Guy Swiffen
Call: 1991
Guy Swiffen
BA (Hons) History, Reading University
L.Dip. City University, London
Legal 500
Chambers and Partners
Contact
T: 01274 722560 or 0113 246 2600
Guy has been at the Bar since 1991 and has practised exclusively in the field of children law for over 20 years. He began his career in London and then moved to the North of England in the late 1990s. Since then he has forged a heavyweight practice which takes him to all parts of the North of England dealing with many of the most complex cases being heard in the region. His reputation is very high amongst both his peers and the Judiciary, and he is recognised in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 year on year.
He has been described as a “bright and stunningly good junior.” He is known to be an incisively devastating cross examiner. Over the years his practise has taken him to developing the forensic skills to challenge the analyses and opinions of medical experts in the witness box. Complimenting his forensic skills is an excellent knowledge of the legislation and case law. He is happy to operate at all court levels: he has had the experience of taking a case all the way to the House of Lords. He prides himself on having a friendly and approachable relationship with clients and solicitors alike.
He often acts against Silks as a leading Junior (leading both Junior Counsel and solicitors).
Reputation
"Guy is a very experienced barrister who provides exemplary client care and legal knowledge." (Band 1, Chambers and Partners, 2026)
"Guy is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to what he does. He brings to every matter a wealth of information and expertise, he is methodical when it comes to prep, approachable, knowledgeable, and he is heard and respected in court by his peers and the judiciary."(Legal 500, 2026)
"He's very easy to work with, responsive, and very good at what he does." (Chambers and Partners, 2025)
“Guy is exceptional. When instructed on complex matters, his knowledge and experience of such cases is unsurpassed. He is always totally prepared, level headed, extremely professional but also approachable, emphatic and attentive to clients. His cross examination is cool, calm yet completely masterful.” (Legal 500, 2025)
“Guy Swiffen is well regarded for his ability to handle an eclectic mix of children-related work, ranging from abuse allegations and child injuries to care proceedings. He regularly acts for parents, intervenors and local authorities alike, which further illustrates his holistic practice. An excellent advocate with good technical knowledge of the law. Guy has very good client skills and is able to cut through complex cases with ease. A superb and skilful advocate who is excellent on his feet." (Chambers and Partners, 2024)
“Guy is very experienced and deals with high-level public law children cases" (Chambers and Partners, 2023)
“An unflappable barrister. His forthright manner and confidence sets all in the court room at ease. He has a keen analytical mind" (Legal 500, 2023)
“Ability to handle an eclectic mix of children-related work, ranging from abuse allegations and child injuries to care proceedings. He regularly acts for parents, intervenors and local authorities alike, which further illustrates his holistic practice. "Guy Swiffen is very good in complex medical cases." (Chambers & Partners, 2022)
"Guy is a tenacious and fearless advocate. Excellent with clients. His persuasive powers are second to none. Ability to handle an eclectic mix of children-related work, ranging from abuse allegations and child injuries to care proceedings. He regularly acts for parents, intervenors and local authorities alike, which further illustrates his holistic practice. Guy Swiffen is very good in complex medical cases." (Legal 500, 2022)
Guy regularly leads webinar and seminars on behalf of Broadway House Chambers’ Children Team. Talks include:
• 2022 so far : latest ABE guidance and recent case law
• ‘Just 17, do you know what it means?”: recent case law
• “Aftermath of B-S : where are we now?”
• “Child abduction and habitual residence : what is the test ?”
• Private law case law update
• The implications of Re R in the post B-S landscape
Expertise
Family
Public Law
In care proceedings he has extensive experience in representing local authorities throughout the North of England in complex proceedings (including against Leading Counsel). He also has a substantial body of work representing parents and other family members (including those with physical and learning disabilities) as well as Guardians and the Official Solicitor. His practise often deals with child fatalities as well as physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
Private Law
In addition he has a substantial practice in all aspects of Private Law Children Work. This includes applications to remove children from the jurisdiction, Child Abduction, and applications for Child Arrangement Orders (including internal relocation). He has extensive experience in making emergency applications (often before High Court Judges) as well as dealing with issues of a jurisdictional complexity.
Notable Cases
P and Q ( minors ) ( inadequate local authority assessment ) [2024] EWFC 153 ( risk assessment by the LA deemed inadequate – consideration of whether there should be further assessment balanced against the consequent delay in finalising the proceedings)
P and Q ( minors ) ( care orders : placement at home ) [2024] WWFC 154 ( review of the recent authorities on placing children at home under a Care Order versus a Supervision Order. Consideration of the test of “exceptionality”).
