Ann is a Consultant in the Family team specialising in international cases, especially those involving children. She has acted for many high-net-worth clients and those in the entertainment industry. In 2007, Ann co-founded, with David Hodson OBE KC (Hons), The International Family Law Group, London, (iFLG) where she was its Managing Partner and Senior Partner until March 2024. iFLG is one of the world’s leading international family law firms.
A leader in the field of international child relocation and in the hugely complex area of cross border child law, Ann has lectured extensively across the globe and trained family law judges and practitioners on aspects of international family law, child relocation and child abduction.
She was one of the first mediators in the country to qualify as a Direct Consultant with Children, meeting with children to enable them to express their views within the mediation process regarding their living and contact arrangements.
Ann is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2003, the world’s leading organisation of peer elected leading family lawyers dealing with international work. She has been involved in many reported high-profile cases, some of which have attracted much media interest.
Outside of her work, Ann is a semi-professional classical contralto soloist having attended the Royal College of Music, London and Dartington College of Arts. She has performed at leading venues in London and throughout the UK and abroad. She is an NHS professional qualified to administer vaccines. She is also a qualified medical trainer (Barts Hospital) in CPR and related heart issues.
Publications
- The International Family Law Practice – LexisNexis (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th editions) (chapters on International Child Relocation and International Children
“When Cupid’s Arrow Crosses National Boundaries: A Guide for International Families” (co-authored with David Hodson OBE KC (Hons)
Appointments and memberships (past and present)
- The Law Society’s Family Law Panel (Advanced Accreditation) in international law and children
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers
- The International Bar Association
- Resolution and Resolution’s London Regional Committee
- Chair of the Resolution’s International Committee
- Resolution’s National Committee
- All issues family law Mediator
- Specialist Mediator qualified in Direct Access to children
- Member of The International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
- Chair of LawNet Family Lawyers Group
- Chair and founder of the Eurojuris International Family Lawyers Group (Brussels)
- The Scottish Family Law Association
- The Institute of Directors
- International Academy of Collaborative Lawyers
- Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
- Leading Lawyer Citywealth
- The International Society of Family Law
The Legal 500 UK (2024) – “Ann Thomas is an exceptional individual. She has personally overseen my case from the start, and it is not an exaggeration to say that we achieved an outcome that has given me my life back.”
The Legal 500 UK (2023) – “Brilliant client skills and a delight to work with.”
The Legal 500 UK (2022) – “Ann Thomas is a leading international children lawyer and one of the top such specialists in London. She also brings intelligence, thought, and planning to her cases and does all in her power to achieve the result her client seeks.”
The Legal 500 UK (2021) – “International Family Law Group was established by David Hodson and Ann Thomas, who have both remained among the very best family law solicitors for many years. ”
The Legal 500 UK (2020) – “Ann Thomas is a lawyer, smart and compassionate”
The Legal 500 UK (2019) – “Highly recommended for her work in children and relocation cases.”