family Law Bar Association

Education

BPTC, Outstanding, University of the West of England (UWE) LLB, 2:1, University of the West of England (UWE)
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