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Nathalie Bull

Year of Call: 2004
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 0121 289 4333

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Clerk Details

Finance

Finance

Nathalie is regularly instructed in a wide range of financial remedy proceedings, from interim applications and FDA/FDR hearings—including private FDRs—through to final hearings and appeals. She also has extensive experience in TOLATA (Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act) disputes, acting for cohabiting and non-married couples in property ownership and beneficial interest claims.

She is frequently involved in high-value and complex cases, including those featuring:

  • international and multi-jurisdictional property portfolios
  • multi-million-pound asset divisions
  • non-disclosure and dissipation of assets
  • business valuations and trust structures
  • pre-marital and post-separation asset disputes, and
  • health or capacity issues affecting earning potential.

Nathalie is known for her strategic approach, commercial awareness, and ability to simplify even the most technical financial cases for the court. Her strong negotiation skills mean the vast majority of her cases resolve by way of Consent Order—enabling her clients to avoid the stress and costs associated with protracted litigation.

In final hearings, Nathalie adopts a forensic and persuasive advocacy style, always with a focus on securing a fair and favourable outcome for her client. Her calm and assured presence in court, paired with meticulous preparation, instils confidence in both lay and professional clients.

Private Remote FDR Hearings

Nathalie is available for private FDR hearings and Early Neutral Evaluations. For more information on private remote FDR hearings please click here.

Cases:

MA v WK [2025] EWFC 499 (Fam Ct, Cusworth J): The Family Court refused applications under s.55(1) of the Family Law Act 1986 seeking declarations that marriages were valid where the parties had undergone Islamic Nikkah ceremonies in England that did not comply with the formalities of the Marriage Act 1949.
In two cases the applicants relied on subsequent registration of the marriages in Pakistan, arguing that this created valid foreign marriages capable of recognition in England and Wales. The Attorney General intervened to oppose the applications.
Cusworth J held that the formal validity of a marriage is governed by the lex loci celebrationis. As the ceremonies took place in England, compliance with English statutory requirements was necessary. Foreign registration could not retrospectively transform a “non-qualifying ceremony” into a valid marriage, nor could the court recognise a foreign state’s recognition of such a ceremony.
The applications for declarations were therefore dismissed. The case reinforces the limits on recognition of unregistered religious marriages in England and Wales.
Nathalie represented the third respondent.

M v M: finance proceedings (represented the husband). Complex three-day final hearing. The sole asset was the unregistered family home which had been built on land registered in the wife’s name. The property was landlocked, with a ransom strip around the property and access to the highway was by way of a revocable licence. The evidence of the SJE property valuer was challenged. The Court found the wife and her family to be dishonest having pressured the husband into selling the previous marital home and applying the net equity into the new build, with the intention of preventing him from benefiting from the new property. The Court ordered the property to be sold in order for a lump sum to be paid to the husband.

E v E: finance proceedings (represented the wife). One day hearing before a High Court Judge to determine complex disputed jurisdiction points of law and fact under Brussels II Regulations 2201/2003. The husband accepted the British divorce petition was lodged eight days before the German divorce petition, but the husband argued that the five month delay in serving the petition meant the German Court was first seised. The wife successfully argued that the British Court was first seised, the wife had not failed to take the required steps, much of the delay was outside of the wife’s control, and the husband had failed to serve a translated petition on the wife in breach of the Regulations. At the final hearing H was ordered to pay W a lump sum of £98,000, together with a pension sharing order in W’s favour and W retained her own property. W received 73% of the non-pension assets.

S v C: finance proceedings (represented the husband). Complex case involving allegations of hidden assets, dissipation of assets, stollen gold, transferring sums to relatives to hold, mental ill-health and ringfencing of non-matrimonial inheritance and liquidated business assets. The husband achieved a favourable outcome, retaining 62.71% of the liquid assets.

B v B: finance proceedings (represented the wife). The husband had failed to engage in the financial proceedings and disregarded all court orders. The wife successfully argued that adverse inferences should be drawn against the husband. The wife was awarded 84.31% of the total disclosed assets. A costs order was made against the husband.

