GUIDING THE WAY
Through Relationship Breakdown
Deciding to end a relationship starts a complex and emotional process for many couples and their families. For some, an alternative to the default family court divorce option, such as resolving disputes through arbitration or mediation, may be appropriate.
This website aims to guide and inform couples about the dispute resolution options available.
About the Author
Kristina Hopper, MCIArb, is a qualified arbitrator and practising barrister with years of experience in family law matters. She advises in cases concerning divorce and relationship breakdown, children law and has a particular specialism in cross-jurisdictional cases involving children's law.
“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment”- Oprah Winfrey
KRISTINA HOPPER, MCIArb
Kristina is a family law barrister who specialises in all aspects of family law including divorce and financial remedies but has a particular interest in children law, including cases with complex international elements. She was called to the bar in 2008 and has practised exclusively in family law since then.
She attended McGill University in Montreal, Canada, where she obtained a BA in Sociology, Spanish and Italian. After completing her BA, Kristina attended the University of Leeds, where she received an LLM and was subsequently called to the Bar of England and Wales in July 2016.
In 2020, Kristina undertook specialist mediation training with ‘MiKK e.V. International Mediation Centre for Family Conflict and Child Abduction (MiKK) in Berlin. In 2022, Kristina qualified as a Mediator (working toward accreditation); in 2022, she qualified as an Arbitrator in 2023.
Reasons for establishing the Love Well Leave Well website
Kristina is a proud Canadian who has lived between London and Switzerland for many years. Throughout her years in practice, she has reflected on whether separating from a partner can be done more compassionately and gently so that all parties, including the children’s respective needs, can be met.
The Court process is stressful and adversarial. While parties will always receive a decision, the result only sometimes gives them the desired outcome. One or both parties leave the process having to come to terms with the decision and rebuild their lives after what feel like the battle of their lives.
Mediation and Arbitration offer different approaches to conflict and separation that the parties lead and control.
“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to handle the conflict by peaceful means”
Services and Fees
Presently, Love Well Leave Well only offers arbitration regarding children matters as well as all issues mediation.
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Online (up to 60 minutes per person)
£125 per person
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1.5 hours
£150 per person
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Cost will depend on the dispute and whether it is necessary for there to be expert evidence, amount of papers to be considered and whether parties are giving evidence.
TESTIMONIAL FROM A SOLICITOR CLIENT
“Kristina is a very talented barrister and is very approachable and helpful. She has great client care skills and is well liked and respected by all the clients on the cases she has been instructed on. She is well respected by her opponents also. She has a wealth of experience and an in-depth knowledge of the law. She is one of my ‘go to’ barristers who I try to get on complex cases and if I need some legal advice on a difficult case. She is passionate about the cases she is instructed on and is a solid pair of hands, which is essential in the difficult area of child protection work. I have been informed that her advocacy skills are of a high standard and the Judges respond well to her approach in the court room and her submissions are persuasive. I would highly recommend her to colleagues and have done on many occasions. ”