Family law in transition: disputes across borders
Maria Scotland MCIArb & Niamh Wilkie will be on the expert speaker panel at the Bar Council's UAE Family Conference 2025.
Maria Scotland and Nimah Wilkie were part of the Bar Council event in 2024.
The Conference will take place on Tuesday, 16th September 2025 at the Capital Club, DIFC.
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie will be taking part in the afternoon panel discussion looking at: Financial provision across the jurisdictions.
Maria is Deputy Head of Chambers and the Head of the Family Team at 5SAH in London. Maria is a qualified arbitrator in financial matters and an accredited civil mediator. Maria practices exclusively in family law with a specialism in financial remedy applications and private law children work.
Her work includes international issues, including cases where the parties, the children and/ or the assets are in the UAE. She is recognised in Spears' 500 Guide (2023 & 2024): as a Top Recommended Family Law Barrister within the exclusive guide. She is also the author at Spears', with her recent article on Divorcing in Dubai: Should wealthy Expats worry about new UAE family laws? Maria is further ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Niamh practices exclusively in family law. Prior to joining the Bar in England 5 years ago, she worked as a barrister and in other legal disciplines in the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, and the USA. Niamh holds a specialist qualification in international arbitration. Niamh represents clients in financial remedy proceedings, including clients based in UAE. Niamh is regularly instructed on international child abduction cases and relocation cases.
Niamh is recognised in the Legal 500 for her work in Family law (Children & Domestic Abuse).
To instruct Maria and Niamh, please contact Dean Farlam, our Senior Family Team Clerk on: E: deanfarlam@5sah.co.uk T: 020 7332 5405
About this event - The Bar Council
Join us in Dubai for a full-day conference exploring the fast-changing landscape of family law.
Panels will look at:
- Financial provision and jurisdiction
- Enforcement across borders
- Child relocation and abduction
- The role of mediation and arbitration in resolving disputes
Speakers from the UAE and the Bar of England and Wales will share comparative perspectives and highlight recent legal developments. The day will also include a keynote address from the British Embassy on support for expats in the UAE, and will close with a networking reception, which will be a chance to build connections across both jurisdictions.
Who is this event for?
- Family law practitioners: lawyers and legal advisors, based in the UAE and otherwise, specialising in family law, custody, and adoption
- Family office professionals: advisers and managers who work with high-net-worth families, focusing on estate planning, wealth management, and family governance
- Academics and researchers: scholars studying family law, social policy, and related fields
- Diplomats and Government representatives: officials involved in family law policy or child welfare
- Legal professionals: those with an interest in comparative and cross-border law
- Legal marketing professionals: individuals focused on business development within law firms or legal organisations
- Masters and Doctoral students in family law
