Family: Matrimonial Finance

Richard Todd KC is an extremely well-regarded financial practitioner who handles disputes relating to significant assets and trust structures following relationship breakdown. He has unique expertise in international cases, in particular those relating to the Cayman Islands and Hong Kong, where he has been called to the Bar. Todd is at home with some of the most technical legal issues in the area.

"Richard Todd is the counsel of choice for the best and biggest cases.He knows the law backwards. He easily reaches to cases of relevance that no one else has heard about."

Timothy Bishop KC regularly handles the most substantial matrimonial financial cases across multiple jurisdictions, and uses his wealth of experience in this area to assist high net worth clients including businesspeople. He is routinely recognised by senior solicitors as one of the foremost matrimonial finance barristers.

"He's one of the real greats at the Bar - he's charming and someone who argues very well for his clients. He's an excellent advocate with great gravitas."

"Tim is brilliant with clients - he's always reassuring and delivers honest and realistic advice. He is a confident, authoritative advocate who always has the ear of the court."

"He's thorough, innovative and a great strategist."

Deborah Bangay KC is a practitioner who is well respected for her handling of financial divorce proceedings on behalf of high net worth individuals, and who has particular expertise in offshore trusts issues. She is noted for her tenacity in court and offers clients a real depth of experience in Schedule 1 proceedings, among other issues.

"Deborah is a first-class advocate at the top of her game, who fights very hard for her clients. She is phenomenal and a force to be reckoned with."

"She's good-humoured, gets on brilliantly with clients and is a highly effective strategist and negotiator."

"She is unfailingly accurate in her predicted outcomes of cases - always all over the papers. She's very much part of the team and very easy to have an ongoing dialogue with."

"Clients love her."

Emma Sumner acts in high net worth ancillary relief proceedings, and is a specialist at navigating complex trust and tax structures. She often represents high-profile international individuals in the sporting and business industries. Sumner has a depth of experience of acting unled against KC opposition.

"She has exceptional poise and charm and has outstanding client care skills. She has a great ability to make vulnerable clients feel comfortable and empowered."

"She's very strategic, very good at anticipating outcomes and very good in her interactions and engagement with clients. She has their trust."

"She's very calm, hugely determined and will fight for her clients. She has great skills in her advocacy and case preparation and has incredible judgement."

Geoffrey Kingscote KC is a matrimonial practitioner with extensive experience of complex financial remedy proceedings who regularly assists clients with multi-jurisdictional matters. He is also noted for his representation of high net worth individuals in cases involving offshore trusts. His contentious work is bolstered by an active mediation practice.

"One of the best financial silks out there. Geoffrey is incredibly pragmatic in his advice, tactically astute and a brilliant advocate."

"Geoffrey is utterly committed to delivering client-focused advice. His warm and compassionate approach gives his clients enormous reassurance."

"Meticulously prepared, very supportive of instructing solicitors and a lawyer who goes the extra mile."

"He's a persuasive advocate, who's intellectual and on top of the law."

Katherine Cook is a respected family barrister who is particularly noted for having a matrimonial finance practice consisting of high-value divorce and nuptial agreement proceedings. Her clientele is international and she is frequently instructed in complex point of law disputes. She regularly earns instructions from some of the most prominent firms in the sector.

"She is mature beyond her years, incredibly calm and provides strategic advice. She's a Silk in waiting."

"Katherine in always a safe pair of hands."

"Everyone listens to her. She has an understated, brilliant, unflappable charm and knows every point. She is peerless."

Lily Mottahedan specialises in technical financial remedy issues, including those with trust and jurisdiction complications. She has additional expertise in declaration of marital status matters and is a fluent French speaker. Her expertise also encompasses Part III claims and Schedule 1 applications.

"She is an absolutely brilliant international lawyer. She thoroughly understands cases with a foreign dimension. Lily is head and shoulders above other barristers of her generation."

"Lily is quite exceptional. She is thorough, detailed, very knowledgeable about a wide range of tricky aspects of family law and associated financial matters and super bright."

"A trusted and well respected advocate by both instructing solicitors and clients."

