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Michelle Woodworth

Director
[email protected]

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 28 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 a Court Appointed 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 and other disputes for over 20 years.

She is the first Singaporean woman appointed as Certified Mediator under the International Mediation Institute and has an over 90% mediation settlement rate.

Michelle 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.

Previously, Michelle was awarded the following:

Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards

‘Family & Matrimonial Practice Lawyer of the Year’ in Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022

‘Adviser of the Year’ for Family & Matrimonial Practice in Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2023

Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific

Ranked as a “Litigation Star” for Family and Matrimonial in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026

Ranked as a Tier 1 law firm practice for Family and Matrimonial in Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2025 and 2026

Doyles Guide

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

APPOINTMENTS
  • Principal Mediator, Singapore Mediation Centre
  • IMI Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute
  • 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
  • Panel Lawyer, Family Justice Support Scheme
MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS
  • Member, Law Society of Singapore
  • Member, Singapore Academy of Law
  • Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
Previous Appointments and Awards
  • 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.
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.
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.
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. Her work is professional, brilliant, meticulous and honest. I am forever grateful to her for helping me through one of the most difficult periods in my life. I highly recommend Michelle to anyone who is looking for a “miracle” in their life.