“Rebecca Hawkins has dedicated her career to helping families navigate separation with dignity, understanding and constructive resolution. Through her expertise in mediation, collaborative practice and child-focused dispute resolution, she has become a respected advocate for approaches that prioritise communication, reduce conflict and support healthier futures for parents and children alike.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Rebecca Hawkins is a family lawyer, accredited family mediator and co-founder of the family dispute resolution practice originally established as Mediation Now in 2007.

With more than 25 years of family law experience, Rebecca specialises in helping separating couples resolve disputes constructively through mediation, collaborative law, arbitration and other non-court processes.

She is widely recognised for her belief that family disputes are best resolved through communication, understanding and practical problem-solving, rather than adversarial litigation.

What Rebecca Hawkins does

Rebecca advises and supports clients on a wide range of family law matters, including:

• Family mediation
• Divorce and separation
• Child arrangements disputes
• Children Act matters
• Financial settlements on separation
• Collaborative family law
• Parenting coordination
• Family arbitration in children cases
• Neutral evaluations and private opinions
• Co-parenting support
• Communication and relationship-focused dispute resolution

Her practice is centred on helping families achieve workable, long-term solutions while minimising conflict and emotional harm.

Why she stands out

Rebecca stands out because of her holistic approach to family breakdown.

While many practitioners focus solely on the legal issues, Rebecca works to address the wider family dynamics that can affect children, parents and future relationships.

As an accredited mediator, collaborative solicitor, parenting coordinator, arbitrator and family law supervisor, she offers families a broad range of alternatives to court proceedings.

“I promote a non-court approach wherever possible and strongly believe that this is the best outcome for a family, and that court proceedings should only be a matter of last resort.”

Her work extends beyond individual cases into education, training and public awareness, helping both professionals and families better understand healthier ways to resolve conflict.

Recognition and trust signals

• More than 25 years of family law experience
• Accredited Family Mediation Council Mediator
• Collaboratively Trained Family Solicitor
• Qualified Family Arbitrator for child-related disputes
• Qualified Parenting Coordinator
• Family Law Supervisor
• Trainer on Resolution’s Mediation Foundation Course
• Member of Resolution’s Legal Aid Committee
• Member of Resolution’s Litigants in Person Committee
• Member of Resolution’s Mediation Working Group
• Member of the Family Mediation Council Legal Aid Committee

Leadership and contribution to family justice

Rebecca has played an active role in shaping family dispute resolution practice nationally.

Alongside co-founder Claire Webb, she trains mediators, supports accreditation candidates and develops educational programmes focused on reducing conflict and improving outcomes for children following separation.

The pair have successfully secured government and private funding to develop innovative family support programmes, including initiatives focused on kinship care, co-parenting and improving communication following relationship breakdown.

They also deliver highly regarded courses helping parents understand the impact of separation on children and build healthier co-parenting relationships.

Approach to clients

Clients value Rebecca’s approachable, supportive and practical manner.

She believes in working collaboratively with clients and other professionals, encouraging respectful communication and constructive problem-solving at every stage of the process.

Her focus is always on achieving solutions that work not only legally and financially, but emotionally and practically for the family as a whole.