Family: Matrimonial Finance
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 3
Chambers Review
A renowned set of barristers who handle a wide range of public and private family proceedings. Members appear in both matrimonial finance and children cases for clients who include high net worth individuals, celebrities, politicians, and members of the general public. Matters of the greatest complexity are handled including those complicated by the presence of trusts, assets, pensions and tax issues. Individuals here also appear in highly sensitive children proceedings, many of which include serious allegations of abuse, FGM, parental alienation and drug use. The set is further noted for having specialist expertise in disputes involving unmarried couples. Recent standout work includes Unger v Ul-Hasan, a Supreme Court case considering whether claims for divorce and consequential financial remedies can be brought by or against the estate of a deceased person. Commentators note: "They have a good range of barristers who between them have a wealth of experience in unusual and complex issues, and will bring creativity of thought to any given situation." Another adds: "Whatever the case they have an expert who can assist."
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Danny is one of the leading senior clerks in the business. He's someone who nothing is too much trouble for and will always go the extra mile to resolve issues when they arise."
"I couldn't ask for better service from them. They are always happy to help, are reasonable on negotiating fees and will give honest recommendations of suitable counsel."
"Danny Chapman heads up a team of incredibly responsive, helpful, and charming clerks. They are always willing to assist those instructing."
"They are simply fantastic and always go the extra mile. They are very generous with their time, ensuring the right fit is found for each case."
"Attentive and responsive, they are a real credit to the quality of counsel they have available."
"Danny is one of the leading senior clerks in the business. He's someone who nothing is too much trouble for and will always go the extra mile to resolve issues when they arise."
"I couldn't ask for better service from them. They are always happy to help, are reasonable on negotiating fees and will give honest recommendations of suitable counsel."
"Danny Chapman heads up a team of incredibly responsive, helpful, and charming clerks. They are always willing to assist those instructing."
"They are simply fantastic and always go the extra mile. They are very generous with their time, ensuring the right fit is found for each case."
"Attentive and responsive, they are a real credit to the quality of counsel they have available."
Notable Practitioners
Hannah Markham KC focuses on sensitive children matters in the public and private law spheres. Her practice has a strong international focus and she is fluent in Spanish. She is well versed in the most serious care cases as well as matters concerning international relocation.
"Hannah is the leading choice of KCs for many solicitors. Her client care is exceptional, her preparation is forensic and she has case strategy in mind from the outset."
"If I have a tricky case which requires a silk and perhaps a miracle, Hannah is my first thought of counsel. Her cross-examination is phenomenal and she gets astounding results."
"There is no one better than Hannah. She is calm, collected and always prepared. She has vision, experience and clarity."
Kate Tompkins is a children law specialist who handles both private and public law issues. She has particular expertise in cases where a serious allegation is made against one parent and the other seeks full custody. Her practice has seen her receive instructions in matters with jurisdictional disputes.
"Tailors her strategy to each case flawlessly. She is very good with clients - they immediately warm to her and trust her."
"Kate Tompkins is an experienced, pragmatic and fierce advocate who has the ability to get to the root of issues."
Niki Langridge exclusively practises in the matrimonial finance sphere, handling moderate to high net worth financial remedy cases, many of which have fact-finding or asset issues attached to them. She is a qualified collaborative counsel and mediator, offering services in ADR. Langridge has particular expertise in high-income cases involving a high level of disputed maintenance.
"Niki is the complete package. She is an outstanding all-rounder who deals with the most complex work in a relaxed but confident manner."
"Niki is a brilliant barrister. Clients really like her and really feel that she understands them and their case. She is an excellent advocate, who is great at teasing out the key points."
"A compelling and highly numerate advocate, who ranks among the best of the best when it comes to senior juniors."
"Niki is a brilliant advocate. She has an amazing mastery of complex issues and a unique ability to settle the unsettleable."
William Tyler KC is a well-regarded silk specialising in both public and private children law proceedings, and an expert in jurisdiction issues. He is noted for his experience in handling proceedings involving serious allegations. Tyler has experience of handling, among others, matters involving molestation and human rights abuses.
"An absolutely phenomenal children's silk and a man with a brilliant manner. He's absolutely charming and is a highly effective advocate."
"Will is a very special KC, whose knowledge and intellect are unparalleled. He is devastating in court, and at the same time extremely charming and erudite."
"He's head and shoulders above many other silks. The way he deals with things is beguilingly effortless."
