Prof David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb
Special Counsel
David is a Special Counsel and co-founder with his wife Ann Thomas, 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 his wife 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”.
Interview with David Hodson (November 2023) – The Life and Career of Professor David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb
- 'David is an extraordinary intellectual and one of the brightest people in family law.'
- 'David is very knowledgeable and is good for quirky questions.'
- 'David is a mine of information and knowledge of international family law.'
- 'David knows his stuff and is happy to share his knowledge - he always acts with integrity.'
Chambers HNW UK 2024 - 'David Hodson is a leading light on family law matters. Passionate in his pursuit of fairness and at the forefront of driving through change for the better'.
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - 'David Hodson KC is well regarded for his work in the family law field. "He is a go-to for international matters" states a source. An interviewee adds "He is so knowledgeable and experienced. He has a fantastic track record. He is a leading family lawyer".'
Chambers HNW UK 2023 - 'David Hodson continues in the top league of London family lawyers'.
- 'What he doesn't know about international family work isn't worth knowing.'
The Legal 500 UK 2023 - 'You won't find anyone in the country who knows their international family law better than Hodson'.
Chambers HNW UK 2022 - 'David Hodson is an encyclopaedia when it comes to international family law. There are very few like him in family law'.
- 'David Hodson is a doyen in the field'. Listed in The Hall of Fame 2022
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - 'You won't find anyone in the country who knows their international law better than Hodson'
Chambers HNW UK 2021 - ‘iFLG was established by David Hodson and Ann Thomas, who have both remained among the very best family law solicitors for many years. They have built up a formidable team‘
- ‘David Hodson is very collaborative, solutions focused, knowledgeable and knows what he is doing‘
- ‘David Hodson is a legend in family law circles. He is calm, reassuring and generally right. There are few partners who deal with international financial work with his level of gravitas and knowledge. He is a stellar individual‘.
The Legal 500 UK 2021 - "David Hodson is 'no doubt one of the leading figures in International Family Law,' according to a peer."
- Hodson has expertise in international matrimonial finance matters. He also sits as a part-time deputy district judge. A fellow family lawyer says Hodson is a "very detailed man; he looks after his clients extremely well."
Chambers HNW UK 2020 - 'Top Recommended Lawyer'
Spear's Family Law Index 2020 - 'David Hodson has an exceptional knowledge of international family law and procedure'
- 'He is a one-man encyclopaedia on Brexit and its potential impact on international clients. He is a trusted and respected speaker and writer'
- 'David has immense international experience not just academic but enormous practical experience'. David is also noted as being a 'stand out individual'.
- 'David is one of the most talented & experienced family and civil mediators in the land and beyond'. Furthermore, 'there is no better team for mediation involving international families. David is hugely experienced not only in law and mediation but the cultural issues that can impact on the resolution of a dispute'. David is recommended particularly 'for financial mediation'.
- 'David Hodson has the intellectual rigour to get to grips with the most complex cases involving foreign jurisdictions, tax, business interests and has the advantage of sitting as a part-time DDJ'
The Legal 500 UK 2020
- 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 Institite 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)
- '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)
- Society for Computers and Law (SCL)
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