RWK Goodman strengthens Family team with appointment of new Head of International Children

Kim Lehal joins RWK Goodman as a Partner in the International Family team, based in their London office.

Kim has been a family lawyer for 14 years, specialising in International Child Abduction and Children Law and she joins RWK Goodman from Brethertons LLP Solicitors where she led a child law team.

She has a distinguished track record in advising and representing victims of domestic abuse, honour-based violence, FGM and abandoned spouses in foreign jurisdictions as well as specialising in complex family disputes involving international child abduction, relocation, Child Arrangements proceedings and cross-border adoption and surrogacy arrangements. She has been involved in some of the leading cases in her field, in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. 

Kim’s appointment now makes RWK Goodman one of only 48 firms in the UK with an accredited specialist in international child abduction, enabling the firm to work directly with the Ministry of Justice via the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU).

Kim comments: “RWK Goodman have not previously had a presence in the international children world - which is incredibly niche and therefore, I am excited about growing the firm’s reputation in this area of the law.

“I am passionate about this area of the law  because I am interested in the human aspect of law and how the law can help people at the some of the most vulnerable times of their lives concerning the most important people in their lives – their children. The work is complex yet interesting, varied and fast-paced, where the stakes are high. The law in this area is also constantly evolving with changes in society.”

Commenting on the appointment, Ursula Danagher, Partner and Head of Family (London) said:“We are delighted to welcome Kim to the firm. She is recognised as a leader in her field, and we look forward to her leading in the growth of the International Children area of family law at RWK Goodman. Kim works closely with charities who specialise in supporting vulnerable people as well as ex pats, parents seeking the return of children,  parents who remove children across borders and are facing legal proceedings and people who are seeking to start a family. She will continue to work closely with these people and organisations at our firm.”