I v I: finance proceedings (represented the wife at the final hearing and on appeal). Complex case involving properties abroad, hidden assets, hidden income and non-disclosure, resulted in the commissioning of a private detective’s report. The Husband was found to be dishonest and adverse inferences were drawn against him. As a result, the Court ordered the FMH to be transferred to the Wife and ordered the sale of the foreign properties, with the sale proceeds being applied to discharge the FMH mortgage. Any remaining sums from the sale proceeds were to be retained by the Husband. The Husband appealed but the Wife successfully defended the appeal.

A v A: finance proceedings (represented the wife at the final hearing). Complex case due to the Husband living in Germany, the Wife living in the UK and the FMH being in an uninhabitable state, having been ‘gutted’ by the Husband many years prior to the final hearing. The Wife and children had lived in a small, converted garage annex for years. The FMH had not sold due to its state of disrepair. The Wife achieved a favourable outcome of 90% of the FMH net equity.

H v H: financial proceedings (represented the wife at FDR). The wife was the primary carer of the children of the family. The parties both had good income levels, but they had significant debts of c.£126,000 between them, which the wife argued was due to the husband’s frivolous and reckless spending. Settlement was reached at FDR by way of sale of the FMH with 65/35 in the wife’s favour, plus a 46% share of the husband’s pension.

H v I: financial proceedings (represented the wife at final hearing). A complex case involving properties abroad, hidden assets, hidden income and non-disclosure, resulting in the commissioning of a private detective’s report to uncover the truth. The husband was found to be dishonest and adverse inferences were drawn against him. As a result, the Court ordered the FMH to be transferred to the wife and ordered the sale of the foreign properties, with the sale proceeds being applied to discharge the FMH mortgage. Any remaining sums from the sale proceeds were to be retained by the husband.

O v O: financial proceedings (represented the husband) – this complex final hearing involved multiple properties, allegations of fraud, disposal of assets and hidden assets abroad.

R v T: divorce (represented the husband) - the parties had a civil ceremony with the intention of having a religious ceremony two months later. They had planned to consummate their marriage after their religious ceremony. Unfortunately the parties separated before the religious ceremony had taken place. As the marriage had not been consummated the husband applied to annul the marriage under s.12 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 on the basis of ‘wilful refusal’. The factually similar case authority of A v J (Nullity Proceedings) [1989] 1 FLR 110 was referenced. The wife consented to the husband’s application, however the husband was unable to bring himself to apply for Decree Nisi in order to bring the marriage to an end. The husband applied for the dismissal of his nullity application, the wife opposed this application. The Court allowed the husband’s application on the basis that the husband could not be forced to apply for Decree Nisi.

B v B: financial proceedings (represented the wife) - the complexities concerned calculating a teacher’s final salary pension, the instruction of a pension actuary was required before settlement could be reached.

D v D: financial proceedings (represented the wife) - short marriage without properties or children, settled at FDA, the arguments concerned the possession of valuable wedding jewellery and other gifted items including a brand new Mercedes.

P v P: financial proceedings (represented the husband) - this case involved successful multiple-site estate agency businesses and a large number of properties within and outside the UK. Settlement was agreed between the husband and wife over the ownership of the properties.

L v L: financial proceedings (represented the husband) - long marriage, settled at FDR, larger lump sum agreed in lieu of a pension share.

S v O: financial proceedings (represented the wife) - concerned multiple investment properties and parcels of land. The complexities included the husband’s failure to engage in the proceedings, impending possession proceedings and conduct arguments.

  • Recommendations

    • Nathalie Bull is an experienced practitioner who is regularly instructed in private law children cases. She is adept at handling cases concerning sexual and physical abuse claims, as well as parental alienation matters.