Chris Carr specialises in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, and has experience of dealing with tricky, technical issues such as pension and company assets, trusts, and international complications. He is also instructed to handle cases concerning Schedule 1 applications.
"The legal equivalent of James Bond. Cool and calm in his demeanour yet deadly effective in a private FDR, arbitration or trial setting. He has all the hallmarks of a future finance KC."
"A favourite with the clients, who has a reassuring manner in conference."
"He is very good at the technical side of things and comes up with creative solutions."
Hannah Jones is a matrimonial finance junior, who is quickly establishing her practice and is praised for the quality of her advocacy. She is adept in matters which involve properties, businesses and pension structures. Jones has experience in financial remedies disputes with jurisdictional issues.
"Hannah’s manner with clients ensures their complete trust and confidence. She really fights their corner."
"Hannah Jones is a persuasive and dynamic advocate. She is supremely confident and articulate when dealing with both clients and judges."
"A go-to trusted adviser who will always represent clients to the highest standard."
Martin Kingerley KC is an experienced family practitioner who focuses his practice on surrogacy and fertility matters. His expertise also extends to adoption, fictitious illness cases and placement disputes. Kingerley has represented clients before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.
"Martin has a compassionate and calming influence on clients in the most complex and emotive of situations. He is able to cut out the noise and help the judge deal with the key issues."
"His advocacy is amazing and his cross-examination is masterful. He's really robust, really good with the clients and someone with a lot of charisma."
"He was very good with our lay client, who was grateful for his no-nonsense advice and clarity of thought."
Rhys Taylor is a family barrister who receives praise from commentators particularly for his pensions knowledge. He has additional expertise in TOLATA disputes, and is adept at assisting with cases which have international elements. He is also frequently instructed in cases with complex company and trust structures.
"A tremendously knowledgeable and powerful advocate."
"Rhys Taylor is totally excellent. He's a Recorder and brings all of that knowledge and experience to bear, dealing with cases in a very mature, knowing way. He knows the law backwards."
"He is articulate and produces excellent written work. Clients adore working with him."
Chloe Kenvin is a practitioner who specialises in financial remedy disputes, often involving overseas assets. She routinely handles matters with non-disclosure, trust structure and company valuation issues.
"Chloe is strong on her feet and she communicates with clients with clarity and empathy."
"She grasps complex matters very easily and makes herself available for support and advice."
"Chloe is an excellent advocate, who is fantastic with clients. She puts them at ease quickly, whilst also being firm when needed."
Kate Grieve is regularly instructed in complex public and private law children's proceedings, often involving sensitive issues of parental alienation. She particularly specialises in cases involving severe abuse and also acts in adoption cases.
"Down to earth, realistic and always focused on the client's goals. Kate delivers realistic advice in a caring way. In court she presents cases in a compelling and no-nonsense fashion."
"Her unyielding commitment to the children in the cases we have worked with her on is a testament to her passion for her work."
"Kate is amazing with clients and diligent in her preparation. Her submissions and cross-examinations are well framed and polished."
Ben Mansfield is a specialist in both public and private children law, who has experience of handling landmark test cases and a number of matters that are international in nature. He has particular expertise in relocation cases.
"Ben works tirelessly for his clients. He brings a sense of calm to the most contentious of cases and is a master at cross-examination."
"Ben is strategic and he thinks creatively, whilst always keeping the client at the forefront of his mind. He's hugely personable and someone who puts clients at ease."
"He's fantastic on his feet, excellent at cross-examination, always prepared and just great to work with."
Gavin Lyon is a matrimonial finance practitioner specialising in financial remedy disputes. He frequently acts on behalf of wives and husbands in cases with numerous complicating factors, including property assets, pension funds, and multiple jurisdictions. He has expertise in Schedule 1 applications and cross-border work.
"He has an excellent knowledge of the law and relishes grappling with particularly thorny or technical issues."
"He is level-headed and always on top of the brief, delighting clients with his courteous approach and his familiarity with what really matters most to them."
"Truly excellent at what he does, Gavin is a steady and calming influence at all times. In court he commands the attention of judges."
George Harley is a financial remedies and private children law practitioner who frequently represents parents in the context of family disputes. He focuses his practice on highly sensitive cases, usually those involving allegations of parental alienation and relocation disputes. Harley is frequently sought out by clients whose cases have cross-border dimensions.
"An incredibly pragmatic and effective negotiator, who is also very good at client care. He's very passionate about ensuring that his clients are given the best advice."