BC v a local authority and others [2024] EWHC 1639 ( law on changing the name - including first name - involving a 16 year old child subject to a care order where the LA and the parents opposed the change).
Re S ( a child ) ( 2010 ) EWCA Civ 1363
Whether the local authority had breached the mother’s Human Rights by the circumstances in which it had removed her child from her care whilst she was in prison
Re A ( contact order ) ( 2010 ) 2FLR 577
Consideration of whether child should have own solicitor instead of representation of interests via a Children’s Guardian : cost element relevant
O –v- N, re B [2003] IUK House of Lords 18 [2003] 1FLR 1169
Correct approach taken by the court where the threshold criteria established but the identity of the perpetrator is uncertain
Re B ( non accidental injury : compelling medical evidence ) [2002] 2FLR 1133
Courts’ approach on determining findings in respect of the threshold criteria and evaluating contradictory medical and lay evidence
Re G [2002] 2FCR 377
Contact orders to be made in care and freeing proceedings
Clerks
Dornier Whittaker
Call: 1994
Dornier Whittaker
BA (Hons) Kings College, London
City University (Diploma in Law)
Inns of Court School of Law
Middle Temple Queen Mothers Scholar
Children Law Arbitrator
Resolution
FLBA
Contact
T: 01274 722560 / 0113 246 2600
Dornier is a highly sought after private children and financial remedy specialist. With over 30 years of experience, Dornier has a wealth of experience in complex relocation cases, intractable children disputes and is recognised for her knowledge in mid-high value financial relief cases, especially those involving companies, partnerships, farms and “hidden wealth”.
Dornier prides herself on her open and easy to approach manner with both solicitors and clients and is a firm believer in practical, no-nonsense advice. She is consistently ranked as a leading junior in the legal directories.
“Dornier is full of confidence and has amazing client care and cross-examination skills. She combines sharp legal insight with a calm, reassuring presence in court, making her a go-to choice for complex or sensitive matters. Dornier works so hard for her clients and likewise her instructing solicitor. She is without a doubt one of the best advocates on the local circuit. (Chambers & Partners, 2026).
Highly supportive of all forms of non-court dispute resolution, Dornier is regularly instructed to act on behalf of clients at round tables meetings, private FDR’s, early neutral evaluations and arbitrations. She has recently qualified as a children law arbitrator and looks forward to supporting parties in reaching non-court based resolutions.
Dornier welcomes instructions under the Direct Access scheme, providing advice and representation direct to the public.
Reputation
Chambers and Partners
“Dornier is full of confidence and has amazing client care and cross-examination skills. She combines sharp legal insight with a calm, reassuring presence in court, making her a go-to choice for complex or sensitive matters. Dornier works so hard for her clients and likewise her instructing solicitor. She is without a doubt one of the best advocates on the local circuit."(2026)
"She is an excellent advocate. She can see through a complex and emotive matter and can find a way forward. She is very hands on, robust and kicks a case into order. She is a breath of fresh air and pulls out the stops. She is well prepared, has a very good client care manner and is approachable. She is unflappable even with the trickiest of opponents." (2025)
“Dornier Whittaker is a highly experienced practitioner with a practice covering finance and children matters. Her work ranges from contact arrangement orders to financial remedies and maintenance payment variations. She regularly acts for high net worth individuals." (2024)
“Dornier Whittaker is a highly experienced practitioner with a practice covering finance and children matters. Her work ranges from contact arrangement orders to financial remedies and maintenance payment variations. She regularly acts for high net worth individuals.Dornier is wonderful with clients. She is reasonable and realistic in negotiations, and a top court performer. Dornier is a pleasure to deal with. She is happy to provide additional support on cases so that the client really gets a team approach."(2023)
“She is client and lawyer friendly and takes a hands-on approach. This makes working with her a very cooperative experience for not only the client but those instructing her. She is extremely thorough, clear in her advice and proactive in managing very anxious and difficult clients. She is extremely personable with clients and sees cases through while working as a team with the instructing solicitor and the client."(2022)
“Dornier is extremely experienced and is a great all-rounder for family law. She is very client-friendly and her advice is easily understood."(2018)
“Extremely skilled in private law work relating to children as well as financial family disputes. She has previously advised on complicated separations involving farming and corporate assets, in addition to complex child relocations. She is sensible, charming and empathetic, and really excellent at managing difficult people."(2017)
