Joanne Edwards

Practice Areas

Hailed as ‘simply one of the leading family lawyers of her generation’ in Chambers UK, 2024, Jo is recognised for her expertise in complex finances on divorce, child arrangements (including relocation) and nuptial agreements (especially in cases with an international element and/or involving trusts or wider family wealth). Clients describe her as ‘a first-class lawyer who provides a first-class service’, and fellow professionals say, ‘I feel confident if I refer a case to her that she will do a brilliant job’ Chambers Ultra High Net Worth, 2024.

Head of Family, Jo works with a range of clients, from professional sportsmen and women (with a particular interest and expertise in football work), business owners, entrepreneurs, landed gentry, those in private equity, lawyers/accountants and other professionals, those from the political sphere, creatives and various others, as well as spouses/partners of the same.

Whilst Jo has extensive court experience, she embraces a conciliatory and pragmatic approach to settling cases when beneficial to her client. Recognised in Chambers’ High Net Worth as one of only a couple of dozen leading family mediators nationwide, mediation is an increasingly significant part of Jo’s practice as the family justice system requires couples to focus ever more closely on alternatives to court. She is skilled in mediations involving married and unmarried couples, often where there are complex, high value assets involved or where a parent wishes to relocate overseas with the children. She often mediates with court proceedings ongoing in the background and often succeeds in getting couples to agreement no matter how far advanced the litigation. Increasingly Jo is also called upon to mediate in cases where some thinking outside the box is required, e.g. helping couples resolve key terms of nuptial agreements before taking advice, helping families in crisis repair adult relationships or disagreements over provision on death, etc.

As a fearless campaigner for family law reform, Jo has sat on Resolution’s National Committee (the national family lawyers’ association) since 2009, having previously held the position of Chair 2014-2016. She leads on policy work and has featured in several high-profile family law campaigns, met with MPs and the judiciary, given evidence to various parliamentary committees and appears regularly on national TV and radio and in the broadsheets.

Internationally Jo is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia, to where she travels regularly. Closer to home she has ties north of the border, with a home and extensive family law contacts in Scotland.

Professional Memberships

Jo is a member of Resolution, The Law Society and Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia.