Elissa Da Costa-Waldman MCIArb

Since her call to the Bar in 1990, Elissa has become an established practitioner in her chosen field.  Using a creative and innovative approach to finding solutions to client’s financial matters on divorce, she is also an experienced and principled negotiator as well as an assertive and effective advocate, being National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) trained.  Elissa prides herself on having an ‘inclusive practice’ demonstrating approachability and sensitivity in dealing with alternative family structures.  Indeed, in addition to her practice in Matrimonial Finance, Elissa is also an expert in cohabitation claims of both heterosexual and homosexual partners.  She is able to draft cohabitation agreements at the beginning of the cohabitation relationship as well as a ‘separation agreement’ in the event of relationship breakdown.  In addition, a fearless advocate and well-versed in the Civil Procedure Rules, Elissa represents many former cohabitants in court to deal with their property disputes where the parties have been unable to resolve them using other forms of dispute resolution.

Elissa also undertakes private child law matters including contact and residence disputes and relocation whether domestic or international.  Elissa also undertakes work within the Court of Protection.

Elissa is an experienced mediator having qualified in 2003, a qualified collaborative lawyer and, as of June 2012, she is also an accredited Family Law Arbitrator (Finance).

Elissa is based in central London but is happy to travel. In her limited free time she is a formidable Scrabble player, card player, budding novel writer but most importantly grandma to the ‘Magnificent 7’, her brood of grandchildren.