Nicholas Yates KC focuses on the financial side of relationship dissolution, handling complex cases relating to significant assets and jurisdictional disputes. He often handles financial remedy proceedings involving complex trust and business structures. Yates also leads negotiations in high-value postnuptial agreements.

"Nicholas is exceptional in every way. He is a calm, focused advocate, whose advocacy is fluent and to the point. He is great with the lay client and readily available to his instructing solicitor."

"He's a very pragmatic, numerate, incredibly enthusiastic and hard-working silk who is in demand for cases with assets comfortably over £50 million."

Rebecca Bailey-Harris is a French-speaking matrimonial practitioner and former professor of law who specialises in cross-border cases, particularly Brussels II and jurisdictional disputes. She is experienced in matters involving domestic abuse and coercive control allegations. Sources respect her for her wealth of knowledge in this area.

"Rebecca Bailey-Harris is brilliant for cross-border jurisdiction issues."

"She offers excellent insight into black letter law and really gets down to the nitty-gritty."

Simon Webster KC is instructed by the nation's leading firms in some of the most substantial financial remedy proceedings globally. His practice sees him handling disputes, often involving trusts, for high net worth clients.

"Simon is one of the greatest brains at the bar. He can deal with really difficult issues that look insurmountable and find the answer."

"Simon has an unbelievable brain. He is able to simplify the most complex issues and to come up with a strategy with which the client and solicitors can have the utmost confidence."

"A master tactical lawyer with charm and wisdom."

Ben Wooldridge is a recognised practitioner viewed as a rising star at the Matrimonial Finance Bar. His experience encompasses FDR disputes and TOLATA proceedings, as well as matters in the High Court.

"One of the most wanted juniors at the Bar."

"Always a pleasure to instruct, Ben goes the extra mile for clients and solicitors on his cases. As a result, he is highly sought after for the most complex and difficult matters."

"Ben has a razor-sharp focus on delivering on a client's priorities, whether that be through his powerhouse advocacy or thoughtful written work."

"An agile negotiator, who is the consummate pragmatist. He has a knack for finding elegant solutions to knotty problems."

"Ben is a really strong junior who has a great eye for detail and the intricacies of a case."

Joshua Viney is an impressive practitioner with experience of handling a broad array of matrimonial finance disputes, including Schedule 1, Part III and consent orders. His clientele consists of international and high net worth individuals, many of whom are in the midst of family proceedings following serious criminal allegations of fraud.

"He is hard-working, fiendishly bright and commercially astute, and will be one of the greats of his generation."

"An excellent and confident junior, who inspires confidence in clients and gets good outcomes. He's one of the new breed of go-to juniors."

"He gets all the intellectually difficult cases and for good reason."

Jude Allen is able to handle complex financial issues and private law children matters. She is practised in Schedule 1 issues including where it overlaps with TOLATA and cohabitation claims. Allen is also comfortable dealing with complex trust and tax issues relevant to financial remedy proceedings.

"She is able to unpick tricky cases and get them into a position where we're able to settle. She's good at bringing the client along with her and clients trust her judgement."

"She is very highly regarded and for very good reason.Jude’s legal knowledge and judgement are excellent.She is a tough opponent but fair, honest and the consummate professional."

"She is always really well prepared and fights her client's corner well."

Justin Warshaw KC mainly handles international work and regularly appears before the High Court and the Court of Appeal, representing an impressive clientele of high-profile individuals. Warshaw is frequently instructed in cases involving offshore jurisdictions including Hong Kong, Gibraltar and Jersey.

"Justin's intellectual and humane approach to cases is very effective. He uses his considerable charm and wits to bring the clients and the judges with him."

"He's particularly skilled in explaining complex areas of the law in a way clients find digestible. They feel he is going to fight their corner."

"Great skill, charm and a sense of humour."

"He is obviously very formidable and an extremely competent advocate. He's just very clever and able to grasp very complicated issues and present them in a very effective way in court."

Kyra Cornwall applies her impressive intellect and aptitude to a wide range of issues, including high net worth finance and jurisdiction disputes. She regularly acts on Part III claims and cases involving global assets. Cornwall has represented her clients in high-profile disputes before the Court of Appeal.

