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Winner Announced: IAFL European Chapter Young Lawyers Award 2016

Posted: 1 Apr 2016

The sixth IAFL European Chapter Annual Award for Young Family Lawyers has been awarded to Mark Hands of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors, Birmingham, England.

This year’s entrants were asked to consider a detailed case study focusing on the international relocation of children, a subject of increasing relevance for IAFL fellows and family lawyers from around the world. Details of the case study can be found here. 

A panel of IAFL Fellows, all with very considerable experience of disputes concerning the international movement of children, consisted of Veronique Chauveau (Paris, France), Barbara Mills (London, England) and Karen O’Leary (City of Derry, Northern Ireland). The judging panel had to choose between fourteen excellent submissions from eligible candidates throughout Europe.

Mark’s winning entry stood out as, in addition to dealing with the practical and academic issues arising from the case study, he provided a clear view point and explanation of his position. Mark has been invited to the European Chapter Meeting in Amsterdam with travel costs and attendance costs met where he will be presented with his prize of €1,000.

Two runner-up prizes of €500 were awarded to Jennifer Moore of Rayden Solicitors, St Albans, Hertfordshire and to Laura Naser of Penningtons Manches LLP, Guildford, Surrey.  

The topic for the European Chapter Young Lawyers Award 2017 will be publicised shortly.  Participation in this competition provides an excellent opportunity for any young family lawyer wishing to gain acknowledged expertise in the field of international family law.

Many thanks to Veronique, Barbara and Karen for all their hard work in selecting the winning entrants from a very competitive field of candidates and congratulations to all of the excellent participants. Congratulations again to Mark, and to our runners up, Jennifer and Laura.


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