Specialist Divorce Solicitor in Glasgow | Principal / Sole Practitioner
Tel: 07812 000554
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Al has specialised in the fields of child and family law for over 25 years, receiving his first accreditation from the Law Society in 1995. Widely recognised as an expert in these fields, he combines an impressive track record with enthusiasm and energy and believes in providing clients with one-to-one support.
Al’s experience is extremely wide-ranging and takes in all aspects of the profession.
He is regularly appointed to provide child welfare reports for sheriffs dealing with child-related cases.
He has handled countless divorces, contact/residence disputes, relocation disputes, and other child-related issues.
He was one of the first solicitors appointed as curator ad litem in a children’s hearing referral to the court and continued acting as curator in such proceedings until the withdrawal of legal aid for such cases as a result of legislation passed in 2011. He has represented a number of children as their solicitor.
He continues to be appointed in applications to the court for permanence orders and in relation to applications for adoption orders. He has lost count of the number of such cases he has dealt with over the years!
He has given talks at numerous seminars over the years on various aspects of child law. He has attended numerous seminars over the years on all aspects of child law.
He was one of the founding members of the Glasgow-based curators association and of its successor organisation, the Children’s Hearing Practitioners Group. He was until relatively recently treasurer of the latter organisation and chairperson for many years of the former.
He also acted for several years as informal standing counsel to the Glasgow Carers Association, an organisation of foster-carers.
Overall, Al is highly accomplished in litigating cases in court as well as out of court. He represents his clients vigorously, while pursuing a collaborative approach with all parties wherever possible. Whenever children are involved, their best interests are of paramount importance, and Al always strives to ensure the very minimum of stress and conflict for all concerned.
One of Al’s great loves is music, and he enjoys listening, playing and composing the odd tune. He’s also a voracious reader and, according to his partner, a great cook!
Practice Areas
- Child & Family Law
- Contact and Residence
- Relocation Disputes
- Adoption
- Divorce
- Children’s Hearing Referrals
Significant legal experience
Membership of Professional Organisations
- Law Society of Scotland
Links/citations
- He contributed a chapter on the role of the state to the first edition of Clelland and Edwards (ed) on Children’s Rights in Scotland. 1998
- Article in Journal of Law Society of Scotland Sheriffs Behaving Badly 2005
Qualifications
- LL.B (Hons) (Glasgow)
- Diploma in European Administration (College of Europe, Brugge)
- Solicitor Advocate (Civil)