Olivia Rookes attends Cardiff Business Club with Sir Andrew McFarlane
I had the pleasure of attending a Cardiff Business Club event this week, with guest speaker Rt Hon Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division and Chair of the Family Justice Council. We, at Lux, were thrilled to have the opportunity of sponsoring the event. It was insightful not only to learn from Sir Andrew’s experiences within family law, but also to discuss the topics with fellow practitioners.
The night started with an introduction to Lux by Paul Thornburn, followed by a speech from our very own, Charlotte Leyshon. Charlotte introduced Sir Andrew and touched upon his roles and responsibilities as the President of the Family Division.
In his speech, Sir Andrew discussed his role, challenges he has faced and his achievements to date. Sir Andrew also touched upon various cases that he has been involved in and discussed the vital role he played throughout the COVID-19 pandemic not only to practitioners but also ensuring that the most vulnerable individuals in our society were not overlooked. Discussion also led to the current issues and trends in family law which allowed us, as legal practitioners, to reflect on our roles.
Sir Andrew’s speech was followed with a lovely three-course meal. I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation with those on my table and made new connections with individuals from various sectors.
I am grateful for the networking opportunities which Cardiff Business Club provides. This was my first event with Cardiff Business Club and certainly will not be my last!