Davinia Riley is a family law barrister and arbitrator who specialises in money and property disputes following relationship breakdowns. Davinia’s experience is primarily in high value, complex financial issues often involving trust assets, businesses and multiple properties (UK-based and international) and inheritance.
JPM v CEM: Davinia appeared as a led junior for the husband in a successful appeal of a final order in financial remedy proceedings, after the judge at first instance proceeded in the absence of the husband and attributed company assets to the husband personally in the computation exercise. As a result of the successful appeal, the order was overturned.
W v W: case where H claimed that W controlled assets left in a discretionary trust and thus should be part of the matrimonial pot. Davinia successfully argued for contribution costs towards and an order that W pay a portion of H costs towards the proceedings.
H v H: Davinia acted for the respondent in a case where the matrimonial assets were valued at over £2.5m. The case involved arguments over inherited funds and whether or not they should be ringfenced, and a complex pension scheme for the husband who had a significant pension worth over £1m
M v M: Davinia represented respondent husband in a case where the assets are worth over £3.6m. The case involved a dispute over a significant property portfolio both in the UK and in Europe. The case also involves a dispute as to whether it is a needs, or sharing based case.
K v K: Davinia acts for the respondent husband in a case involving a business with a turnover of over £3m with several shareholders including the married couple. There have been several forensic accountants’ reports and there is a significant dispute as to the value of the business, and whether H can claim ‘special contribution’. There is also a complex issue regarding H’s pension as it is linked to the business and SJE reports in respect of the true pension value.
W v W: Davinia represented the applicant in a case where the assets were worth over £2.8m in an enforcement application, whereby the respondent had failed to set up a trust fund for £300,000 was over £7,000 in arrears for maintenance, and had failed to pay the full periodical payments of £1500 per month. The issues that arose included whether or not the arrears ought to be remitted; whether or not the respondent ought to be committed to prison and costs. Davinia was successful in the application and obtained 90% of the costs sought.
Local Authority v B and B: Davinia was instructed to advise and represent a Large Local Authority who sought to be joined to proceedings in respect of a Proceeds of Crime Act Order against one of the parties where the assets were worth over £2.5m.
In Standish v Standish [2025] UKSC 26, the Supreme Court has offered timely and much-needed clarification on the operation of the sharing principle in financial remedy cases, particularly in relation to the matrimonialisation of non-matrimonial property. For practitioners, this is now essential reading.
‘Davinia is straight talking and extremely personable. She goes above and beyond to help clients.’
Legal 500 2026/Family:Divorce and Financial Remedy/Midlands
“Davinia has excellent client care skills and can quickly find a rapport with clients and put them at ease. She is thorough in her case preparation and an excellent advocate, presenting her case in a calm and persuasive manner.”
Legal 500 2025/Family:Divorce and Financial Remedy/Midlands
“Davinia is very good with clients. She can build rapport quickly and understand their concerns. She is an excellent advocate. She always prepares thoroughly, is calm and reasoned before the court and can make points succinctly and with impact.”
Legal 500 2024/Family:Divorce and Financial Remedy/Midlands
“Davinia is an all-round star performer. She works tirelessly for clients and is able to argue their cases robustly while demonstrating a thoughtful and creative approach to problem-solving and negotiation. She very swiftly gets to the heart of her instructions and engages with instructing solicitors before, during and after a hearing to provide invaluable support and advice.”
Legal 500 2023/Family:Divorce and Financial Remedy/Midlands
“Davinia’s paperwork is first-class and ahead of time. She establishes an early rapport with clients.”
Legal 500 2022/Family:Divorce and Financial Remedy/Midlands
“Davinia – Professional, focussed, tenacious yet personable. Davinia came onto my case at the last minute for a final hearing in Liverpool. It had been a long and expensive divorce over 4 ½ years. She quickly grasped the financial aspects of the case with the help of my legal team (again who came on last minute). She was personable, tenacious yet remaining polite at all times. A no-nonsense attitude but with a focus on the key matters, she obtained for me a settlement which was significantly better than I expected. I cannot recommend her highly enough if you are in need” Jonathan, Lay Client, Liverpool, 2024
3PB are delighted to announce that four family law barristers - Elaine Strachan, Peter Wilkinson, Davinia Riley and Oliver Thorne (pictured here, anti-clockwise from bottom left) - have qualified as family law arbitrators under the Financial Remedy Scheme. The quartet become members of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb) and are now members of the specialist panel of family law arbitrators, managed by Resolution on behalf of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (“IFLA”). Elaine...
Continue readingWelcome to the latest and final newsletter for 2025. It comes hot off the press of some fantastic results for Chambers in the legal directories with record results for the family team. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who gave up their valuable time to provide the feedback, it is very much appreciated.
I hope you have enjoyed our newsletter this year. We thank you for following us in 2025 and we will be back with more updates, articles and innovative ideas in the new year! Please do get in touch if you would like to get involved.
3PB’s family law team has been confirmed for its excellence in the Legal 500 2026 edition published today, remaining in top tier in the Midlands for Family: children and domestic abuse and for Family: divorce and financial remedy as well as top tier in the Western circuit for Family: children and domestic abuse. The Western team’s family finance barristers are awarded tier 2. 3PB’s family law team has been awarded a total of 70 rankings...
Continue reading3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) are delighted to welcome matrimonial finance and probate/inheritance barrister Davinia Riley (call:2004) to its 90-strong team of family barristers. Davinia joins 3PB from a rival top-tier Midlands set for family finance. Davinia's experience over the last twenty years is primarily in high value, complex financial issues often involving trust assets, businesses, multiple properties (UK-based and international) and inheritance. Ranked by Legal 500 since 2022 as a leading junior barrister in...
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