This month we speak to James Osborne, Partner in our family law team.
What first attracted you to a career in law?
My mum always told me I was very good at arguing when I was a youngster and so I thought I’d try and make a career out of it!
What type of legal advice do you provide and to what sort of clients?
I advise on all aspects of private family law – ranging from financial matters for divorcing couples, Children Act disputes for separated parents, domestic violence work and wealth protection advice – pre and post-nups together with cohabitation agreements. I also advise on TOLATA (Trusts of land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996) and Schedule 1 Children Act matters for unmarried separated couples. It’s a long list but that is the best part of the job – variety.
What is your most memorable legal experience and why?
After some protracted contested financial remedy proceedings spanning a number of years involving foreign assets, it was securing an excellent outcome at a final hearing for a deserving client together with a sizeable costs order against a non-compliant husband. The client was incredibly happy and very relieved. I was still relatively junior at the time (a long time before I was promoted to Partner) and I will never forget the relief on the client’s face as it registered just what the Judge had awarded her in his judgment! It made a few years of hard toil more than worth it.
What is your number 1 top tip for clients?
Be prepared to compromise.
