Family/Matrimonial
UK Guide 2025 : Scotland
Band 1
Contact number
(0131) 243 2583About
Provided by SKO Family Law Specialists
- Financial Matters- divorce, pre and post nups and spousal support
- Privacy and Reputation Management
- Jurisdictional issues- where you can get divorced and claim financial support
- Novel and technical areas of law- surrogacy, pensions and equal treatment for LGBTI individuals
- Child law- contact, residence, relocating with children, child support, child abduction
- Cohabitation- the rights and responsibilities you have when you live with someone (or did)
- Elder law- inter-generational/tax planning gifting and capacity issues
We have some of the most respected solicitors in the country, who have years of experience and expertise and who are used to working with the best specialists in other, related, disciplines- tax, family office, trust, reputation management, corporate, immigration, property and employment lawyers, accountants, wealth management advisors and trustees.
Our clients are usually private individuals, but also corporate entities (including partnerships and charities) and trustees. They are often based abroad, even though the issues are about Scots law.
We like getting things resolved. Litigation is rarely the best way, but if it is, we have heavyweight litigation experience ranging from local Sheriff Courts to the Supreme Court. If possible though, we encourage people to try another dispute resolution (DR) method- like mediation & arbitration. No other firm in Scotland can compete with us on the experience in DR that we can offer clients.
Chambers Review
SKO Family Law Specialists is a well-regarded practice in Edinburgh, frequently instructed on complex international matters pertaining to divorce, separation and nuptial agreements. The group also handles both public and private children cases ranging from abuse allegations to international child abductions. It is also recognised for its work in areas such as fertility and surrogacy.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Their mix of empathy, professionalism and competence means that SKO can handle matters in a way that is accessible to clients who are not familiar with legal language or processes."
"All members of the team supported each other and any one of them could pick up my case and answer any questions or concerns that I had at any point."
"Their mix of empathy, professionalism and competence means that SKO can handle matters in a way that is accessible to clients who are not familiar with legal language or processes."
"All members of the team supported each other and any one of them could pick up my case and answer any questions or concerns that I had at any point."
Notable Practitioners
Rachael Kelsey has a wealth of experience advising on difficult and novel family law issues, including cases relating to fertility, international law and the Hague Convention. She also handles complex financial provision disputes.
"You need look no further than Rachael if you want to come out of a divorce feeling you have had the very best brain and acumen at your fingertips and on the other end of a phone at anytime."
"Rachael is an excellent technical lawyer, but is also practical and has a very relaxed manner. She has strong cross-border knowledge too."
"She is incredible to work with and her knowledge of Scottish and international law is very impressive."
"She is practical, excellent with clients and tactically very aware."
"Rachael is shrewd yet generous, pragmatic yet imaginative, thoughtful yet razor sharp. She provides more than a service, she provides a carefully crafted and paved roadmap to a new life."
Alison Edmondson is highly regarded for her depth of knowledge on complex financial disputes arising from divorce and separation, including cases that involve prenuptial agreements, insolvency and overseas assets.
"Alison is focused and drives for her client's best interest but she is also practical."
"Alison is a very detailed and focused lawyer, but one who still cares for clients and getting to a sensible outcome."
"Alison is amazing. She is extremely thorough, with vast knowledge and understanding as well as strength in strategy and case building."
Robert Gilmour has an impressive track record acting on complex financial provision and children matters, and also has specialist expertise in fertility law and surrogacy. He is a qualified family mediator and arbitrator.
"He has a depth of knowledge and experience, combined with a very calm manner. He knows what he's about."
"Robert was fantastic to work with. I felt like he really understood what I wanted, even though I was not able to articulate it in the right legal language, and helped me achieve it."
"Robert is calm and unflappable but gives strategic and firm advice to clients."
"I could not recommend Rob enough. It was the most stressful and upsetting time in my life and he was there to guide me through it all."
Susan Oswald focuses her practice on both public and private children law, including Hague Convention cases and intra-UK jurisdictional issues around care orders and relocations. She is accredited as both a mediator and child law specialist.
"Susan is a very experienced lawyer."
"Susan is terrific on children law and one of the go-to mediators."
Ranked Lawyers at
SKO Family Law Specialists
Scotland
Members
Provided by SKO Family Law Specialists
Caroline Millar
Claire Christie
Stephanie Smith
Industries
Provided by SKO Family Law Specialists
Family law; Private Client advisory; Reputation management