Michelle Woodworth

Director

Advocate & Solicitor, Singapore

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards

Awarded “Family & Matrimonial Practice Lawyer of the Year” in Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2020 , 2021 and 2022
Awarded “Adviser of the Year” for Family & Matrimonial Practice in Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2023

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

Ranked as a “Litigation Star” under Family the practice areas of Dispute Resolution and Matrimonial Law in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024

Doyles Guide

Doyles Guide under Leading Family & Divorce Lawyer Rankings in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and 2024

The Straits Times – Singapore’s Best Law Firms

The Straits Times – Singapore’s Best Law Firms Surveys as one of the Best Law Firms 2023 and 2024 for Family Law

“I am most grateful for the attention, empathy and professionalism with which my case was handled by Michelle and her legal team at QWP. Her experience and calm, strategic legal approach brought much needed clarity and order into my life, during a time of turmoil, uncertainty and vulnerability. With her navigating a clear path for me through a dense forest of unexpected, contentious issues launched by my ex-partner, I was able to achieve a fair and balanced divorce without having to go through a long, drawn out contested divorce court procedure. (September 2024)”

“Thank you for your considered professional advice throughout this journey. Your measured and consultative style in driving this down the mediation path was helpful in allowing me to focus my efforts with my children, instead of having to think about war scenarios. I am relieved that we managed to avoid litigation. The legal framework helps set up the practical arrangements for daily living and encourages forward planning when we look at settlement long-term up to the children turning into adulthood. When your gentle persuasion met the other party’s sometimes inflammatory aggression, I did not know what to expect, but you demonstrated that a thoughtful yet firm approach with the intent to collaborate can lead to an amicable settlement. The positive energy from this amicable settlement paves the way for increased possibility of co-operative co-parenting and this flows down to benefit the children. You, as the lawyer, think about the children and emphasise on the parent-child relationship first with the use of the legal process to put in place the support structure for these relationships. Continue the good work that you do for society.”

“I instructed Michelle as she was rated highly by her peers and had impressive experience of family matters (as a lawyer and on the bench). Michelle’s calm, friendly and down to earth manner, together with her ability to see the big picture and important issues, cutting through petty and divisive correspondence, was incredibly reassuring. While very sensible and solution orientated, Michelle does not shy away from making firm recommendations and I was very glad to have her representing me.”

“The Family Law team at QWP, led by Ms Woodworth, successfully applied for sole custody of my children in my favour and arrears of maintenance. After 8 long years of litigation and going through 3 other lawyers, I am finally able to move on with my life. QWP’s work is professional, brilliant, meticulous and honest. I am forever grateful to them for helping me through one of the most difficult periods in my life. I highly recommend QWP to anyone who is looking for a “miracle” in their life.”

Michelle contributed to the December 2022 edition of Expat Living Singapore on the topic of “Getting divorced in Singapore for expats” where she touched on the area “Family violence”. (Article can be viewed here). In October 2022, Michelle Woodworth, spoke with At The Vanguard. She shared her life’s work and calling in the law, and how she helps families with The Community Justice Centre through their various projects. (Article can be viewed here)

Family Lawyer

Michelle previously served as a District Judge at the Family and Juvenile Justice Division (now the Family Justice Courts) before returning to private practice. With over 26 years of experience in Family Law & Dispute Resolution, Michelle has a passion for the welfare of children. She is certified as a Collaborative Family Law Practitioner, a Court Appointed Child Representative and Parenting Coordinator. Her dedication to Family Law practice enables Michelle to assist husbands, wives and families reconstruct their lives when relationships break down; one child, one family, one day at a time.

Mediator

Michelle, an industry expert, has been mediating family matters for over a decade. She is the first Singaporean woman appointed as Certified Mediator under the International Mediation Institute and has an over 90% mediation settlement rate. She is a Principal Mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre under the Family and Healthcare Panels. Michelle has undergone extensive mediation training including cross border and child focused courses, and mediating litigated cases.

Therapeutic Justice

Michelle is committed to Therapeutic Justice and has been awarded a Certificate of Attainment for successful completion of the Family Therapeutic Justice Certification Programme under the Singapore Academy of Law.

