Cath Karlin, who heads the Family Law team at HBJ Gateley Wareing has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She is the only Scottish lawyer, and one of only 3 Europeans on the 15-strong board of directors.

The IACP promotes collaborative practice globally as a means to resolve disputes, offering divorcing and separating couples the support, protection and guidance of lawyers without going to court.

“With increasing divorce rates we need to move to a less adversarial system and encourage the legal profession to embed a more solution focused, child-friendly approach," she said.

"I aim to use this new position to work with the Scottish Government and other relevant bodies to ensure that collaborative practice is normalised in Scotland, allowing lawyers to use it with increasing confidence.”