Legal 500
"Dornier is without a doubt one of the most tenacious and skilled advocates on circuit; she has the ability to work with often anxious and difficult client, making them feel at ease, while offering them frank and honest advice, which is a difficult skill to master and she can do this with ease. Dornier is able to think outside the box, suggesting resolutions which other advocates would not consider, and as well as her personal skills and advocacy, she has a wealth of knowledge in the area of the law, using that knowledge to the best of her ability and adapting that knowledge to each clients needs, while being frank and honest. Dornier has a formidable presence in court, immense passion and energy, and relatable warmth. She is exceptionally good with clients."(2026)
“Dornier is assiduous in her preparation. She has a brilliantly disarming style of advocacy, as well as the ability to immediately win a client's confidence. Dornier is a tenacious advocate. Her knowledge of the law is outstanding, and she exhibits exceptional insight in handling cases.” (2025)
“Dornier adopts a very hands on approach. She is always available and puts clients at ease from the very start. She combines a no-nonsense approach with a robust and clear approach to cross-examination.Dornier is a fearless advocate. She relates very well to clients, works extremely hard for them, and is always well prepared.”(2023 & 2024)
”She is calmly reassuring with clients in what can be difficult cases. Her advice is sound and rational.”(2022)
“Specialises in private law children and financial matters.”(2020)
“She has an ability to think outside of the box and is very good on her feet.” (2017)
“She is impressive on her feet without being unpleasant or resorting to bullying.”(2025)
Seminars
Dornier delivers seminars to solicitors and other legal professionals throughout the North of England and beyond. Dornier has recently covered:
• Variation of Final Income and Capital Orders
• Internal and external relocation
• Private Children Update for Spring 2024
• A Practical Guide to Frequent Issues Encountered in Private Law Applications
• Disclosure & Pensions - Practical Tips to Aid Settlement
• Top Tips: Practice, Procedure & Preparation for the FDA, FDR and Final Hearing
• Top Tips on Practice & Procedure in Private Law Children
• Private Law Children – Essential Update 2
• Costs Update in Private Law Proceedings
Expertise
Family
Financial Remedy
Dornier’s practice involves all aspects of financial remedy. Dornier has extensive experience of representing business owners, professionals, third parties and their spouses, and has a particular interest in corporate and farming cases where the assets are up to £10m. She regularly appears in cases which involve the following issues:
- Company and business interests including valuations.
- Farming assets including valuation and liquidity.
- Cases involving significant property portfolios.
- Non-matrimonial inheritance assets.
- Significant pension assets.
- Assets located outside of the jurisdiction including company and family trusts.
Private Children
Dornier has extensive experience in all aspects of private children disputes representing mothers, fathers and other family members. She has a particular interest in the relocation of children whether within this jurisdiction or overseas, parental alienation cases and fact finding hearings involving serious allegations of domestic abuse. Her case load regularly involves the following:
- Private disputes as to child arrangements including ‘live with’ and ‘spend time with’ orders.
- Relocation of children including both within this jurisdiction and overseas.
- Parental alienation.
- Fact-finding hearings involving allegations of domestic abuse.
- Specific issue orders, re-schooling and medical issues.
Notable Cases
Private Children (2024)
Representing applicant F on shared care application to his son. F making serious concessions about abusive behaviour to M and child. 12 months of supervised contact followed by last 6 months of gradual build-up of time with child in community. F seeking 50/50 shared care following lengthy assessment by Cafcass and seeking long term PSO on grounds that M is a serious flight risk abroad. M opposing shared care alleging F still presenting risk and there should be ‘live with’ order in her favour with no intention to move abroad. Composite hearing ordered with a shared care arrangement being ordered by the court.
Private Children (2024)
Representing applicant M on her application to permanently relocate with the 3 dependent children abroad. M making application to relocate on grounds that she could not find flexible full time medical role in her area and main financial supporter of the children despite F having full time job. M has some family chosen country who she could also rely on for support. Relocation opposed by Cafcass on basis that F unlikely to see the children more than 3 to 4 times per year which would damage his relationship with them. M given permission to relocate.
