UWC Faculty of Law and Miller du Toit Cloete Inc. Host 2026 Annual Global Family Law Conference
From 11 to 13 March 2026, Cape Town’s Sea Point precinct became a hub of global legal exchange as the 28th Annual Miller du Toit Cloete Inc/University of the Western Cape (UWC) Family Law Conference brought together leading voices in family law. Held over three days, the conference reaffirmed its standing as a key international platform for engaging with the evolving complexities of family law across jurisdictions.
The conference opened on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, with a welcome by Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen, Emeritus Professor at the UWC Faculty of Law, and Zenobia du Toit from Miller du Toit Cloete Inc opened the proceedings on Wednesday with a warm welcome that set a collaborative tone for the days ahead. Their longstanding contribution to international family law scholarship helped shape a reflective and forward-looking start to the conference. On Thursday, Professor Jacques de Ville, Dean of the UWC Law Faculty, delivered the official welcome address to the full gathering.
High-profile speakers brought strong international and national perspectives. The Honourable Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo addressed the conference, introduced by Madam Justice Mahube Betty Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Constitutional Court Justice Steven Majiedt, a UWC alumnus and Honorary Professor at the UWC Faculty of Law, spoke on the constitutional challenges that arise when a civil law marriage follows a customary law marriage. International experts included Philippe Lortie, First Secretary of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the Netherlands, and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan, Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales. Judges from Serbia, Montenegro, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia and other jurisdictions shared developments in their own courts.
Academics from the UWC Faculty of Law also participated actively across the programme. Prof Anthony Diala, Prof Lea Mwambene, Associate Professor Desmond Oriakhogba and Dr Muneer Abduroaf all delivered papers and joined panel discussions alongside their international counterparts. Their contributions covered areas such as legal pluralism, customary marriages, artificial intelligence in legal practice and the recognition of diverse family systems.
Parallel sessions ran throughout the three days. Topics ranged from the practical application of the Hague Conventions on child abduction and protection to international adoption, relocation of children, proprietary claims on divorce, the impact of artificial intelligence and social media on families, gender-based violence, assisted reproductive technology, and alternative dispute resolution. Delegates moved between rooms at the President Hotel and the Peninsula Hotel, choosing sessions that matched their interests. Questions and lively panel discussions followed many presentations.
Outside the formal sessions, delegates built new connections. On Wednesday evening, the International Academy of Family Lawyers sponsored a complimentary opening cocktail at the Hugo Social Club in Sea Point, where Pat Moodley also launched her book Sunshine Lost. On Thursday night, shuttles took participants to a themed dinner at Belthazar Restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. Friday closed with final remarks from Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen and Zenobia du Toit, followed by a complimentary cocktail at the President Hotel sponsored by 5SAH Chambers.
The 28th Annual Global MDT/UWC Family Law Conference once again demonstrated the value of sustained international dialogue in addressing the complex and evolving nature of family law. By creating a space for engagement across jurisdictions, disciplines and professional roles, the conference contributes to the development of more responsive and inclusive legal systems. As families and societies continue to change, so too must the legal frameworks that govern them. Platforms such as the MDT/UWC Family Law Conference remain essential in shaping these developments, fostering collaboration, deepening understanding, and advancing justice both within South Africa and globally.
The ongoing partnership between Miller du Toit Cloete Inc and the University of the Western Cape ensures the conference remains relevant, inclusive and forward-looking. Planning for the 29th edition is already under discussion.
From 11 to 13 March 2026, Cape Town’s Sea Point precinct became a hub of global legal exchange as the 28th Annual Miller du Toit Cloete Inc/University of the Western Cape (UWC) Family Law Conference brought together leading voices in family law. Held over three days, the conference reaffirmed its standing as a key international platform for engaging with the evolving complexities of family law across jurisdictions.The conference opened on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, with a welcome by Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen, Emeritus Professor at the UWC Faculty of Law, and Zenobia du Toit from Miller du Toit Cloete Inc opened the proceedings on Wednesday with a warm welcome that set a collaborative tone for the days ahead. Their longstanding contribution to international family law scholarship helped shape a reflective and forward-looking start to the conference. On Thursday, Professor Jacques de Ville, Dean of the UWC Law Faculty, delivered the official welcome address to the full gathering.
High-profile speakers brought strong international and national perspectives. The Honourable Deputy Chief Justice Dunstan Mlambo addressed the conference, introduced by Madam Justice Mahube Betty Molemela, President of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Constitutional Court Justice Steven Majiedt, a UWC alumnus and Honorary Professor at the UWC Faculty of Law, spoke on the constitutional challenges that arise when a civil law marriage follows a customary law marriage. International experts included Philippe Lortie, First Secretary of the Hague Conference on Private International Law in the Netherlands, and Lord Justice Andrew Moylan, Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales. Judges from Serbia, Montenegro, Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia and other jurisdictions shared developments in their own courts.
Academics from the UWC Faculty of Law also participated actively across the programme. Prof Anthony Diala, Prof Lea Mwambene, Associate Professor Desmond Oriakhogba and Dr Muneer Abduroaf all delivered papers and joined panel discussions alongside their international counterparts. Their contributions covered areas such as legal pluralism, customary marriages, artificial intelligence in legal practice and the recognition of diverse family systems.
Parallel sessions ran throughout the three days. Topics ranged from the practical application of the Hague Conventions on child abduction and protection to international adoption, relocation of children, proprietary claims on divorce, the impact of artificial intelligence and social media on families, gender-based violence, assisted reproductive technology, and alternative dispute resolution. Delegates moved between rooms at the President Hotel and the Peninsula Hotel, choosing sessions that matched their interests. Questions and lively panel discussions followed many presentations.
Outside the formal sessions, delegates built new connections. On Wednesday evening, the International Academy of Family Lawyers sponsored a complimentary opening cocktail at the Hugo Social Club in Sea Point, where Pat Moodley also launched her book Sunshine Lost. On Thursday night, shuttles took participants to a themed dinner at Belthazar Restaurant in the V&A Waterfront. Friday closed with final remarks from Prof Julia Sloth-Nielsen and Zenobia du Toit, followed by a complimentary cocktail at the President Hotel sponsored by 5SAH Chambers.
The 28th Annual Global MDT/UWC Family Law Conference once again demonstrated the value of sustained international dialogue in addressing the complex and evolving nature of family law. By creating a space for engagement across jurisdictions, disciplines and professional roles, the conference contributes to the development of more responsive and inclusive legal systems. As families and societies continue to change, so too must the legal frameworks that govern them. Platforms such as the MDT/UWC Family Law Conference remain essential in shaping these developments, fostering collaboration, deepening understanding, and advancing justice both within South Africa and globally.
The ongoing partnership between Miller du Toit Cloete Inc and the University of the Western Cape ensures the conference remains relevant, inclusive and forward-looking. Planning for the 29th edition is already under discussion.
