Practice Profile
Chris is ranked as a specialist family finance barrister in both the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 directories of leading barristers. He specialises in financial disputes when relationships end, whether through divorce or separation. His cases will typically involve complex financial and legal issues, and those which require excellent client care and witness handling skills. He is generally instructed in cases in which there are substantial assets and income, complex company structures, partnerships, trusts, hidden assets and income, parties with a high profile, or an international dimension.
Chris lectures on family finance to fellow barristers and solicitors, and is a contributing author to the Practical Law Company website on family law. Chris is a member of the FLBA and Resolution.
Testimonials
"He's thorough and has a keen eye for detail. His manner is calm and confident which immediately puts clients at ease."
"Chris is pragmatic, great at problem solving and good at talking through options with clients."
Work Undertaken
- Financial remedies upon divorce or upon dissolution of civil partnership – particularly cases involving:– Business assets;– Trusts (onshore and offshore);– Partnerships;– Disputes over property owned with third parties;– Inheritance;– International jurisdiction and enforcement.
- Property disputes between cohabitees or other family members.
- Pre–nuptial, cohabitation and other marital agreements.
- Financial provision for children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
- Claims against estates under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants Act) 1975.
- Disputes over the administration of estates and probate.
- Disputes over international jurisdiction and forum non conveniens in all the above areas.
Appointments & Memberships
- Member of the Family Law Bar Association
- Affiliate member of Resolution
Notable Cases
D v G
This case involved significant assets held in the UK, Italy and central Asia valued at over £10 million. Chris acted for a senior and successful director in a private equity firm whose income was well over £1 million per annum. The case involved consideration of whether substantial investments in private equity co-funds were matrimonial in character and the disputed ownership of substantial property investments abroad. This case was settled following transfer to High Court.
Arbitration
Chris acted for the wife. The parties are high profile, household names with a substantial income derived from work in Europe, the US, Asia, and Australasia.
K v K
Chris acted for the husband in the CFC in a case involving a complex financial services business valued at over £30m, owned in large part by the husband, and with the husband earning a significant income from post separation endeavour.
M v M
Led by the late Val le Grice QC in the High Court. This case involved significant assets and turned on the extent to which they should be shared following their realisation after post separation endeavour.
B v L
Chris represented the husband at the four day final hearing in the CFC. The husband was a successful trader with a substantial income, with assets held in the UK and the US, whose former spouse suffered a severe disability which prevented her working following separation and who was represented by the Official Solicitor.
ZY v ZY
Chris acted for the wife in a five day final hearing in the CFC. The case concerned companies owned by both husband and wife, owned and operating on four continents, with real property and investments in Europe, the US, and Asia. There were three intervenors dealing with the ownership of assets in these different jurisdictions, with evidence being provided by a number of foreign experts. The case involved significant factual disputes in respect of matters stretching back two decades.
K v G
Chris acted in the three day CFC final hearing, instructed by a commercial City firm, on behalf of both the BVI and Rhode Island companies of a wealthy Russian individual. These companies were intervenors in respect of a disputed loan worth over £1m made to the husband and wife in relation to their investments in real property in London and companies in Russia.
Z v Z
Complex case turning on the ownership of land alleged to be worth £10m in the Middle East, involving multiple foreign experts providing competing evidence as well as the disputed authenticity of documents, settled at a round table meeting.
D v Y
Appearing in the CFC for the wife in a case primarily involved with trusts in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, with assets and real property in the UK, continental Europe, and the Caribbean.
B v B
Representing the husband in his argument that assets inherited post-separation and held on trust in the UK, Europe and Australia were not part of the matrimonial assets.
S v S
Chris acted for the wife in the final hearing in the PRFD and in the husband’s unsuccessful appeal to the High Court. This case involved a successful banker living in Germany, with substantial assets including pensions and investments held in multiple jurisdictions throughout Europe.