Private Children (2024)
Representing applicant F on M’s application to relocate with child abroad. Complex history with M making allegations of domestic abuse by F to herself and child. F making confessions that had lost temper with both of them on 2 occasions. Court ordering supervised contact with build-up into community and extended overnights over 6-month period. M wanting to relocate permanently for family support and help with her health issues. Judge did not grant M permission to relocate and made shared care order for the child in the UK.
Financial Remedy (2024)
Representing respondent H. Four Children. Assets of £4m to divide. W and children returning to UK after 10 years abroad with property in both countries including H’s 3 figure car collection and substantial investment in bitcoin. Complexity as to future income earning capacity H working abroad and earning substantial tax free income. W seeking substantial PPs for 10 years with H’s case being that planning to move to another country to cohabit with new partner where work will pay much less.
Financial Remedy (2024)
Representing respondent W – assets of c 6m. Farming case complicated by how W should receive a fair capital award including the sale of land and assets of income from businesses both parties set up. Matter complicated by proprietary estopple application by a family member who lived in a cottage on the land and was separately represented. Lump sum of £3m to W by instalments.
Financial Remedy (2024)
Representing W in financial remedy proceedings with her son joined as Intervenor. Complex case -before issuing proceedings H and his business partner joint shareholders in company business – at FDA H disclosed transferred his shareholding son. SJE business valuation obtained – total value of company shares £3 m with H alleging nil value to himself. W applying for section 37 order, with shares to be transferred back to H. Complexity as to it being her son and how much company could afford to pay W by way of lump sum to provide a fair award. W to receive lump sum of £1.5 m through lump sum from company and property transfer.
Financial Remedy (2024)
Representing respondent H. Long marriage with 2 children. Assets base of £3m tied up in the FMH and H’s business. W off sick from work for months. SJE psychiatric and occupational therapy reports with W wanting PPs for life - alleging uncertain future income earning. H supporting phased return to work and proposing mesher order for 3-year term and thereafter clean break with W receiving all proceeds of FMH. Award made with W remaining in FMH for 5 years with PP's still then and thereafter a clean break.
Clerks
Emily Ward
Call: 2011 - Deputy Head of the Family Law Team
Emily Ward
LL.B (Hons) University of Manchester (2010, First Class) (six prizes)
Bar Professional Training Course (2011)
Middle Temple, Godfrey Heilpern Scholar
Deputy District Judge (2019) - Civil, Public & Private Children, and Financial Remedies
Arbitrator
Farquhar Committee Member
Transparency Implementation Group Member
Resolution FLBA
Secretary of Regional FLBA (Yorkshire & Humber)
Women in Law
International Association of Women Judges
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Emily is Deputy Head of the Family Team and has a strong, busy practice both on and off the North Eastern Circuit. She is a particularly sought after in matrimonial finance and cohabitation disputes, as well as complex children cases. Emily is consistently recognised as a leading junior in family law in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. She has a keen eye for detail and quickly grasps the key issues in the case.
Emily is also a member of Broadway House Chambers’ Business, Property & Probate Team, and acts in cases where there is a cross-over in jurisdictions and issues.
Emily was appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 2019, at the age of 30, and she holds children (public and private law), civil and financial remedy tickets.
Keen on all forms of alternative dispute resolution, Emily is instructed to act for clients at round table meetings, mediations, private FDRs and early neutral evaluations, as well as arbitrations. She also acts as a Private FDR practitioner/evaluator in financial remedy, Schedule 1 and TOLATA cases, offering her assistance from an neutral perspective with the aim of assisting parties to reach a swift resolution to their disputes.
Emily frequently delivers CPD accredited seminars to groups of lawyers, and is regularly approached to conduct bespoke training in her areas of expertise. She is published in the Family Law Journal, is a case reviewer for Nagalro, Seen & Heard Journal, and has recently taken up the position of Blog Editor of the Financial Remedies Journal. Emily is a published author, being responsible for chapters in both ‘Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents’ and ‘Butterworths Family Law Service’.
Able to accept instructions under the Direct Access scheme, Emily can also provide advice and representation direct to the public.
Reputation
• Author contributor of the leading text ‘Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents’.
• Author contributor of two chapters in Butterworths Family Law Service.
• Lectures for Resolution, FLBA and the Judicial College, as well as for solicitors/lawyers.
• Blog Editor and a member of the Financial Remedies Journal Editorial Board.
• Multiple publications in Family Law Journal.
• Case reviewer for Nagalro.
