Amy Rowe and Olivia Piercy attend IAFL Nairobi: a global dialogue on family law
Last week, I had the privilege of attending the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) Conference in Nairobi, Kenya - a vibrant conference that brought together judges and lawyers from across the globe to share insights, challenges, and innovations in our field.
Hosted at the Trademark Hotel, the conference offered a varied programme that spanned child protection, novel issues in child law, influencing and affecting legislative change, relationship status and financial claims, pre-nups, and domestic abuse and conduct. It was fascinating to observe the similarities and differences between jurisdictions and how shared challenges are approached through diverse legal frameworks and cultural lenses.
A particular highlight was seeing my colleague, Olivia Piercy, speak on the panel on Domestic Abuse, Conduct and Financial Claims. Olivia brought her characteristic clarity and passion to the conversation on the need to change legal systems to create fairer financial remedy outcomes for victim-survivors of economic abuse. Her words resonated with her panel and many in the room and form part of a much needed dialogue that continues beyond the session.
We were honoured to hear from Her Ladyship Martha K. Koome, Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, whose keynote address was nothing short of inspiring. Her Ladyship spoke about the foundational role of family and family law in society, reminding us that family is the bedrock of society and if we cannot protect the families of today, we cannot protect the families of the future. She went on to say that family shapes the conditions under which children grow and men and women find dignity in marriages, and this passes through generations. Her words were a poignant reminder that the impact of family law extends far beyond the courtroom - it shapes lives, communities, and futures.
Her Ladyship also called for the establishment of an African chapter of the IAFL, describing it as critical to build a movement of African family law practitioners pursuing progressive reforms, uniting voices and enhancing child protection. Her vision for a more inclusive and collaborative future was met with enthusiastic support.
Outside the education programme, Nairobi itself was nothing short of fantastic. The warmth of our hosts, the vibrancy of the city, a game drive in Nairobi National Park, and the opportunity to engage with African colleagues made the experience all the more memorable.
As we return to our practice here in London, the lessons from Nairobi remain front of mind and we’re proud to be part of a global community that is committed to evolving and improving the way we serve families, with the hope that an African chapter of the IAFL will soon be established to unite more professionals across the globe to exchange expertise and enhance practice in cross border family issues.
