Charlotte Image-Flower and Forum Shah made Partner

We are delighted to announce the promotion of senior associates Charlotte Image-Flower and Forum Shah to partner.

Charlotte and Forum both joined Dawson Cornwell in 2020 and specialise in private and public children law.

Charlotte has a particular focus on complex care proceedings. She is a Resolution accredited specialist in domestic abuse and public children law, as well as a member of the Law Society Children Panel. In February 2024, Charlotte was appointed Deputy District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit, sitting within the Civil and Family jurisdictions.

Forum is known for her work on international child abduction and relocation. Forum acts on a range of cases concerning the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court and wardship, and non Hague Convention countries. She also acts for parents and other family members in care proceedings, living and contact arrangements, applications to relocate abroad, and cases involving allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse and parental alienation.

Charlotte Image-Flower commented: “I am excited to begin the next chapter of my career at Dawson Cornwell. Anyone working in children law knows that the work certainly comes with its challenges, but I honestly do not think there is anything more rewarding.”

Forum Shah said: “I am thrilled to be joining the partnership at Dawson Cornwell. We have an excellent team, and I know that due to the depth in expertise across the firm, I will continue to learn and develop my practice alongside some of the best practitioners in the industry.”

Carolina Marín Pedreño, partner and head of Dawson Cornwell’s children department, explained: “Charlotte and Forum are outstanding children lawyers. They combine technical nous with compassion, and always approach cases with a drive to achieve the best outcome for the children involved. They are both welcome additions to the partnership.”

Our children department is regularly instructed on the most serious and complex domestic and international children law cases – we continue to have more than 20 reported cases each year at appellate level, including before the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Last year we celebrated our 50th anniversary and the firm now comprises 15 partners and over 30 qualified lawyers. Our specialist departments provide an internationally renowned service to clients across a broad range of family, property and probate law. The firm is ranked Band 1 in the Chambers & Partners 2024 guide and is ranked Tier 1 for Family Law in The Legal 500 2024.