      "Nathalie is a diligent and thoughtful advocate who is very good on the details."
      "Nathalie is well prepared and an effective advocate."
      Chambers UK 2026/Family: Children/Midlands Circuit

    • ‘Nathalie is always well prepared and tough in cross examination. She has an excellent manner with clients, being empathetic while giving sensitive but robust advice.'
      Legal 500 2026/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading juniors/Midlands Circuit
      Legal 500 2026/Family: Children and Domestic Violence/Leading Juniors/Midlands Circuit

      Strengths: "Nathalie provides a high standard of service for the client."
      "She's very methodical and knows her stuff."
      "Nathalie does more than exceed expectations and is a true professional."
      Chambers UK 2025/Family: Children/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie is an excellent advocate and is calm even where there are unusually difficult or unpleasant opponents. She is impressive in ensuring that judges can grasp her arguments no matter what, is excellent with clients and has the ability to keep large amounts of relevant facts at her fingertips even over a protracted period of time. She is strategic and persuasive.'
      Legal 500 2025/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie's particular strength is for having compassion and empathy for clients whilst also providing clear and concise legal advice. Her written documents are well structured and she is able to explain complex legal matters simply. Nathalie is persuasive and unwavering but in a respectful and considered way.'
      Legal 500 2025/Family: Children and Domestic Violence/Leading Juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie prepares submissions extremely well. Her communication is strong with lay clients and solicitors.’
      Legal 500 2024/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie is well-prepared and takes a forensic approach to cases. She is a very calm advocate and a skilled negotiator.’
      Legal 500 2024/Family: Children and Domestic Violence/Leading Juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie is an extremely competent and highly skilled barrister who represents clients in an excellent way leading clients to feel confident that their matter is being expertly handled. She also balances this with empathy and support for clients that are going through very challenging personal situations.’
      Legal 500 2023/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie is always meticulous in her preparation and presentation of the case with documentation being filed on time, without prompting. She is always available to instruct solicitors to discuss matters arising from the case and to talk though options.’
      Legal 500 2023/Child Law (Public and Private)/Leading Juniors/Midlands Circuit

      ‘Nathalie is extremely professional at all times. She is well prepared, highly knowledgeable and presents her well reasoned arguments calmly but firmly. She immediately grasps the issues and presents a case plan that can be followed.’
      Legal 500 2022/Child Law (Public and Private)/Leading Juniors/Midlands Circuit
      Legal 500 2022/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading juniors/Midlands Circuit

    • Thank you so much for your work yesterday. Your calm and focused approach made the whole experience so much easier for me. I’m really pleased I followed the recommendation to instruct you. It was a really positive result. Thanks again for everything.
      Lay client

      “Nathalie’s knowledge, skill and ability in court and during all the supporting negotiations were exemplary and it was a comfort to be in such competent hands.”
      Lay client

      "Thank you so much for everything that you have done for me and my daughter. The future outlook for both of us now feels a world apart from what I thought we were facing two years ago. It has been very reassuring to have you represent me in court throughout this process and I could not have expected a better outcome... thank you."
      Lay client

      "Thank you again for yesterday. It really was an incredible, life changing, result."
      Instructing solicitor

      "Nathalie worked wonders yesterday and we achieved a great result!"
      Instructing solicitor

      "Now that the dust has settled and I have taken stock on what was a difficult and emotional few days, I just wanted to wholeheartedly thank you for your brilliant representation on behalf of myself at the final hearing this week. It's a result that I truly believe benefits the children and I just wanted to say a big thank you to you for achieving it. You are a credit to your profession."
      Lay client

      "Once again, I would like to thank you for all the hard work you have put in over the course of the case, I will never forget what you have done, and I mean it when I say, I really appreciate it."
      Lay client

      "Nat’s performance was exceptional."
      "This is a very tough and complex case; she was forensic and clearly put the work in with regards to understanding my case and executed an excellent strategy.  I really feel she got my side across in a very articulate way."
      Lay client

      “I instructed Nathalie on behalf of the father in a case of implacable hostility by the mother and was one of the worst of this type I had encountered in my career. Immediately, Nathalie grasped the detailed history of the case and the issues involved and set out a comprehensive case strategy. Her manner with the client showed empathy for his predicament, whilst explaining the legalities and gained the confidence and trust of the client. Nathalie changed her personal commitments to ensure she could represent him at all hearings. She successfully fought this difficult matter on behalf of a client that could ill afford the case.”

      “I feel sure that without Nathalie’s expertise, the end result of this case would not have been such a happy one for the father. His words were that he could never thank his legal team enough and that he would be grateful for the rest of his life.”

      “I would have no hesitation in instructing Nathalie on a case in the future and cannot recommend her highly enough”
      Instructing solicitor

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