Marshall Diel & Myers Limited (MDM) lawyers Rachael Barritt and Adam Richards have co-authored the analysis of Bermuda family law for Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons (second edition), published by European Lawyer/Thomson Reuters.

Ms Barritt and Mr Richards, who are both directors of MDM and are senior members of the law firm’s matrimonial and family team, were invited to co-author the ‘must-have’ publication for family and divorce lawyers globally who, according to a MDM press release, require a comprehensive and practical guide to the key components of family law across a multitude of major jurisdictions. It stated: “Marshall Diel & Myers Limited believes that it will also stand as an excellent resource on family law in Bermuda.

“This chapter was carefully edited by the head of the matrimonial and family team, Georgia Marshall. Georgia Marshall also recently authored the Bermuda submission to the text, International Trust Law and Divorce Litigation,” it stated.

Ms Barritt said: “This publication is the culmination of what has been a substantial research project and I am proud to see the finished result. Our objective was to provide the reader with a simple and accessible guide in which those at the very forefront of their fields highlight the different family law issues which are defining and changing family law around the world.

“By again adopting the Q&A format for each chapter, the aim has been to take what are, at times, emotive subjects, and give them a clear and logical response which could aid any international practitioner.”

She said that Marshall Diel & Myers Ltd has decided to donate copies of the book to the Supreme Court library, the Bermuda College Library as well as the libraries of other law firms. Describing the publication as an important one, she said: “We are also reaching out to the various high schools to inquire as to whether the publication would assist with providing students intending to study law with a local Bermudian perspective.”

Mr Richards said: “There has been a marked increase in the number of family law cases with an international element, and there is no evidence that this growth will abate any time soon. The trend is partly caused by the growth of truly ‘international cities’ such as London and New York, but also by the myriad of international conventions that govern issues such as child abduction. Against this backdrop, it was essential to provide family law practitioners with an up-to-date, and improved, comprehensive resource book.

“By ensuring that Bermuda is included in such a publication we have really put Bermuda on the map for international family law practice.”

The new book has received positive reviews including from Lord Justice Thorpe, Head of the Office of International Family Justice, who said: “This supremely practical book provides basic information on international family law operating in no less than 46 jurisdictions. The general editor was particularly astute to ensure that all these jurisdictions adopted the same template for their presentations. In this busy world the provision of basic legal information in an easily digestible form is what we all seek.”

“Truly a ‘comparative overview’ as the foreword claims — same questions posed to each jurisdiction — and, as such, truly indispensable to all international family lawyers,” were the words of Tim Amos QC, while Cheryl Hepfer, president of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (IAML) said: “This publication will be a tremendous resource for all family lawyers ... The fact that the information is provided by so many Fellows of the IAML, who have the knowledge and expertise to identify and favourably resolve international issues, contributes significantly to its value.”

MDM’s managing director Kevin Taylor said: “The publication of the analysis of Bermuda family law in the 2013 Family Law Jurisdictional Comparisons is a testament to the expertise of our firm’s contributing attorneys.”