Emily Ward

Emily is committed to NCDR both as an advocate, an evaluator and an adjudicator.

Involvements and Contributions:

• Author contributor of the leading text ‘Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents’.

• Author contributor of two chapters in Butterworths Family Law Service.

• Lectures for Resolution, FLBA and the Judicial College, as well as for solicitors/lawyers.

• Blog Editor and a member of the Financial Remedies Journal Editorial Board.

• Multiple publications in Family Law Journal.

• Case reviewer for Nagalro.

Consistently recommended as a Leading Junior in the legal directories since 2017:

"Emily works hard to find the best solution for each client. She is a fantastic advocate and is able to put across her client's case with ease and common sense. She has an ability that is massively ahead of her call. She is outstanding and gives everything to a case"(Chambers and Partners - Band 1 Finance and Band 1 Children, 2026)

'Emily is simply brilliant with a fantastic understanding of the law and how it should be implemented. She displays a tremendous empathy to clients and can easily stand her ground against the most experienced of barristers. Emily is a tactical advocate, never one to shy away from a fight. She is a really impressive barrister who is quick on her feet when put on the spot.” (Legal 500, 2026)

Emily also regularly sits in the seat of Private FDR Evaluator in financial remedy, schedule 1 and TOLATA cases, including those which involve third party claims. She brings her skills as a Deputy District Judge (appointed in 2019 at age 30) to this role and is sought after for her thorough but human approach to complex cases. Emily is often appointed as pFDR Evaluator with senior Juniors and Silks as advocates, demonstrating their trust in her opinion and skills in assisting the parties to navigate to a consensual resolution.

Emily's caseload also includes more modest cases where as part of Emily’s NCDR services she is able to provide early neutral evaluations in writing too, if, for example the issue is narrow or the dispute does not justify a full blown pFDR hearing.

In the private children arena, Emily is able to offer private Dispute Resolution Appointments to assist separated parents and carers navigate to a set of arrangements which best meet the child’s needs. Modelled on the 'in court' DRA, but flexible as to format to meet the needs of each individual family, Emily's assistance from a neutral seat assists parents to benefit from an independent view on their way to carving out agreed arrangements for their children.

Emily is one of a small number of practitioners nationwide qualified as an Arbitrator under both the IFLA Finance and Children Schemes. This puts Emily in the unique position of being able to arbitrate children and finances (including Children Act Schedule 1 and TOLATA), within a single arbitration hearing. This offers significant advantages to separated families, particularly in terms of cost savings. A prime example being those cases where there is a dispute as to whether a child should attend state or fee-paying school and a dispute over who should pay.

Within the last 12 months Emily has arbitrated multiple finance cases, as well as children cases, which have included disputes relating to contact and living arrangements, choice of school, state vs private education, and internal relocation.

• Appointed pFDR Evaluator in high-value financial remedy proceedings concerning c. £16m in concrete assets plus uncrystallised shareholdings (+£5m). Issues included post-separation accrual, valuation of shares, Wells sharing, and international property raising enforceability and taxation considerations.

• Appointed to provide indications at a pFDR in a high-value case involving UK and Spanish property and non-matrimonial assets. Disputed company shareholdings were valued between £1m and £5.5m by competing experts. Emily analysed the competing evidence and provided indications on valuation and liquidity to assist settlement. The matter was significant due to the cross-border asset base and contested expert evidence.

• Appointed pFDR Evaluator in high-value proceedings with complex conduct allegations, including non-disclosure, reckless dissipation, and add-back arguments. The asset base included property and business interests across the UK, other European countries and South America, alongside pensions and other cash assets. Extended post-separation period added further complexity regarding non-matrimonial property and post-separation accrual.

E: clerks@broadwayhouse.co.uk

T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600