CRB extends its dispute resolution options to Private Financial Adjudication

We are delighted to share that our Partners , Winnie Chow and Jain Brown, have passed the Private Financial Adjudication (“PFA”) Examination having been part of the pioneer group of practitioners trained in this process. This accomplishment positions CRB at the forefront of dispute resolution options in the realm of family law.

First unveiled in 2015, the Pilot Scheme on Private Adjudication of Financial Disputes in Matrimonial and Family Proceedings aims to promote a new mode of resolution process for financial disputes. By engaging a privately appointed Adjudicator approved by the Court, parties can resolve their financial disputes using a bespoke timetable and a convenient venue thereby minimizing delays commonly experienced when matters are addressed through Court proceedings.  In addition to the Court based resolution processes, which try and avoid protracted litigation, such as Financial Dispute Resolution and Children Dispute Resolution hearings, the Family Court encourages parties to explore settlement through other dispute resolution methods such as Collaborative Practice and Mediation.  PFA is another dispute resolution option that is being piloted by the Family Court.  The parties to a PFA are required to sign a PFA agreement, setting out the agreed terms of the process and will then seek the Court’s approval to appoint an Adjudicator and commence the process. The parties agree to be bound by the Adjudicator’s decisions, which will be final subject only to the overriding duty of the Court to consider the decision before making it an Order of Court. Following the Adjudicator’s decision, the parties will file a PFA report accompanied by a consent summons setting out the terms of the Adjudicator’s decision. The success of PFA is exemplified by its inaugural case in May 2020, where a decision was delivered by the Adjudicator within two months of the private Adjudication hearing. The process saved significant time and provided the parties with certainty and a prompt resolution enabling them to move on without having to wait many months for a trial and then even longer for a Judgment.

With Winnie’s and Jain’s successful completion of the PFA Training, we are excited to extend our family law services to encompass this additional mode of dispute resolution. By incorporating PFA into our repertoire, we aim to streamline the process following a family breakdown and to provide our clients with a more efficient, effective, and satisfactory resolution to their financial disputes.