Mrs Elissa Da Costa-Waldman MCIArb, Barrister, IFLA Arbitrator & Mediator pFDR/Early Neutral Evaluator,

Elissa is firmly committed to all forms of Non Court Dispute Resolution, to facilitate those in the wake of relationship breakdown to resolve their financial and/or property issues or disputes regarding children, to do so in a humane, civilised and fair manner.

Elissa has been a practising barrister for almost thirty five years. She is a specialist in matrimonial finance and TOLATA claims and also takes on private law children work, particularly relocation cases, both domestic and international. Elissa also undertakes work within the Court of Protection.

Elissa prides herself on having an ‘inclusive practice’ demonstrating approachability and sensitivity in dealing with alternative family structures. In addition to her practice in Matrimonial Finance, Elissa is also an expert in cohabitation claims (TOLATA) of both heterosexual and homosexual partners. She is able to draft cohabitation agreements at the beginning of the cohabitation relationship as well as separation agreements in the event of relationship breakdown. In addition, Elissa is well-versed in the Civil Procedure Rules and represents many former cohabitants in the civil courts to deal with their property disputes where the parties have been unable to resolve them using other forms of dispute resolution.

Although a fearless advocate, Elissa has always been committed to non-court dispute resolution and is a qualified mediator, collaborative lawyer and Family Law Arbitrator in both financial remedy and private law children matters. She also sits as a Private FDR evaluator (financial remedies) or Early Neutral Evaluator (TOLATA).

Elissa is a published author, most recently writing the chapter on the law for the third edition of Resolution’s Cohabitation Law and Practice Handbook. She also writes for law journals and is well known for providing continuing professional development training to other legal professionals through Professional Conferences and The Solicitors’ Group.