Ian Besford
Ian Besford was appointed as a District Judge in 1999 and a Regional Cost Judge in 2017. Before that he was a solicitor in private practice in the North East and principal of a cost drafting firm. He retired from the District Bench in April 2022.
Latest
Should Family Justice Embrace the Civil Mediation Model? A Case for Reform
A barrister and mediator working in financial remedies asks whether the civil mediation model could be used more widely in financial remedies cases, and brought into the mainstream of ADR in this area of law, helping cases to settle sooner, or resolving them even before court proceedings are issued.
Interview with Lady Justice King
Samantha Hillas KC talks to a female trailblazer, who has been at the coalface of financial remedies work during a career so far spanning almost half a century, about her journey to the Bar, her judicial appointments and the swingeing changes in practice that she has witnessed along the way.
Personal Conduct in Financial Remedy Proceedings: What Cusworth J’s Recent Decisions Tell Us
The role of conduct in financial remedy proceedings is firmly back in the spotlight following two recent decisions of Cusworth J published in 2026. This article looks at the legal framework on personal conduct, reviews Cusworth J’s decisions, and highlights key practical considerations.