Paul Isaacs

Paul Isaacs

  • Year of Call: 1974
  • Recorder: 1995
  •  
    Head of Family Law 
    Middle Temple
Practice

Paul Isaacs is a specialist Family Law barrister who practises exclusively in ancillary relief. Respected as one of the most eminent matrimonial lawyers around, Paul has been an integral part of Broadway House Chambers' Family Law team since joining in 2007.

With a vault of experience underpinning his practice, Paul Isaacs is the barrister of choice in difficult ancillary relief applications involving substantial asset bases. He is known nationally as a first-rate advocate, having represented clients in high-value disputes at the highest level, and his qualities as an advocate are matched by his intellect and ability to conquer the most complex briefs. Paul remains at the forefront of ongoing developments in the law of ancillary relief and has been instructed in ground-breaking cases involving inherited wealth, overseas assets, consent orders and Barder events.

He is recognised as one of the foremost authorities in his field by the national legal directories and was the only "Star Individual" family junior on Circuit in the 2012 edition of Chambers & Partners UK. Alongside his 2012 accolade Paul's position as the leading junior in his practice area has been recorded in the directories over the past decade. Paul was appointed Recorder in 1995 and brings judicial experience to his busy practice at the bar.

 

What The Directories Say

 

Chambers & Partners UK

“Very very bright, well experienced, the best on his feet…..one of the most sought after ancillary relief juniors on the North Eastern Circuit” - 2008

“A formidable cross-examiner with an incisive brain ...the man you want for a tricky financial hearing” - 2007

Paul Isaacs “has an ability to analyse complex issues and to present them in a way that is persuasive and easily understood” - 2006

Paul Isaacs is “formidable ...a fierce and relentless opponent who focuses on the larger ancillary relief cases” - 2005

“The undoubted star of the region ...impresses with his ability to grasp any complex matter simply” - 2004

“A silk in everything but name” - 2003

Paul Isaacs is “universally seen as the top man in the city” - 2002

 

Legal 500

Paul Isaacs "is strong in cases involving high-asset or complex businesses, and is an exceptional advocate" - 2012

"Highly recommended for high-value ancillary relief cases" - 2011 and 2010

Paul Isaacs "is widely recommended for high-value ancillary relief cases" - 2009

"Martin Wood has been joined by Paul Isaacs and Rae Cohen to create an impressive trio of senior juniors for ancillary relief instructions" - 2008

 

Professional Memberships

 

Family Law Bar Association

 

Notable Cases

 

Court of Appeal

Walkden v Walkden [2009] EWCA Civ 627

Divorce – Financial provision – Variation of order – Supervening event – Mistake – Wife and husband agreeing consent order – Husband subsequently selling shares – Wife applying for variation of order – Judge concluding wife had demonstrated an unforeseen and unforeseeable supervening event – Whether judge in error

Re V (a minor) (Injunction; Jurisdiction) (1996, unreported)

Jurisdiction – declaratory and injunctive relief – young man physically disabled but mentally capable – no suggestion of parental neglect or ill-treatment – mother having been over-protective and sometimes frustrating her son's attendance at special school – care order made – after young man attained eighteenth birthday, application for declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent mother removing him from special school – evidence that parents not currently wishing to prevent son from attending the school – whether court had jurisdiction to grant declaratory and injunctive relief.

Re H and others (minors) (Prohibited Steps Order) (1995, unreported)

Family proceedings – Orders in family proceedings – Prohibited steps order – Local authority obtaining supervision and care orders in respect of children at risk from mother's ex-cohabitee – Judge making prohibited steps order against mother to prevent contact between children and ex-cohabitee but refusing to make similar order against ex-cohabitee – Whether judge having jurisdiction to make a prohibited steps order against person not a party to family proceedings – Validity of prohibited steps order obtained against mother – Children Act 1989, ss 8, 9(5), 11(7)(d), Sch 3.

Re C (a minor) (Adoption; Parental Agreement) (1992, unreported) 

Adoption – child in care due to inadequate parenting – local authority applying for order declaring child free for adoption – proper approach of court when dealing with freeing application.

 

High Court of Justice (Family Division)

AR v AR [2011] EWHC 2717 (Fam)

Divorce – Financial provision – Application – Husband and wife divorcing after 25 year relationship – Assets consisting largely of, or reflecting, resources received by husband by way of gift and inheritance – Wife applying for ancillary relief – Whether sharing principle having any application to award

 

Recent Articles & Seminars

 

New Rules For Family Proceedings Due In On 6th April 2011: A Brief Introduction (Broadway Quarterly, February 2011) - A quick one-stop guide to the procedural reforms introduced in the Family Procedure Rules 2010 (SI 2010/2955) (with David Burrows).

The Future Of Barder Applications After Myerson, Horne And Walkden (Broadway Quarterly, August 2009) - A review of the applicable law relating to appeals of consent orders in ancillary relief cases following Barder v Barder (Caluori intervening) [1987] 2 FLR 480.