Paul Infield specialises in family finance disputes, particularly those involving businesses, having over 40 years’ expertise in this area. He deals with the whole range of matrimonial finance, cohabitation cases, disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and Inheritance Act claims, and also in professional negligence actions arising out of such disputes. He has represented clients at all levels of court including the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court including representing the husband in the leading case of Birch v. Birch in both the Court of Appeal (in which he was leading counsel) and the Supreme Court.

He is also an experienced mediator who specialises in mediating TOLATA, Inheritance Act and negligence cases against solicitors and barristers arising out of family finance cases. He is qualified to act as an arbitrator in financial disputes under rules of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators.

Key cases

Birch v. Birch [2017] UKSC 53, [2017] 1 WLR 2959, SC and [2015] EWCA Civ 833, [2015] All ER (D) 34 (Aug), CA Ex-wife’s application to vary a consent order to extend the period in which she had to either release ex-husband from mortgage or sell the house.

Birch v. Birch [2015] EWCA Civ 833, [2015] All ER (D) 34 (Aug), CA Ex-wife attempt to vary a consent order dismissed by Court of Appeal on the grounds that it sought substantially to undermine the basis of the original order. He will be part of the team representing the husband in the wife’s appeal to the Supreme Court in May 2017.

D v D (Financial Provision: Lump Sum Order) [2000] C.P. Rep. 4; (2000) 2 T.C.L.R. 54; 65 Con. L.R. 1; [1999] 2 E.G.L.R. 81; [1999] 33 E.G. 82; [1999] N.P.C. 79: Whether and when a deferred lump sum order could be made.

Areas of expertise

Over 40 years experience in this area including cases at all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He has particular interests in cases involving companies. He is also a family arbitrator, PFDR judge and mediator

A mediator for over 17 years in civil proceedings including TOLATA and Inheritance Act claims.

Further information

University of Sheffield (LLB, 1979)

Inns of Court School of Law (1980) (Advocacy Prize)

Appointments & Memberships

Family Law Bar Association

Mediator

Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)

Lexis Nexis PSL Family Law expert panel member

Member of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators

Bencher of Inner Temple

Reviewer for the Bar Pro Bono Unit

Chairman, Suzy Lamplugh Trust (2009–2016)

Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Chair, The London HIV Chaplaincy

Member of Resolution