Russell Bywater

Spear’s Review

Russell Bywater, Dawson Cornwell’s longest-standing partner, has over 30 years’ experience in family law. He has worked on high-profile cases such as Villiers v Villiers [2022], a landmark Supreme Court case that some argue gave a green light for ‘divorce tourism’.

Bywater heads the firm’s matrimonial department and advises on all areas of family law. He has particular expertise in international trust cases, and is a member of the International Bar Association, a trained mediator and a frequent speaker on legal matters.

He tells Spear’s that his passion for family law stems from seeing the ‘enduring nature of the human spirit and its capacity to forgive and move on’. While divorces can inevitably be confrontational, Bywater enjoys the process of culminating a difficult process with fair settlements sans acrimony.