Consistently recommended as a Leading Junior in the legal directories since 2017:
"Emily works hard to find the best solution for each client. She is a fantastic advocate and is able to put across her client's case with ease and common sense. She has an ability that is massively ahead of her call. She is outstanding and gives everything to a case"(Chambers and Partners - Band 1 Finance and Band 1 Children, 2026)
'Emily is simply brilliant with a fantastic understanding of the law and how it should be implemented. She displays a tremendous empathy to clients and can easily stand her ground against the most experienced of barristers. Emily is a tactical advocate, never one to shy away from a fight. She is a really impressive barrister who is quick on her feet when put on the spot.” (Legal 500, 2026)
"Emily builds a great rapport with clients and is a determined advocate.Emily is a fantastic advocate and she has a great way with clients. She is calm, collected and sensible. She is focused on finding the best outcome for clients, with a sensible approach. She's very technical, good on her feet, and judges like her." (Chambers and Partners - Band 1 Finance and Band 2 Children, 2025)
'Emily is a very high quality junior: sensible, intelligent and respected, she fights hard when needed. The family law world is her oyster.Emily Ward‘s ’eye for detail is phenomenal. Emily is an excellent communicator, who quickly makes clients feel at ease. She is well prepared, fights hard when she needs to, and knows how to land the killer blow in her papers and cross-examination. Emily Ward is ’a high quality junior on financial cases‘, and is often instructed in cases involving complex trust structures, pre-acquired wealth and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.” (Legal 500, 2025)
Emily Ward is a high-quality junior who covers a broad range of topics across family law. She is respected for her work on highly complex financial remedies, often involving various asset types and acting for high net worth individuals. She is further experienced in handling sensitive children cases including relocations, in which she acts on behalf of children and parents alike (Chambers and Partners - Band 1 Finance and Band 2 Children, 2024)
‘Emily is phenomenally bright and personable - a combination that puts clients at ease from the outset. Her cross examination is first rate, and she will fight tooth and nail for the client to achieve the right outcome.' (2023)
‘Emily Ward is a high-quality junior who covers a broad range of topics across family law. She is respected for her work on highly complex financial remedies, often involving various asset types and acting for high net worth individuals. She is further experienced in handling sensitive children cases including relocations, in which she acts on behalf of children and parents alike. Emily Ward is a high-quality junior who covers a broad range of topics across family law. She is respected for her work on highly complex financial remedies, often involving various asset types and acting for high net worth individuals. She is further experienced in handling sensitive children cases including relocations, in which she acts on behalf of children and parents alike. Emily combines a great legal brain with her feet firmly on the ground. She has a good manner with clients, who appreciate her pragmatic approach, as well as sound legal advice.' (2023)
‘A high quality junior.’ ‘She is a highly skilled advocate, knowledgeable, and clients like her down-to-earth manner and caring approach.’ ‘Emily is an outstanding advocate who is also fantastic with clients. She always goes the extra mile and works very hard on her written work.’ (2022)
‘A very talented junior, with an extremely bright future. She is a calm and measured advocate, who presents her clients' cases in a strong and persuasive manner. ’ (2022)
‘She punches well above her weight and is not afraid to tackle very complex cases and holds her own against senior opponents. Good knowledge of the law, very down to earth with clients, easy to contact with instructions provides excellent feedback on how a case has progressed or settled in court proceedings. Strong advocate.’ (2021)
‘She's superb - she's got a brain the size of Britain! She has worked on some complex cases where the chances of winning would be slim but pulled off some good results.’ ‘She is very down to earth and can put a client at ease within minutes. She's good at delivering difficult advice clearly.’ ‘She's just an all-round great performer and wise beyond her years.’ (2021)
‘She holds her own against far more senior opponents.’ (2020)
‘A rising star whose expertise spans a range of family law matters, with a focus on matrimonial finance and child-related cases. She represents parents and local authorities in various care proceedings which often involve complex medical evidence.’ ‘She is an exceptional advocate with a great eye for detail who consistently impresses with her representation in both financial and children proceedings.’ ‘She offers great client care and is fearless.’ (2020)
Expertise
Financial Remedy & Schedule 1
Emily is an established matrimonial finance specialist and is highly sought after in financial remedy and schedule 1 cases. She acts for clients from pre-issue, where focus is primarily upon strategy, settlement and advice as to evidence, through to final hearings and on appeal. Her case load comprises high net worth clients with large incomes and substantial capital, business, trust assets and/or extensive pension provision, as well as difficult cases where needs exceed the available assets.
