“Dawn Finlayson is a highly respected Scottish family lawyer who combines extensive experience with a genuinely compassionate approach to complex family and child law matters. Her ability to balance strong courtroom advocacy with a commitment to constructive resolution ensures clients receive both strategic guidance and personal support. With a clear focus on achieving fair outcomes while safeguarding the wellbeing of families and children, Dawn is a trusted and accomplished advisor in her field.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Dawn Finlayson is a Principal Associate at Weightmans, specialising in Scottish family law and child law, advising clients across Glasgow and throughout Scotland.

With over 15 years’ experience, Dawn is recognised for her expertise in complex family and child law matters, combining strong litigation skills with a compassionate, resolution-focused approach.

What Dawn Finlayson Does

Dawn advises on a wide range of family and child law issues, supporting clients through both straightforward and highly complex cases.

• Divorce and separation, including high net worth cases
• Child law matters including contact, residence and relocation
• International family law and Hague Convention cases
• Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements
• Cohabitation claims and agreements
• Adoption, surrogacy and permanence orders
• Family mediation and collaborative law

She regularly represents clients in courts across Scotland while also helping many resolve matters through negotiation and alternative dispute resolution.

Why She Stands Out

Dawn is known for her compassionate, pragmatic and highly experienced approach. She understands that family law issues are often deeply personal and emotionally challenging, and she works to support clients with clarity and sensitivity.

At the same time, she is a strong and effective advocate when required, with extensive court experience and a reputation for delivering results in complex disputes.

Her focus is always on achieving the best possible outcome while minimising conflict, particularly where children are involved.

Trust Markers

• Principal Associate specialising in Scottish family and child law
• Qualified Solicitor since 2008
• Accredited Child Law Specialist by the Law Society of Scotland
• Accredited Family Law Mediator
• Collaboratively trained lawyer and member of Consensus Scotland
• Member of CALM Scotland, Family Law Association and Glasgow Bar Association
• Part of award-winning team recognised as Family Law Firm of the Year (LexisNexis Awards)

Background and Experience

Dawn has spent the majority of her career specialising exclusively in family and child law, building deep expertise across a wide range of cases including international disputes and complex child law matters.

She has regularly appeared in courts across Scotland since 2007 and is highly experienced in both contentious and non-contentious family law work.

Approach to Clients

Dawn takes a client-focused and empathetic approach, recognising that every situation is unique. She prioritises clear communication and works to ensure clients feel informed, supported and confident throughout their case.

Where possible, she promotes constructive and amicable solutions through negotiation, collaboration and mediation, while remaining ready to act decisively when court proceedings are necessary.

Client Feedback

• “Dawn is always there when needed.”
• “Extremely approachable and warm, yet professional at the same time.”
• “First class service. Dawn is an excellent family law solicitor.”

For those seeking a family and child law solicitor in Glasgow with deep expertise, strong advocacy skills and a genuinely compassionate approach, Dawn Finlayson offers trusted and effective legal support.