Editorial Board

Stephen Wildblood KC was the Designated Family Judge for the Bristol area for ten years before stepping down in November 2023. He practised at the Family bar for 27 years, the last 8 ½ in silk. He has written in over 20 legal textbooks on issues of family law and often lectures on the full range of family issues. He continues to sit, part-time, in the Family and High Courts. He and Dr Freda Gardiner (clinical psychologist) have set up an LLP which offers to assist couples resolve their family issues relating to money and children without litigation. They are both trained mediators. Stephen is a qualified arbitrator in relation to issues relating to children and is qualifying as a Family Finance arbitrator. Stephen has also joined 3 PB chambers as an associate member offering private FDRs, early neutral evaluation and arbitration. He is also a playwright and author. He believes that Family litigation should be a last resort. 

Mani Singh Basi is a barrister at 4PB. Mani specialises in family law disputes relating to children, particularly cases with an international element. In 2023, he was awarded the prestigious Family Law Junior of the Year award, and he was also nominated for International Lawyer of the Year award. In 2022, he won the Legal Commentator of the Year award. He has published two books in 2023, the first being ‘A Practical Guide to Stranded Spouses in Family Law Proceedings’ and more recently, ‘A Practical Guide to Exercising the Inherent Jurisdiction in Family Law Proceedings’.

His contact details for any article submissions or proposals and judgment summarises is: msb@4pb.com

Stuart is the Deputy Senior Clerk at Westgate Chambers. He also sits on the Committee of Resolution (East Sussex).

Recently, Stuart was recognised in the Legal 500 as well as Chambers and Partners for ‘Client Service at The Bar, who commented ‘that he is extremely approachable and is about building long term relationships. He is friendly, conscientious and has a clear willingness to accommodate the needs of those he speaks with. He often goes above and beyond what is required.”

His contact details for podcast or marketing initiatives is:: staylor@westgate-chambers.co.uk

Kim Lehal is a Partner and Head of the International Children department at RWK Goodman in London. An accredited specialist in International Child Abduction and Children Law by the Law Society Family Law Advanced panel since 2013, Kim is a highly regarded expert committed to supporting families through complex international legal challenges.

She specialises in acting exclusively on all aspects of international and domestic children law, including international child abduction, relocation proceedings, and complex family disputes. Kim also advises on surrogacy and adoption, domestic abuse, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and represents victims of honour-based violence and abandoned spouses in foreign jurisdictions.

Recognised as a leader in her field with appearances in leading legal directories, Kim has been involved in several landmark cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and is regularly invited to speak on her journey and her experiences as an industry leader and contribute to leading legal and national publications on family law matters.

In 2024 and 2025, Kim was a shortlisted finalist for International Family Lawyer of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards.

Adrian Barnett-Thoung-Holland is a barrister and private FDR evaluator practising from Coram Chambers in London. Adrian specialises exclusively in financial remedies as well as claims under ToLATA 1996 and Sch 1 CA 1989. He has particular expertise in cases involving complex pension assets, Part III MFPA 1984 and cases overlapping with the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Mark is a child-law specialist practising at 42BR in London, but working all over the South-East and wider area. Mark has extensive experience of dealing with all manner of public and private law proceedings including those involving serious allegations of physical and sexual abuse and factitious illness. Additionally, Mark deals with cases raising international issues, including Abduction proceedings, and appears regularly in the National DOLS Court. 

Mark was appointed a Recorder in 2022 and has a Masters in Advanced Child Protection from the University of Kent. Mark has previously been a Local Authority Councillor with responsibility at different times for Child Safeguarding and separately for Finance, so has a detailed knowledge of Local Authority processes and the strains upon them. Mark is also a Governor at two Schools, including at one as the Safeguarding Governor.

Mark has been part of the Family Law Week team since late 2022 and he is one of the two News Editors. Mark has given Webinars through Family Law Week and also lectures regularly via Chambers and at the Judicial College.

Twitter / X: @markchalonerlaw

Patrick Steel is a specialist Family Law barrister practicing across all core areas of family law with experience appearing at all levels up to and including the High Court.

Private Law and Child Arrangements

Patrick maintains a busy practice in private law and child arrangements, representing clients on a range of family law issues at all stages of proceedings. He has successfully represented clients in complex cases involving international relocation, domestic abduction, parental alienation, and serious allegations of domestic violence. He also handles a range of applications arising out of domestic abuse including non-molestation and occupation orders.

Care Proceedings

Patrick regularly represents parents, or other family members, going through care proceedings in cases involving allegations of neglect, substance abuse, sexual harm, and domestic abuse. Patrick also accepts instructions from local authorities.

Financial Remedies

Patrick advises and represents clients in Financial Remedy Proceedings concerning the division of marital assets following divorce or dissolution of civil partnership. Patrick accepts instructions in all stages of these proceedings and is particularly well suited to cases involving elements of his other practice areas.