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Family Law

Overview

The co-convenors of the Family Law Committee are CLA Council members Laurie Pawlitza (Canada) and Mark Woods (Australia).

The co-convenors invite CLA members to join this  Committee to enable CLA members and others to share family law legislative options, practices and experiences, including ways to advance equitable outcomes arising from relationship breakdown. In so doing, the Committee will promote legislative change which recognizes the effect of family violence in all its forms, the breadth in the composition of family units, less conflictual, more family-centered dispute resolution and cross border collaboration regarding the protection of property and children. The Committee will exchange views and knowledge, develop policy positions, and undertake special projects to implement its mission.

CLA members are encouraged to read the Committee’s Terms of Reference and email info@commonwealthlawyers.com to join this committee which meets every two months.

Next Meeting

15th March 2026

14:00 – 16:00 GMT

Virtual Meeting (Zoom)

Download

Terms of Reference

Download the committee’s official terms of reference and governance framework.

Download PDF

Next Meeting Resources

Download the resources for our next committee meeting.

Download ZIP

Join the Committee

Interested in contributing to the
committee’s work?

Apply to become a member.

Committee Co-Convenors

Dr. Sarah Williams

Dr. Sarah Williams is a leading constitutional law scholar with over 20 years of experience in human rights advocacy. She has advised governments across the Commonwealth on constitutional reform and has published extensively on comparative constitutional law. Sarah currently serves as Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of London and is a frequent contributor to international human rights tribunals.

Justice Michael Chen

Justice Michael Chen brings extensive judicial experience to the committee, having served on the High Court for 15 years. His landmark judgments on constitutional rights have shaped jurisprudence across multiple Commonwealth jurisdictions. Before his judicial appointment, Michael practiced as a human rights barrister and represented clients before the European Court of Human Rights and the UN Human Rights Committee.

Committee Highlights

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