Among client commendations:

“Michelle goes the extra mile. I had to reach out to her while working overseas. Though telcon was our mode of communication, I always felt like she was just next door. Her reassuring advice helped me build my mental strength. Michelle thinks one step ahead and ensured our proposals were future-ready. 20 years on, I am still benefiting from what she did for me. Her genuineness to uplift the community around her, to always extend help, can be clearly seen by the fact that my daughter chose to pursue a similar career path.”

“Michelle’s ability is to very well understand the emotions running with all parties and manage the situation professionally without provoking or hurting the other party, essential for the wellbeing of the children involved in any divorce case, and to move on with co-parenting once the case is over.”

Appointments:

• Principal Mediator, Singapore Mediation Centre
• IMI Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute (Profile can be viewed here)
• SIMI Certified Mediator, Singapore International Mediation Institute
• Senior Mediator, Law Society Mediation Scheme
• Collaborative Family Practitioner, Singapore Mediation Centre
• Volunteer Mediator, Family Justice Courts
• Volunteer Mediator, Syariah Court of Singapore
• Court-Appointed Child Representative, Family Justice Courts
• Parenting Coordinator, Family Justice Courts
• Co-Chairperson, Law Society of Singapore Family Law Practice Committee 2016-2019
• Member, Advisory Committee, Professional Conduct Council
• Primary Justice Lawyer & Working Committee Member, Community Justice Centre
• Panel Lawyer, Family Justice Support Scheme
• Consultant, Editorial Board for Family Law, Lexis Nexis
• Member, Multi-Disciplinary Team, PAVE
• Doyles Leading Family Lawyer 2017
• Doyles Recommended Family Lawyer 2018
• Committee Member, SG75
• Deputy Chairperson, Civil Legal Aid Means Test Panel

Contributions:

• Member, Committee to Review and Enhance Reforms in the Family Justice System, 2018
• Member, Selection Panel for Law Programmes, Singapore University of Social Sciences
• Member, Committee for Family Justice, Subcommittee on Profession, 2013
• Working Group Member, Committee drafting the new Professional Conduct Rules under the Legal Profession Act, 2012 to 2013
• Working Committee Member, Primary Justice Project, Community Justice Centre
• Tutor for the Preparatory Course Leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations
• Participation in the Video Production of Child Court Proceedings, 2009
• Volunteer at Family Law Legal Clinics
• Moderator, Family Justice Practice Forum, 2 October 2018
• Speaker, Litigation Conference, 2017
• Speaker, Recent Developments in Law and Practice in the UK and Singapore, 22 to 23 September 2016
• Speaker, International Family Law Conference, The Future of Family Justice – International and Multi-Disciplinary Pathways, 29 to 30 September 2016
• Moderator, Plenary Session, the Law Society’s Mediation Symposium, 20 May 2016
• Speaker, Introduction to the International Child Abduction Act, the Law Society’s Family Law Practice Seminars Series 2, 14 May 2015
• Speaker, the Law Society of Singapore’s Annual CPD Day, 2014
• Speaker, Legal Practice Skills Development Seminar Series (Family Law)on “Divorce Proceedings in General”, Subordinate Courts, 18 May 2010
• Member, Organising Committee, and Co-emcee at the Children & the Law Conference, jointly organised by LawAsia and the Law Society of Singapore, 21 to 23 May 2009
• Speaker, the Law Society of Singapore’s Seminar on Cross Border Issues on Children: Parental Abduction and Parental Relocation, 6 November 2008
• Author of chapter on custody, care and control and access of children in a book launched in May 2005 entitled “The Art of Family Lawyering”
• Editor, 2nd edition of “The Art of Family Lawyering”launched in January 2013
• Contributor, Special Edition of “The Art of Family Lawyering” launched in January 2019
• Chairperson, Organising Committee, Family Conference 2018 (inaugural) and 2019, developing the theme “Supporting, Healing and Reconstructing” (“Share”); one child, one family, one day at a time.

MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

• Member, Law Society of Singapore
• Member, Singapore Academy of Law
• Member, Law Society of New South Wales
• Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

PRACTICE AREAS

• Divorce & Family Matters
• Pre-Nuptial Agreements
• Deeds of Separation
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Mediation
• Wills & Probate