"Kyra is a brilliant advocate who instils confidence in clients. She can digest a huge amount of complex information and is all over the detail."

"Kyra exudes confidence and charm. She's excellent when challenged."

"A polished, assured, extremely well-prepared junior and an excellent advocate."

"Enormously capable and one to watch."

Nichola Gray KC is an extensively experienced family practitioner who focuses on financial disputes and regularly represents wealthy individuals. She has expertise in asset tracing as it relates to offshore trusts and other concealed wealth.

"Nichola is absolutely excellent in every way. She is always incredibly well prepared, she gives no-nonsense advice and she is extremely good on her feet."

"Nichola Gray is one of the best lawyers at the Family Bar. She is meticulously prepared for every case, incredibly clever and someone with a photographic memory."

"She's highly knowledgeable about the law and she puts arguments precisely and coherently."

Nicholas Wilkinson handles private matrimonial finance matters for a high-profile clientele. His cases are often complex and involve technical aspects relating to trusts. His work has regularly taken him to the High Court and as far as the Court of Appeal, and he has been led by some of the top finance silks in the market.

"Nick is a powerful advocate in the courtroom, who brings bags of energy to a case, and uses his incisive mind to drive matters forward. Clients love him, and solicitors are grateful to him."

"His advice to clients is always pragmatic and considered. Highly intelligent, confident and persuasive, he's a powerful advocate in the courtroom. He's an excellent lawyer and a silk in the making."

"Brilliant on the detail and reassuringly calm."

Phillip Blatchly handles matters in the private client sphere relating to family breakdowns and focuses on complex cases involving trust structures and non-disclosure of assets. His advocacy is notable for its utilisation of technical legal points to progress cases. He is experienced in related private client issues such as Inheritance Act proceedings.

"Phil Blatchley is an excellent senior junior and a star of the future. A man with a real brain, but also someone who is great with clients, he is a genuine pleasure to work with."

"He ticks every box and is an all-round great performer."

"A great preparer of a case and a sound adviser who has the human touch."

"A thorough, committed and engaging practitioner with a bright future ahead of him."

Rebecca Carew Pole KC focuses her matrimonial practice on contested financial disputes, mostly for high net worth clients. She additionally handles complex financial remedy applications for notable individuals, and is at home undertaking complex jurisdiction disputes.

"Rebecca is incredibly impressive and a force to be reckoned with. She has a no nonsense constructive approach."

"Rebecca is very talented advocate. She's super smart, astute and highly knowledgeable."

"A very elegant advocate."

Thomas Harvey has a strong matrimonial finance practice and has represented parties at all levels up to the Court of Appeal. He has particular expertise in cases concerning the interplay between agreements to compromise and subsequent claims for financial relief, and is frequently led on cases involving substantial assets.

"Thomas Harvey is everything you'd want in a junior. He's a good communicator, who's strong in conference and doesn't shy away from giving robust advice."

"A brilliant all-rounder, who's already performing beyond his years. He's incredibly reliable, bright and astute, and also highly commercial in his approach."

"Tom is very good with clients. He provides clear and pragmatic advice."

Ann Hussey KC has a wide-ranging clientele but is particularly noted for her expertise in handling disputes involving land and real estate. She regularly tackles high-value divorces with offshore assets, representing both interveners and trustees in proceedings. Hussey is sought out for her ability to handle extremely technical legal issues.

"Ann is client-focused, technically excellent and a master of her craft. She is an impressive advocate, whom clients warm to."

"A supremely tenacious advocate, who always asks the right questions. She's creative, solution-focused and loved by clients."

Christian Kenny is a robust financial lawyer who has experience of handling ancillary relief cases with offshore trust structures and undisclosed assets. He is additionally noted for his knowledge of Schedule 1 family cases, and regularly handles cases with multi-jurisdictional aspects.

"Christian is a superlative barrister whose attention to detail and legal knowledge is exemplary. Clients love him for his measured and assured approached and his advocacy is stunning."

"He has absolutely amazing insight into the law and a calm bedside manner with the clients as well. He's very confident and inspiring and very good on his feet. He always as the ear of the judge."

