Our arbitrator at Children in the Middle® is Sarah Evans.
Sarah has a wealth of experience in children law, having practiced in this field for nearly 30 years.
Sarah is well placed to arbitrate over children disputes given, she is also a part-time Judge.
She foresaw the unique opportunity posed by arbitration and, in 2016, became one of the first Children’s Arbitrators.
Sarah’s approach to arbitration is to focus on the needs of the child and to conduct the arbitration fairly and thoroughly.
She said: “The attraction for me is that court proceedings can take so long, given the pressures the family justice system is under.
“The beauty of arbitration is that it is quicker and cheaper than going through the courts, but the decision has the same effect as a court order.
“An arbitration is, in effect, a court hearing without having to go to court. You get a written decision after the hearing, which is then registered with the court.
“It can be done via Zoom, Teams, even WhatsApp if necessary. There’s no need to physically attend somewhere, which also keeps the cost down.
“You can still be represented by your solicitor or barrister if you choose.
“Senior judges are urging people, especially during the current crisis, to seek alternatives to court; in my view this is absolutely the best one.”
To find out if your case is suitable for arbitration, contact Children in the Middle® on 0117 214 1797 or email us at office@childreninthemiddle.co.uk.
You can find out more about our Arbitration service here.