“Joanne Edwards is a leading authority in international family law, guiding clients through complex and high-value disputes with clarity, discretion and strategic insight. Her expertise in mediation and cross-border matters makes her a trusted adviser in achieving constructive and lasting outcomes.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Joanne Edwards is a Partner and Head of Family, widely recognised as one of the leading family lawyers of her generation. Based in London, she specialises in complex, high-value family law matters, particularly those involving international elements, trusts and wider family wealth.

What Joanne Edwards does

Jo advises clients on a full range of family law issues, with a focus on high net worth and complex cases, including:

• Divorce and financial settlements involving substantial assets
• International family law and cross-border disputes
• Child arrangements, including relocation cases
• Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
• Cohabitation disputes and relationship breakdown

Her clients include business owners, entrepreneurs, professional athletes, individuals in private equity, creatives and professionals, as well as their spouses and partners.

Why she stands out

Jo is known for her ability to handle complex and sensitive matters with a calm, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach. While she has extensive court experience, she actively looks to resolve disputes outside of court where possible, helping clients achieve efficient and constructive outcomes.

Mediation is a key part of her practice, and she is recognised as one of a select group of leading family mediators in the UK. She regularly assists couples in reaching agreement even in highly complex or advanced disputes, including cases involving significant wealth or international relocation of children.

She is also frequently instructed in cases requiring creative thinking, including resolving disputes around nuptial agreements, family wealth planning and sensitive family conflicts.

Trust markers

• Head of Family at a leading London law firm
• Ranked in Chambers UK and Chambers High Net Worth
• Recognised as one of the UK’s leading family mediators
• Named in eprivateclient 50 Most Influential
• Former Chair of Resolution and long-standing National Committee member
• Regular contributor to national media, TV and radio

Reputation and client feedback

Jo is consistently praised for delivering a first-class service and achieving excellent results for her clients. She is described as:

• “Simply one of the leading family lawyers of her generation”
• “A first-class lawyer who provides a first-class service”
• “A trusted adviser who delivers outstanding results on complex cases”

Her approachable and reassuring manner, combined with strong technical expertise, makes her a trusted choice for clients facing challenging personal and financial situations.

Leadership and wider impact

Beyond her client work, Jo is a leading voice in family law reform. She has played a significant role in shaping policy through her work with Resolution, including serving as Chair and contributing to national campaigns and parliamentary discussions.

She regularly engages with government bodies, the judiciary and the media to advocate for improvements in family law and access to justice.

International perspective

Jo’s practice has a strong international dimension, and she is a member of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. She also maintains close professional ties in Scotland, giving her valuable cross-jurisdictional insight for clients with international or UK-wide matters.

Joanne Edwards is widely recognised as a leading expert in complex family law, trusted for her judgement, discretion and ability to deliver clear, effective solutions in even the most challenging cases.