"He gives frank and realistic advice but always ensures that clients feel as though they have been heard and that he has fought their corner."
"George has great empathy with clients and can get a grasp on a complex case in a short timeframe."
Gerald Wilson focuses his practice on family and property law, and is a true expert in the financial aspects of relationship dissolution. His practice covers cases which have tax, asset and jurisdictional angles to them. Wilson is particularly highly regarded for his expertise in matters involving same-sex couples.
"Incredibly clever and experienced, he really gets to grips with the legal issues and finds solutions in a very forensic way."
"Calm and unflappable in court, he's a really good cross-examiner."
"Gerald is a conscientious and skilled advocate."
Kelly Webb is a barrister with recognised experience in high-conflict children disputes, with additional expertise in appellate matters. She focuses her practice on abduction and parental alienation, and routinely acts on sexual abuse allegations. She also acts on cases with parallel criminal proceedings.
"Kelly is an experienced advocate who deals with a range of children matters both in the public and private law spheres. She really fights for her clients."
"A very safe pair of hands who is perfect for complex children law cases."
"Kelly is positive and personable, which clients just love. She has an extremely supportive and warm manner."
Lauren Lanson is a specialist family finance barrister. Her expertise extends to TOLATA work, schedule 1 proceedings and Children Act applications. She is frequently involved in cases involving trusts, companies and pension arrangements.
"Lauren is quietly confident and transmits that confidence to the client immediately. She is tenacious and fiercely protective of her clients."
"Lauren is agile and unfazed by complex and novel cases or points."
"She is tactically very brilliant and always looking at a way to get round points and win cases."
Marc Samuels focuses his practice in matrimonial finance. He acts in complex cases that involve disputes over assets, trusts, inheritance and corporate structures, as well as the novel area of cryptoassets. Samuels is regularly sought to represent clients in cross-border matters.
"An excellent advocate and a real safe pair of hands for even the most complex of cases."
"He has a civil background, which makes him very well suited to cases where there are complex financial structures in place or companies to consider."
"Marc is a rising star. He has great energy and is intellectually rigorous."
Rebecca Rothwell frequently acts on behalf of clients on trust-related mandates and financial remedy disputes with non-disclosure issues. Rothwell is also instructed on multi-jurisdictional and cohabitation disputes. She is additionally equipped to handle cases involving high-value pension and business assets.
"She grasps the facts of the case brilliantly and the client feels supported by her, as do instructing solicitors."
"She is persuasive and robust in her submissions and is simply fantastic on her feet."
"She has a fluidity to her advocacy that is a joy to watch. She is absolutely pleasant but a very robust advocate in the same breath."
Sabuhi Chaudry is a private law children practitioner who specialises in the representation of parents in proceedings in the Family Court. Her cases often include addressing the needs of the family in matters relating to sensitive issues such as severe mental health problems and sexual abuse, or allegations of domestic violence and coercive control.
"Sabuhi is an excellent advocate and tactician with a no-nonsense approach."
"She is highly skilled, has a great eye for detail and possesses an incredible ability to grasp and navigate her way through the most complex of cases."
"Sabuhi is an excellent advocate and tactician with a no-nonsense approach."
"Sabuhi has the perfect balance of emotional intelligence and in-depth knowledge of the law. She is always highly articulate, meticulously prepared and mature in her outlook."
Madeleine Whelan specialises in complex children law matters. She has a very varied practice that finds her acting in cases covering care orders, abuse and non-accidental injuries. Whelan also has impressive knowledge of growing matters such as surrogacy and LGBTQ+ family issues.
"One of the best for the future. Madeleine is incredibly focused and robust in her advocacy. She is not afraid to put forward her points and will always fight for her client."
"Madeleine is very approachable and quickly gets to grips with the issues in a case. She takes a sensible and pragmatic approach, and is very good on her feet in court."
"Well prepared, great at strategy and an instant hit with clients. Forensic in her approach, she leaves no stone unturned."
Andrzej Bojarski is a well-regarded family practitioner specialising in complex, high-value financial disputes following relationship breakdown, who has particular expertise in cases involving offshore trusts and chancery matters. He also acts as a family arbitrator and mediator in finance proceedings. His international profile has seen him instructed in cases in places as far afield as the Middle East.
"He is someone who is super creative and very intelligent. He's utterly compelling on his feet as he's thought of the case from every angle."
"Andrzej has a masterly intellect and is always impressive in complex cases. He easily impresses judges with his skilful approach."
"Andrzej is a truly gifted advocate."