About David Josiah-Lake

Prior to setting up Josiah-Lake Solicitors in May 2004, David had worked as a senior Solicitor in the Family Law Department of Cole & Cole (now Blake Morgan) in Oxford before joining Fisher Meredith Solicitors in London in June 1998, at which firm he was made a partner in 2000.

In December 2008, David and Rebecca Gardiner set up Josiah-Lake Gardiner.

A trained collaborative family lawyer, David is passionate about offering expert legal advice and support to clients to empower them to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. With over 20 years of experience in the field of family law, David remains a fierce and committed advocate for his clients, striving always to offer constructive, practical and lasting solutions.

Most recently, the Legal 500 2020 describes David as a‘highly regarded individual’ who is ‘adept at dealing with complicated financial remedy cases’

An active member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors Family Law Association), David sat on its London Region Committee from 2002 until 2009. In 2003, he was admitted as a New York State Attorney. David has also sat on the Advisory Board for the University of Westminster LLB (Law degree) program.

David’s latest book ‘Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law, 4^th edition’ was published by Bloomsbury Professional on 18 May 2018 and provides a detailed analysis of the latest legislative, procedural and case law developments in this evolving area of law.

Further, David continues to be an author/contributing editor for Butterworths’ Family Law Service and has been involved or continues to be involved with the following other publications:-

• The Lawyers’ Factbook (published by Thomson Legal/Sweet & Maxwell).
• Barlow’s Cohabitants and the Law (receiving a co-authorship credit for the 3rd edition).
• The Accountant’s Legal Service published by Butterworths/Lexis Nexis.
• Rayden & Jackson on divorce 18th edition published 2005.
• Jackson’s Matrimonial Finance 8th edition published 2009.
• Halsbury’s Laws of England (Matrimonial and Civil partnership Law) 5th edition (of which he was the Consultant Editor) published 2009
• The Modern Family (a Resolution guide) published 2011
• Atkin’s Court Forms 2nd edition published 2016

David’s reported cases

David was the lead Solicitor in the case of Re L [2008] EWHC 2149 (Fam). This case is the first and remains to date the only reported case concerning the posthumous retrieval and storage of gametes for use by a surviving partner in IVF treatment. The gametes were harvested following an interim order by Court (Mrs Justice Macur). Subsequent legal proceedings were brought by L against the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Dept. of Health to enable her to access and to use the stored gametes in IVF treatment discussed but not yet underway at the time of her husband’s sudden and premature death. Whilst use of the gametes retrieved without consent in the UK is strictly prohibited, use of such gametes abroad is possible subject to the grant of a licence from the HFEA in this regard and this was the issue before Mr Justice Charles. The HFEA expressed concern about the case and David’s response can be found here https://www.bionews.org.uk/page_91660

Media

David’s advice on family finance issues have appeared in the finance/money sections of both the Daily Mail and Evening Standard newspapers and at www.thisismoney.com in the “ask the experts” section.

Previously, David has advised on family law related storylines for the BBC daytime drama “Doctors”.

He has appeared on TV and radio to discuss family law issues.