Associate Spotlight: Aysel Akhundova

Our Associate Spotlight turns the focus to the brilliant Associates at Dawson Cornwell.  Here we highlight the breadth and depth of experience in the firm, as well as the wide range of personalities and interests that make us who we are.

Aysel Akhundova, a senior associate in the Children Department who qualified in 2020, shares her thoughts.

What type of work do you undertake at Dawson Cornwell?
I am a children law specialist and my work is very varied; no two days are ever the same.  In every case, what stays the same is keeping the focus on the children. From helping parenting navigate separation, to trying to secure a child’s return following an abduction, to meticulously planning a relocation, my practice spans the full spectrum of family complexity.

On the other side, I also help intended parents navigate the legal landscape of surrogacy, secure parental orders, and handle adoption cases.

Ultimately, I am lucky to guide families through some of their most challenging and transformative moments – whether that is through separation, adoption, or bringing new life into the world through surrogacy. Each case is unique and provides different challenges. It is what keeps it interesting!

Why did you want to get into law, and what led you to family law?
At the age of 7, I wrote that when I grow up, I want to be a ‘loyer’ (lawyer). Don’t ask me why, although I suspect there was some parental conditioning going on there! Fortunately, it was absolutely the right career path for me.

I went to study Law at the University of Bristol. At the time, I thought that corporate law was the only way to go. I completed the family law modules and fell in love. Law no longer seemed as dry as it did before. I had limited experience in family law, but knew it was for me. Despite a lack of experience, I was lucky enough to secure a training contract with Dawson Cornwell, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What has been your biggest career challenge?
Qualifying during the pandemic! I started my training contact in September 2018. The following year, I moved to the Children Department and started working with Carolina Marin Pedreño. Six months into my 2^nd year, the world went into lockdown. The work did not stop but we were all working remotely. As the end of my training contact neared, there was a lot of uncertainty regarding the future and retention. Luckily, it all worked out and I stayed at Dawson Cornwell.

And your biggest success?
This one is hard! There have been so many incredible moments, successes and accomplishments over the last 7 years.

While it is always nice for your work to be recognised, be that by inclusion in directories or awards, nothing hits like settling a long-standing dispute, getting a parent to see their child again after months of no contact or artificial contact, or reuniting a parent with a child who was abducted.

These are people’s lives, and it is an honour to play a role in something so life-changing. At the end of the day, what is more precious or important than a child?

I obtained my Higher Rights just before I went on maternity leave. Since then, I have represented clients at the High Court and secured parental orders. That has been very special. The added bonus is that the babies come to court!

So, there is no single success that stands out, but there is a beautiful tapestry of successes, each different and special.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing family law at the moment?
Sadly, it is hard to focus on just one issue.

The cuts to legal aid caused an explosion of litigants in person. This is happening alongside a technological revolution that is both promising and concerning. AI has emerged as a tool that could help bridge the access to justice gap, but I am seeing litigants relying on AI to prepare court documents or correspondence. There are serious questions about liability and accuracy.

On one hand, the potential to increase access to information is great. We desperately need technological solutions to help manage court backlogs and support unrepresented litigants. But family law is uniquely human. When parties use AI to represent themselves, without legal guidance, their voice gets lost.

There is also an increasing trend of parties using delay as a tactic, knowing that the backlog in the family courts will work to their advantage. The damage to a child, and to a co-parenting relationship, of protracted litigation is a serious concern. The long-term impact of that should not be underestimated. At the end of proceedings, once the professionals leave, the parents are left to pick up the pieces and manage a relationship that has likely been destroyed by proceedings. The co-parenting relationship subsists far longer than any litigation.

And lastly, as someone with an international background, I worry about the lack of cultural competency in the family courts. Cultural context matters. It is wrong to view a relationship dynamic, family structures, norms and parenting practices through a white lens. There needs to be more education on this.

Do you have any advice for people looking at a career in family law?
You need to love what you do. Family law is not just about the law; it is about people. You need genuine empathy and resilience, but also the ability to maintain professional boundaries. Some cases go in a very different direction than anticipated. That can be hard to accept, especially given what is at stake.

Remember that behind every case is a child. That should both humble you and push you. The law will challenge you intellectually, but is it the human element that will sustain your passion for this.

Legal clinics and pro bono organisations are needed now, more than ever. Get involved. Volunteer. You can really make a difference in someone’s life and get some experience under your belt at the same time.

Lastly, family law has some of the kindest, supportive and brightest people. Don’t be afraid to reach out. We are always on the hunt for the future of the profession. 

How do you unwind after work?
I step out of work and straight into parenting! I have a beautiful, active 2-and-a-half-year-old. I love nothing more than spending time with him. Getting to experience life through the eyes of a child is truly magical. It might not be conventionally relaxing, but it is so much fun.

What’s at the top of your bucket list?
My husband and I have always talked about taking a sabbatical and travelling the world with our children. This is a dream I am determined to make a reality one day. It will have to be before our son goes to secondary school, so we have a few years still…

If you could have a superpower, what would you choose?
The ability to communicate in any language. Not only with words, but to also understand cultural nuances, the emotional undertones, the things that get lost in translation. I speak English, Azerbaijani, and Russian fluently, and have a conversational level of Turkish. I am also lucky to be able to understand the culture and the nuances.

So many things get lost in translation. This is something I have really noticed in cases as well, especially where I speak the language. Imagine being able to truly understand different cultural backgrounds, and being able to use that to assist parents in navigating a dispute? That would be priceless. If language barriers could be broken down completely, it would be easier to find common ground and make sure that no one’s voice is lost.

Aysel Akhundova

Please note that this blog is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content of this blog.