Amanda Masson

At an event in Edinburgh last night, an audience of over 60 braved Storm Ciara to hear from family law expert Amanda Masson.

Scheduled speaker, Sir James Munby, former head of the Family Division in England and Wales, was stranded in London, though his speech is available here.

Ms Masson, partner and family law specialist at Harper Macleod, told the event that terminology of ‘contact’ and ‘residence’ is unhelpful in the Children (Scotland) Act.

She is in favour of changing them in the bill currently before the Scottish Parliament to support the role of both parents in the life of their children after separation and suggested a presumption of shared parenting would resolve many expensive and prolonged battles in court.

A short video explained the charity’s work over the last 10 years leading to the choice of a new name.