David Hodson KC

Practice Areas

Prof David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb is a Special Counsel and co-founder of The International Family Law Group LLP.

David is globally regarded as a leading, highly experienced family law dispute resolution specialist, especially involving an international element or complex assets or issues.

English solicitor.

Mediator.

Family arbitrator and Member Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).

Deputy District Judge sitting at the Central Family Court, London.

Australian (NSW) solicitor.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Visiting Professor at the University of Law (ULaw).

Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester.

David is regarded as one of the most innovative family lawyers of his generation.

He was the originator and a creator of family arbitration in England and Wales, now emulated in other countries.

He was instrumental in the 1990s in the creation of the English Family Law Accreditation Scheme.

He was co-founder in 1995 of the world’s first multi-disciplinary metropolitan family law practice, combining lawyers, mediators and counsellors, and now much copied around the world.

He was co-founder in 2007 of the world’s first law firm dedicated to international families and their children, with many law firms worldwide subsequently setting up specialist international units.

In The Queen’s Birthday Honours List in June 2014 David was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his ‘Services to International Family Law’.

Appointed King’s Counsel (Hons) March 2022.

After training and qualifying in Southampton, David spent 10 years at City of London law firms. In 1995, he was joint founder of probably the world’s first metropolitan practice to combine family lawyers, mediators and counsellors and with an emphasis on a conciliatory and holistic approach. It was subsequently copied in many practices across the world. From 2003 to 2005 he worked in Sydney for a leading family law firm, qualifying as an Australian lawyer. He retains his entitlement to practice as a solicitor in Australia.

In 2007 he co-founded iFLG with Ann Thomas, the world’s first law firm specifically dedicated to serving international families and their children and families with international assets.

He has been chair/and or member of very many professional committees and organisations.

In November 2011 he received the prestigious inaugural Jordans ‘Family Law Commentator of the Year’ award for his outstanding contribution to commentary on family law matters, as voted by family lawyers.

In 2015, David was appointed a Visiting Professor of the University of Law and in 2017 he was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester.

In 2022 he was appointed an Honorary KC in recognition of his “significant contribution to the development of English law and practice”.

Publications

'The Business of Family Law' - published by Family Law LexisNexis 1992 - Author.

'Divorce Reform: a Guide for Lawyers and Mediators' published by Sweet & Maxwell 1996 - Author.

'The International Family Law Practice' published by Family Law, LexisNexis (first to sixth editions 2008 - 2022 ) - Author and Editor.

'Family Law Leaves the EU - A Summary Guide for Practitioners' published by Family Law, LexisNexis 2020 - Author and Editor.

Co-author of 'When Cupid’s Arrow Crosses National Boundaries: A Guide for International Families' published by iFLG 2022 (fifth edition).

Work Highlights

Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA/resolution) Good Practice Committee, Chair.

SFLA Training Committee, Chair.

SFLA Ancillary Relief Reform Committee, Chair.

SFLA National Committee, Member (8 years).

SFLA International Committee, Founder Member.

President’s International Committee, Member.

Family Law Review Group of Centre for Social Justice, Chair.

Law Society’s Financial Provision Reform Committee and Protocol Committee, Member.

SFLA Directive ADR Working Party, Chair.

UK College of Family Mediators, Elected Governor and Vice Chair.

International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow.

Centre for Social Justice, Fellow.

European Justice Observatory, Vice Chair.

Marriage Resource, Trustee.

Lawyers Christian Fellowship, Member and Convenor of Family Law Section.

English Law Society, Member.

Law Council of Australia (Family Law Section), Member.

NSW Law Society, Member.

Law Asia, Member.

Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators.

Advisory Board, Law Commission (Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements project), Member.

Advisory Board, Financial Services Authority (provision of information for separating and divorcing couples), Member.

Member of The International Society of Family Law.

Visiting Professor of Law - University of Law.

Honorary Professor of Law - Leicester University.

OBE - Services to international Family Law.

Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa).

Industry Sector Expertise

Reported Decisions:

Mittal v Mittal [2013] EWCA Civ 1255

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2013/1255.html

Tan v Choy [2014] EWCA Civ 251

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2014/251.html

Hilderbrand v Hilderbrand [1992] 1FLR 244

https://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed44658