Emily is experienced in advising in cases where the issues include pre-acquired wealth, inheritance, complex business and trust structures, liquidity issues and nuptial agreements. She is also often approached to advise in cases where there have been substantial personal injury awards. Her recent and current cases include:
• Advising in relation to a substantial discretionary family trust, created after a lottery win (+£9m).
• Representation of a party with significant company assets, including a limited company valuation of £5.9m.
• Securing findings of undisclosed assets and foreign income in China. Complex issues concerning jurisdiction and enforcement.
• Advising and drafting pre-nuptial agreement in a high value case with assets in the UK, Russia, Germany, Austria and Iran.
• Currently instructed in a case where assets exceed £12m.
Private Children
In addition, Emily’s family practice encompasses all areas Private Children Law. She advises and represents clients in a wide range of applications, and she is a favourite in cases involving intractable contact disputes, implacable hostility and vulnerable individuals. She is frequently praised for her sensitive yet sensible approach with clients. Recognised for her sensitive approach, Emily has dealt with a significant number of cases in which there has been a parent death or terminal diagnosis of a parent.
Emily also represents clients in cases involving domestic abuse, including coercive and controlling behaviour allegations and also cases where false allegations of abuse against parents and/or children have been made.
Her latest children cases include:
• Representation of a parent at a finding of fact hearing concerning multiple serious allegations of physical, psychological, emotional and sexual abuse against the resident parent and the children, including multiple rape and GBH.
• Representing two professional people at multi-day fact findings hearings in which allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour were found proved.
• Acting for a parent in a case where false allegations of sexual abuse were made against him, and found after trial to have been fabricated by the other parent.
• Acting for grandparents in a case where their son had been killed, contact with grandchildren stopped by the other parent and allegations of sexual abuse made against one of the grandparents. Findings of fabrication were made and contact was reinstated.
Civil
Emily’s civil law practice incorporates a range of matters, including land and trust disputes (to which she brings extensive legal knowledge from her authorship and editorship in leading practitioner cohabitation texts), Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 claims, and bankruptcy and insolvency in a family law context.
Given her family law practice, Emily has particular specialism in civil and chancery matters with a family element, including advising in professional negligence issues stemming from family law proceedings/advice and land and trust disputes in a family setting.
Emily’s recent cases include:
• Acting for a client resisting an application to annul his bankruptcy petition. Linked financial remedy proceedings.
• Representing an intervener in civil proceedings (the family proceedings having been stayed pending the outcome of the civil dispute) concerning various property transactions and arguments as to beneficial interests in property.
• Currently instructed in two cross-over cases where issues of financial remedy and probate collide.
• Currently instructed in five farming cases, which include partnership disputes and third party property rights.
Notable Cases
Re W [2016] EWCA Civ 793 (July 2016) – Representation of grandparents on pro-bono basis unled against three silks. Important and leading case in relation to adoption.
Re W (Adoption – Contact) [2016] EWHC 3118 (Fam) – Re-hearing of Re W (below). Appeared against a silk unled.
Re W [2016] EWHC 2437 (Fam) - First instance contested adoption case.
IC v RC [2020] EWHC 2997 (Fam) – Important case in relation to the slip rule and legal principles associated thereto.
SH (A Child) [2020] EWHC 1510 (Fam)
O v O (2020): Finding of fact hearing in private children proceedings where Emily’s client was accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter over a prolonged period of time. Careful consideration and handling of the child witness was required taking account of advocates toolkits and special measures.
W v W (2021): Representation of the respondent in high value and complex financial remedy proceedings in a civil partnership dispute. Significant issues in the case included the respondent’s: (i) substantial pre-acquired assets; (ii) the respondent’s interest in a by-pass trust (c.£1M); (iii) significant inherited assets; (iv) shareholding in a company with a value of £16.6M; and, (v) interest in a newly incorporated company. Expert evidence was required, including in relation to the impact of Covid-19 and extraction of funds for the settlement. The added complication in this case was the short length of the marriage, but also the applicant’s health needs and the potential for ongoing spousal maintenance payable by the respondent. Case settled on a clean break basis, which excluded the majority of the pre-acquired assets.
F v M (2021): Representation of a father contested jurisdiction proceedings in the High Court. The final hearing, which ran over four days, involved complex issues of fact, with multiple witnesses giving evidence from different countries, and complex issues of law (including Qatari law) were considered.
Clerks