"He is highly intelligent and effective. He is able to assimilate huge amounts of information, distilling the most complex issues to what is important."

James Webb is a rising family barrister with notable experience in complex financial remedy cases. He regularly acts in high-value, jurisdiction-related disputes, and cases with premarital wealth issues. He also represents high net worth clients in Schedule 1 applications and enforcement orders.

"Studious, organised and adept at persuasive advocacy. He's also very client-friendly and solicitor-friendly."

"Brilliant with clients and great on really difficult cases."

"He is very measured, very calm and very clear in how he sets things out in writing."

John Wilson KC is an experienced family lawyer who brings overlapping expertise in broader civil issues to his practice. He is seen as one of the foremost practitioners for TOLATA issues. Wilson typically handles financial remedy cases for high net worth individuals, and draws acclaim for his further expertise in cohabitation issues.

"John was incredibly helpful on an urgent and complex matter. He was not fazed by the situation and was able to give practical and helpful advice."

Rachel Spicer has a strong matrimonial finance practice representing clients of mid to high net worth and is also well versed in private law children issues. She has particular expertise in child maintenance matters, private FDRs and valuation-related mandates.

"A very clever, experienced and unflappable senior junior, who is at ease advising on high net worth and complex cases."

"She's pragmatic when needed in negotiations, and has the ability to see the bigger picture at the same time as advancing robust arguments to protect her clients' interests."

Eleanor Harris routinely acts in a range of matrimonial finance matters including order enforcements. Harris often handles maintenance disputes and private FDRs. She demonstrates further abilities in valuation-related mandates and financial remedy cases involving non-disclosure.

"She is very easy to work with. A sharp and technically brilliant barrister."

"Her attention to detail is phenomenal."

"Her advice is clear and impeccable."

Madhavi Kabra is a rising star in family law who routinely acts for high net worth clients. She is instructed in Schedule 1 applications and jurisdictional disputes, as well as non-disclosure-related mandates.

"Madhavi produces high-quality documents based on strong legal arguments, and has an inspiring courtroom style."

"Really punchy in her submissions and good on her feet. She's one of those barristers who really cares about the client and she really goes for it in court."

Roxane Reiser is a matrimonial finance specialist who is noted for her skill in cross-border cases. Her practice is split between England and Switzerland as she is admitted to practice at the Geneva Bar, and her cases regularly involve Swiss, French and German elements.

"Roxane is a brilliant lawyer. Her written work is clever, persuasive, and carefully prepared. She has a sharp tactical mind and is generally two or three steps ahead of her opponent."

"She's excellent at cases involving international jurisdictions. She's pragmatic as well."

"Roxane was methodical, well spoken and really had the judge's attention."

Edward Benson enjoys a growing reputation for financial remedy work. He has experience handling nuptial agreements and TOLATA matters as well asSchedule 1 and Part III claims.

"Edward is the outstanding junior of his class and delivers a legal service far above his level of experience."

"He is very much an up-and-coming name to be reckoned with. He punches above his weight, and is very professional and hard-working."

"He's very friendly and an excellent advocate, who provides a fine service."

Georgina Howitt's matrimonial finance practice is growing at an impressive rate. She is regularly instructed in high-value financial remedy cases andhas significant experience of a range of financial law matters including Part III proceedings. Howitt is also well versed in Children Act proceedings.

"She will be an absolute star of the future. She is so clear, comprehensive and confident in her advice. She's impressive."

"Georgina is wise beyond her years! Exceptionally bright and one to watch for the future!"

Richard Sear KC often handles financial remedy proceedings for high net worth businesspeople with assets in offshore trust and company structures. He also has expertise in assisting clients with Part III matrimonial finance matters. Market sources regularly attest to his intellectual prowess.

"He is incredibly bright, perceptive and calm. His drafting is always excellent and his submissions measured and impactful."

"Whilst also an extremely impressive barrister, Richard has the winning combination of going above and beyond the call of duty in his work."

"His knowledge and handling of complex issues is another level."

"Even my clients when on the other side of him like him."