LawTorn: Conversations from the Frontline of Family Fights

In this episode of LawTorn, Samara Dutton , Partner in the Private Wealth Disputes team at Collyer Bristow , and Philippa Dolan , Partner in the Family team, explore the legal rights of unmarried couples when a relationship ends unexpectedly through the death of one partner. Responding to a listener's question, they consider the difficult situation of a woman whose partner dies without a will...

In this episode of LawTorn , Samara Dutton, Partner in the Private Wealth Disputes team at Collyer Bristow, and Philippa Dolan, Partner in the Family team, discuss prenuptial agreements in the UK and whether they are legally binding in the event of divorce. Responding to a listener’s question, they explore a real-life scenario involving an engaged couple where one partner owns a growing tech busin...

In this episode of LawTorn , Samara Dutton, Partner in the Private Wealth Disputes team, and Philippa Dolan, Partner in the Family team, explore the increasingly concerning issue of predatory marriage, where vulnerable individuals, often elderly or lacking mental capacity, are targeted, manipulated, and in some cases coerced into marriage with serious legal consequences. They discuss the typical f...

In this episode of LawTorn , Samara Dutton, Partner in the Private Wealth Disputes team, and Philippa Dolan, Partner in the Family team, consider what can be done when a parent’s will leaves everything to one child and nothing to the other. Using a listener’s question, they explore two distinct legal routes: challenging the validity of a will, including on the grounds of undue influence, and bring...

In this episode of Law Torn , Samara Dutton, Partner in the Private Wealth Disputes team, and Philippa Dolan, Partner in the Family team, reflect on the festive period discuss how the Christmas can bring family tensions and disputes into sharper focus. They explore the common perception that divorce rates increase after Christmas, reflecting on whether this is supported by experience or evidence,...

In this episode of Law Torn , Samara and Philippa are joined by their first guest, Kristin Cunliffe , to discuss the role emotions play in financial decision-making during family litigation. Kristin is a financial planner, financial coach and educator with over 25 years’ experience supporting individuals through divorce and bereavement. She explains how financial coaching differs from traditional...

In this episode, Samara Dutton , Partner in Collyer Bristow’s Private Wealth Disputes team, is joined by Philippa Dolan , Partner in the Family team, to explore the widespread misconception of common law marriage, a “status” believed by 46% of the population, yet one that has no legal standing in England and Wales. Using a listener scenario involving a decade-long relationship, two children, and a...

In this introductory episode, hosts Samara Dutton , Partner in Collyer Bristow’s Private Wealth Disputes Team, and Philippa Dolan , Partner in the Family Team, introduce LawTorn — a new podcast exploring what happens when family relationships break down and disputes spill into the legal arena. Samara and Philippa discuss the inspiration behind the series, the growing intersection between family an...