In this series, we introduce some of the people that make up Stephens Scown. We learn about their expertise, what drew them to join the legal profession and find out a little bit about who they are outside of work.
Consultant in Stephens Scown’s Family team, Ann Thomas co-founded The International Family Law Group LLP, London (iFLG) in 2007, which was the world’s first law firm specifically dedicated to looking after the interests of international families and their children, those who work, live, travel abroad or have foreign assets. Ann brings a wealth of experience to Stephens Scown LLP as a Consultant in the Family team.
Philippa Bourne, Paralegal in our Children team, speaks with Ann about her work and life.
Have you always worked in international family law?
Not at all. I was torn between a career in medicine or as a professional singer and chose the latter. I studied at the Royal College of Music in London and Dartington College of Arts to pursue a career as an opera singer. Although it was not a long-term professional career for me, I have had amazing opportunities to sing all over the world in great concert halls. I still sing locally and in London. In tandem, I qualified as an Upper School teacher, teaching Music and English in Suffolk.
I taught for several years and then became increasingly interested in the law. I changed direction completely and qualified as a Solicitor in 1993. I was a Partner at a large firm in Cambridge and then moved into London to become a Partner in a firm in Mayfair. In 2007, my husband, David Hodson OBE KC (Hons) and I started iFLG. David specialised in divorce and finances, and I in children law.
What inspired you to set up The International Family Law Group LLP?
David and I had a vision to create a distinctive practice specifically looking after the needs of international clients and their families, handling child matters and international assets.
International family law is a unique and challenging area of practice and law. As far as practice is concerned, many clients are abroad so there are no face-to-face meetings. Communication can sometimes be out of hours due to the differing time zones.
David and I set up iFLG with just four members of staff and doubled each year for the first three years. We never anticipated how successful iFLG would become, nor how many leading international cases we would be instructed to handle. We obtained a contract to work for the government on child abduction cases, working closely with the leading parental abduction charity, Reunite. We also undertook pro bono high profile work.
As iFLG’s reputation grew, we were invited to speak at many conferences across the globe. David is dual qualified as a solicitor and barrister in Australia, so invariably many of the conferences were and still are in Australia and in Southeast Asia, but I have also had the privilege of speaking at conferences in Fiji, New Caledonia and Singapore.
I write for the legal press in England and contribute to the leading publications for practitioners on international family law. My time at iFLG was phenomenal, having the opportunity to work with some tremendous colleagues as well as handling some exciting high profile reported cases.
What has been the highlight of your career?
One highlight of my career was winning The Law Society’s ‘Excellence in International Legal Services’ category at The Law Society Excellence Awards in 2019. Our work on international cross border child law particularly impressed the judges, as well as iFLG being the leading voice in the discussion on the impact of Brexit on international family law.
The second, all be it vicarious, was going to Windsor Castle when my husband was awarded an OBE by the late HM Queen Elizabeth for his services to international family law and when he became a KC.
What do you think the future looks like for international family law solicitors?
The continued increase in people working abroad, then entering domestic relationships with international citizens, perhaps even changing nationality, and continuing to hold assets abroad, will only mean that all family law practitioners must have an increasing awareness of the international aspects of family law.
As the outcomes of family law disputes around the world vary dramatically, and especially in the huge range of financial settlements, it is fundamental to determine at the outset which country has a sufficient connection for proceedings and which country will produce the best outcome for the client. This is perhaps the most vital task of all lawyers dealing with an international case. Invariably quick decisions, including taking effective instructions and often consulting with lawyers abroad, will win or lose the question of where the proceedings will take place.
What changes have you seen in the family law sector over recent years?
Inevitably the digitalisation of our work as solicitors. There is no comparison to the law now from when I started my training contract. Digitalisation, in its many forms, enables us to work far better, far more efficiently and it is far quicker to communicate. Many clients now expect instantaneous responses to their frequent communications. We now have digitalisation through the courts with their various portals. This has not been without its problems at the outset, but again, it has been a resounding success. I suspect that many people are unaware that England is one of the countries that leads the way on the use of digitalisation in family law.
And then lurking around the corner, or more precisely on our mobile phone, is Artificial Intelligence. Some are rightly cautious and some unduly optimistic, but I think it is highly likely that this will dramatically change the family law landscape as far as the practice of law is concerned. But this is for another day.
What made you want to work with Stephens Scown?
Stephens Scown is a hugely respected award-winning firm in the South West and leads the way in the legal directories. In terms of family law, the team is ranked in the top tier in Devon and Cornwall in both The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Equally important to me, they provide excellent training and support and look after their employees.
I was delighted to be offered a consultancy role with Stephens Scown, working closely with the dedicated and specialised Family team, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge and expertise in international law that I have built up over many years.
What are some of the lessons you’ve learned throughout your career that you would like to pass on to others?
If I were to give any recommendation to others, it would be to listen to what your clients are saying so that you can proactively fulfil and manage their expectations. Clients do not present a lawyer with a solution. They bring the problem. Our role, as lawyers, is to provide a legal solution to try to resolve the problem. This often involves thinking ‘outside of the box’ and looking at the bigger picture for our clients and their families.
International family law is a hugely rewarding area of law and can be complex, but being able to handle this area of law really makes a difference to peoples’ lives. Practitioners need to be proactive, resourceful, experienced and sympathetic, with a clear awareness of the bigger picture. I have met so many already at Stephens Scown.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I have already mentioned a few interests including classical singing, but I otherwise enjoy cooking and gardening, even with the South Devon climate! As a long-distance swimmer, I like to swim most days. I also love to walk from our home in Wellswood for an early morning coffee at the wonderful cafe at Meadfoot beach. We moved to Devon four years ago and love this amazing and inspiring county. My interest in medicine has still not gone away though, as, in 2000 I qualified as an NHS professional to administer vaccines. I am also a qualified trainer in CPR and heart health (Barts).
Ann will speaking at the University of Cork this week, discussing the applicability of hearing the voice of the child through inclusive mediation in the international context.
Ann can be contacted on a.thomas@stephens-scown.co.uk.