Dawn Finlayson

Dawn Finlayson is a Principal Associate at Weightmans LLP.

Dawn has spent the majority of her career advising clients exclusively on Family and Child law matters. Dawn is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Child Law. Dawn is trained in collaborative practice, and she is a member of Consensus Scotland. Dawn has recently completed her CALM Mediation training.

Dawn has experience advising on a broad-spectrum including separation, divorce, civil partnerships, often involving high net worth matters and complex matters, cohabitation, residence and contact disputes, adoption and the relocation of children.

Dawn has experience advising clients where there are issues of domestic abuse and taking steps to protect them and sometimes their children.

Whilst Dawn has strong litigation skills, having appeared in court since 2007, she considers that court action should be a last resort - particularly where there are children involved. Dawn will always aim to resolve cases by negotiation and to utilise her skills to try and achieve an amicable resolution as efficiently as possible. Dawn strives to deal with cases with sensitivity and compassion.

According to Dawn’s clients, she is “always there when needed”, “extremely approachable and warm, yet professional at the same time” and deals with matters with “great expertise” whilst offering “emotional support” and a “First class service.

Dawn is a volunteer at the Scottish Child Law centre.

Dawn is a Board member of the charity Mellow Parenting. Mellow Parenting designs and delivers training programmes that promote parent - child relationships.

Dawn previously volunteered at the Promoting Positive Contact centre, which is child contact centre based in the Glasgow, where parents or relatives can have contact with their child or children.