MATTHEW RICHARDSON

I am a barrister and mediator at Coram Chambers in London. I have been practising as a family specialist for over 10 years, having been called to the bar in 2009. I’m firmly of the view that the most effective way I can help my clients and their families is to look beyond the traditional understanding of what a lawyer does – whether a barrister or solicitor – and approach things with the benefit of a modern understanding of the dynamics of family law issues. This means considering the way in which modern families work, how people communicate, how emotions impact decision-making, and how conflict arises and can best be managed. The majority of the cases in which I am involved are sorted out by agreement.
I spend time as a volunteer within the family law community, with a focus on developing the ways that we work, taking into account issues of wellbeing and applied psychology. I am the co-chair of the YRes national committee at Resolution, as well as a wellbeing liaison at my chambers, where I founded our nationally-recognised wellbeing programme. I speak regularly at national training seminars on topics like applied psychology and wellbeing, as well as on specialist legal subjects such as pensions on divorce, hidden financial assets, so-called ‘parental alienation’ and case strategy.
I am listed as a leading junior by the Legal 500 and I was shortlisted for junior barrister of the year at the 2018 Family Law Awards, and as family law commentator of the year at the 2019 Family Law Awards.
As well as the more usual roles as a barrister and mediator (where I offer the hybrid model) I also offer my services as a neutral evaluator or consultant, including within collaborative cases, as well as for private FDR hearings.