Career:
Called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1986
A tenant at 1 Mitre Court Buildings since January 1988 (when Mathew Thorpe QC was head of chambers.)
A Family Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit, hearing public and private law child cases, since 2007
He took silk in March 2009
Principal areas of practice:
Financial provision in divorce, usually in higher value cases, and other ancillary relief.
Some private children law work
Education:
St. Pauls' School and Christ Church, Oxford, where much time was spent acting.
Membership:
Vice-Chair of the Family Law Bar Association - January 2010
He also sits on the FJC's Money & Property Sub-Committee, and The Bar Council's Training for the Bar Committee.
From 2009, he is chair of the Recruitment & Entry Sub-Committee of the Training for the Bar Committee
Personal:
Married (to Rachel Platts of Counsel) with one daughter and one son, living in Hertfordshire.
Devotee of the music of Bob Dylan and the ever changing situation of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
What the directories say:
Legal 500: Leading Junior in Family - recommended in high value matrimonial finance cases.
Chambers: Leading Junior in Matrimonial Finance -
2005 - One of the best finance juniors at the set, one 'who doesn't rub a judge the wrong way'.
2006 - 'Faintly Churchillian in his delivery, he punctuates his mesmerising oratory with humour and personability'
2007 - 'extremely sound, creative and approachable'
2008 - 'Not sniffy or showy'', he 'works just as hard on small cases as on big ones'. He is 'interested in points of law and what's right'
2009 - continues to impress as 'a sensible practical barrister who really listens to what clients have to say'; 'If I was getting a divorce, I'd want him on my side'.
The Lawyer: Recommended.
Publications:
* Financial Provision in Family Matters
Interesting Cases:
Re Child X (Residence and Contact – Rights of media attendance – FPR Rule 10.28(4))
July 15th 2009
Currey v. Currey (No.2)
[2007] 1 FLR 946:
S v. S (Ancillary Relief after Lengthy Separation)
[2007] 1 FLR 2120: September 20, 2006
TL v.ML (Ancillary Relief: Claim against assets of extended family)
[2006] 1 FLR 1263: December 09, 2005
J v. V (Disclosure: Offshore Corporations)
[2004] 1 FLR 1042: November 09, 2003
Norris v. Norris; Haskins v. Haskins
[2003] 2 FLR: July 28, 2003
Rye v. Rye
[2002] EWHC 956 (Fam): [2002] 2 FLR 981: May 14, 2002
Al-Khatib v. Masry
[2002] EWHC 108 (Fam): [2002] 1 FLR 1053: January 30, 2002
Power v. Power
[1996] 3 FCR 338: February 20, 1996
Schuller v. Schuller
[1990] 2 FLR 193: January 23, 1990
