Who we are

We empower people facing court alone

Every year, thousands of people in the UK face court alone. Often through no choice of their own, they must represent themselves at a moment that could determine the rest of their life. They may face divorce, eviction from their home, or the loss of their children. In an unfamiliar courtroom, up against a party with legal representation, the process can be stressful and confusing. Our team make sure people facing court are not alone, and help them navigate a complex legal system with dignity and self-assurance.

We stand with those who have nowhere else to turn. We provide a free service across England and Wales, offering support and guidance before, during, and after court.

Our team of volunteers help clients to feel clear about what they need to do when they have no option but to represent themselves. We ensure that those facing court alone feel prepared and supported in accessing justice.

• Katherine Milliken (Chair): Katherine is the Chief Operating Officer of Macfarlanes, a position she has held since May 2022. She trained to become a solicitor at a magic circle firm before spending ten years in-house with international automotive retailer and distributor Inchcape plc, where she was latterly General Counsel. Katherine has served as a trustee, including as Vice Chair, at organisations in the education and arts sectors.
• Alexander Hulbert: Alex has been a solicitor for a decade in matrimonial and private affairs, and is now a Director and Chief Operating Officer for one of the country’s most respected litigation lending businesses.
• Anthony Fincham: Before retiring in 2019, Anthony was a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang from 1984.
• David Wilkin: David is an Emeritus Professor of Health Services Research and a magistrate with extensive experience as a charity trustee in various non-executive roles, including as Chair of Manchester CAB
• Elizabeth Meekison: Elizabeth is an experienced litigation lawyer with over 20 years spent in private practice and in-house. She is currently a Head of Legal, leading a litigation team at the largest retail and commercial financial services provider in the UK. 
• Helen Lawrence: Helen volunteers at the Civil Justice Centre in Manchester and for the National Helpline. Before retirement in 2018 she worked for HMCTS, latterly as Clerk to the Justices for Cumbria and Lancashire.
• Kay-Dene Petgrave: Currently a Solicitor at Fieldfisher LLP, specialising in high profile public inquiries, inquests and investigations.
• Robert Pitt: Robert is one of our volunteers at both the Central Family Court and the Royal Courts of Justice. He is also a management consultant with extensive experience of developing and implementing business and technology strategy and driving business change.
• Samantha Gargaro: Samantha is a Solicitor with extensive experience of working in private practice. She is currently Director of Birmingham City University Law Clinic.
• Stephen Adler: Stephen is one of our service volunteers in London and has been a Magistrate in both the criminal and family courts and is also family mediator. Previously, he ran his own management consultancy, advising at Board and Senior Executive level on strategic, operational and business decisions.
• Tim Nash: Tim is Chief Executive of Edwin Coe LLP.
• Tristan Harvey: Tristan is a family barrister who now specialises in all forms of non-court dispute resolution at Queen Elizabeth Building Chambers.  He also sits as a Deputy District Judge on the South Eastern Circuit.”
• Zubair Chaudhry: Zubair joined HMRC in 2014, now working as a tax litigator in the Solicitors’ Office. Since 2019, he has also sat as a Magistrate.

Leadership team

• CEO: Emma Taylor
• Chief Financial Officer and Head of HR: Ingela Ekström
• Head of Service: Charlotte Rook

Our patrons

• Martin Lewis CBE
• I. Stephanie Boyce
• The Rt Hon The Baroness Hale of Richmond
• The Rt Hon The Lady Butler-Sloss
• The Rt Hon Lord Dyson
• The Rt Hon The Lord Neuberger
• The Rt Hon The Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers
• The Rt Hon The Lord Thomas
• The Rt Hon The Lord Woolf
• The Rt Hon The Lord Burnett of Maldon
• The Rt Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court

Liaison judge

• The Rt Hon Dame Sarah Asplin

Business Board

Our Business Board champion the work we do, supporting our team in various ways, but primarily through linking us with communities, businesses and organisations passionate about access to justice. Current members are:

• Asim Butt – 25 years at a top 50 law firm previously as a director of motor and counter-fraud claims solutions, sitting on their executive board and now as a consultant
• Louisa Kidson – Director of Property & Workplace at Travers Smith
• Nick Luckman, Practice Director at Wilberforce Chambers
• Suzanne Kingston – A Consultant at Pennington Manches Cooper and Carey Olsen
• Tim Nash, CEO of Edwin Coe

Family Ambassador Board

Our Family Ambassador Board champion the work we do, supporting our team in various ways, but primarily through linking us with communities, businesses and organisations passionate about access to justice. Current members are:

• Camini Kumar: Camini has specialised in family law since she was called to the Bar in 2008
• James Evans (Chair of the Family Ambassador Board): James is a Professional Liaison at OurFamilyWizard
• Melanie Bataillard-Samuel: Melanie is a family law solicitor at MBS Family Law
• Raphaela Kohs: Raphaela is a family law solicitor at Hughes Fowler Carruthers
• Sarah Williams: Sarah is a Legal Director in the Payne Hicks Beach Family department

Our founder

In 2001, Diana Copisarow OBE was working as a volunteer at the Old Bailey Witness Service when she received a call from Lord Woolf, then Lord Chief Justice, asking if she could help a woman, terrified of going through the ordeal of a civil case, all alone, in the Royal Courts of Justice. The criminal courts offered support ranging from police chaperones to the Witness Service so why was there nothing for people in the civil courts where there was such great need? Diana decided to set up a civil equivalent to the Witness Service. With the help of Lord Woolf and others, she founded the first Personal Support Unit within the Royal Courts of Justice.