Who We Are

Collaborative Law Wales is an organisation of specialist family lawyers who share a commitment to resolving the issues following relationship breakdown in a constructive and amicable way.  We are all members of Resolution and all trained Collaborative lawyers.  Some of us are also trained mediators, arbitrators or accredited as specialist by The Law Society and/or Resolution.

Choosing a lawyer that is right for you is one of, if not the most important decision you can make.  Take time to explore our members’ profiles and individual firm websites.  Please do also feel free to call us for an informal chat to see whether the Collaborative process is right for you.

Some of the CLW members

Gerard Griffiths

Gerard is an experienced Family Solicitor.  He has a wide range of experience in all aspects of matrimonial law.  He is a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, a Higher Court Advocate in Civil matters and a Resolution Accredited Specialist in European and International Law.  Having conducted a number of Collaborative Cases he has become even more committed to the view that the Collaborative process offers families the best solutions to their problems.

Rhys Taylor

Rhys Taylor is a public access barrister, collaborative lawyer and qualified family arbitrator (MCIArb). He has 16 year’s experience at the bar and extensive experience in family finance matters for married and unmarried clients. As a public access barrister he is able to accept instructions direct from a member of the public without going through a solicitor, in appropriate cases. Please feel free to contact Rhys to discuss this option. As a barrister Rhys is also able to act as a “fifth person” in the collaborative process, in giving advice to each side on how to progress their collaborative negotiation, should an impasse be reached. Rhys has been mentioned in the standard legal directories, including Chambers UK 2012, where he is described as, “Really pleasant, thorough and efficient, particularly noted for his expertise in ancillary relief proceedings and TOLATA applications.” Rhys co-edits the website www.familyarbitrator.com and sits part time as a legal chairman of the Residential Property Tribunal (Wales). 

Thea Hughes

Thea Hughes is a Partner with Cardiff-based Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice LLP. Thea is considered by her peers to be one of the best family lawyers in South Wales. She is recommended by Chambers & Partners, the Legal 500, Legal Experts 2012 and the Good Lawyer Guide. Thea, who deals with all aspects of family law and is on the Law Society Family Law Panel, was a founder member of Collaborative Lawyers in Wales. She is on the management committee of Family Mediation Cardiff, and is also a member of Resolution. Thea deals with all aspects of family law, specialising in the financial issues arising upon separation and divorce. She regularly deals with high net worth cases, including cases involving lottery winners. Thea regularly contributes to topical news stories on the radio and TV.

Max Davies

Max Davies is a family law barrister who practices from 30 Park Place Chambers in Cardiff. He is a collaboratively trained lawyer and is able to act either as a jointly instructed expert or by way of sole instruction where both clients would benefit from the use of Counsel. Called to the Bar in 2005, having had a brief previous career spent mostly at the Daily Telegraph, Max quickly specialised in Family Law and in particular in Matrimonial Finance and property disputes between cohabitees. He has lectured at for Resolution, the Confederation of South Wales Law Societies, the Solicitors Group and at in-house chambers events on numerous subjects within this field. He is a keen advocate of the Collaborative Law alternative to the court process and is committed to resolving marital breakdown with a future focussed approach.

Christine Ann Dyer

Christine has thirty four years’ experience in Family Law and qualified as a Mediator with the Solicitors Family Law Association (Resolution) in 1996.  Her keen interest in working with separating couples and individuals to find solutions together led her to train as a Collaborative Lawyer in 2006.  Aware of the emotional and financial consequences for the family going through a family breakdown she recognises the importance of finding the right process for clients.  Christine is an accredited specialist of Resolution and a practitioner member of the Law Society Mediation Panel.