Georgia McWilliam

My Approach

I strive to deliver a professional and practical approach to my work. I am dedicated to finding pragmatic solutions that prioritise the well-being of all of those involved. As a member of Resolution, I am committed to resolving issues in a constructive way and try to avoid litigation and achieve a negotiated settlement, if possible. My approach is characterised by empathy, attentiveness, and a deep understanding of the emotional challenges that often accompany family issues.

I have particular expertise and experience in handling complex private children matters involving domestic abuse, as well as complex financial cases. I have extensive experience acting both for and against individuals with narcissistic personality traits and other personality disorders, and I am highly skilled in managing cases that involve controlling and coercive behaviour.

Area of Expertise

• I specialise in complex private children matters involving serious allegations of domestic abuse
• All aspects of divorce and civil partnership dissolution
• Financial disputes arising from relationship breakdown
• Cohabitation agreements
• TOLATA claims
• Complex disputes involving children including (but not limited to) access, contact, choice of school, relocation and holidays
• Emergency applications relating to domestic violence, such as obtaining Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders

Recent Work

• Acting for a mother and issuing an urgent application for a child arrangements order (seeking an order for no contact with the father), prohibited steps order (preventing the father from removing the children from the mother’s care and from this jurisdiction), a Non-Molestation Order (preventing the father from molesting the mother and the children) and for an All Ports Alert Order (to prevent the father form taking the children abroad). Against this backdrop, the mother raised extremely serious allegations of domestic abuse against the father all of which were found to be proven. The mother’s application was successful, and the father was not granted any contact with the children, save for the ability to send gifts and letters to the children on special occasions. The mother was also successful in seeking a costs order against the father. The father was directed to contribute towards some of the mother’s legal costs due to his conduct. See reported case here A & Ors (Finding of Fact), Re - Find Case Law - The National Archives.
• Acting for a father in an extremely complex private children matter, involving five sets of proceedings and serious allegations. Successfully obtained a transfer of residence in the father’s favour, i.e. for the child to live with the father.
• Successfully acted for a father in children act proceedings, whereby the mother’s abhorrent allegations of sexual abuse were disproven and were found to have been fabricated. Secured a costs order against the mother due to her conduct (i.e. for her to contribute towards the father’s legal costs incurred as a result of the proceedings). The father was granted 50/50 shared care of the children.
• Regularly represent mothers and fathers in complex children cases, involving serious allegations of domestic abuse such as physical, emotional, sexual and psychological. At all times ensuring that the Children are safeguarded, and their needs and interests protected. I have also successfully secured Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders to protect adults and children from harm.
• Experienced in dealing with child arrangements where one parent is drinking in excess or abusing drugs. Successful in pursuing expert alcohol and drug testing and putting in place protective measures to ensure contact can take place in a safe environment. Regularly in contact with local children contact centres and familiar with the protocol for arranging supervised/supported contact, where necessary.
• Successfully defended Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders.
• Successfully achieving a fair and reasonable settlement to ensure that my client could re-house herself and her children in a case where the parties had very limited assets and resources. Engaging in swift and sensible negotiations to keep costs down and to avoid Court proceedings.
• Successfully represented a client within complex financial remedy proceedings, including overseas assets and a jointly owned business. I achieved a successful outcome for the wife.
• Represented a wife in financial remedy proceedings where her spouse was untruthful about her relationship status. We therefore instructed a private investigator, and it was proven that the wife’s spouse had been untruthful, resulting in a more favourable settlement for my client.
• Representing a client whose spouse failed to disclose significant assets in divorce and financial proceedings.
• Represented a husband whereby a transfer of residence (the children were ordered to live with him) was made halfway through the financial remedy proceedings. This had a significant consequence on the overall financial settlement, which we successfully achieved in my client’s favour.
• Negotiating financial settlements for unmarried clients.
• Representing grandparents in respect of contact arrangements for their grandchildren.

Professional Associations & Qualifications

• LLB (Hons) Law Degree
• Legal Practice Course
• Admitted as a solicitor in June 2022
• Promoted to an Associate solicitor in July 2024
• Member of Resolution
• Member of Resolution YRES
• General Committee Member of Dorset Resolution (2024/2025)
• Former member of the Bournemouth Junior Lawyers Division
• Former Social Events Officer of the Bournemouth Junior Lawyers Division