Rachael Goodall

Year of Call: 2000
Email Address: rachael.goodall@3pb.co.uk
Telephone: 020 7583 8055 / 01202 292 102

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Overview

Rachael Goodall practises exclusively in the field of family law, with a particular emphasis on cases involving financial provision after divorce, dissolution or separation.  She is also instructed in private law children cases.

Rachael was a shortlisted finalist for Junior Barrister of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2020. She is one of the few family barristers who is consistently recommended in both of the leading legal directories, Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. She sits as a Deputy District Judge (civil) and is authorised to hear private children cases.

The qualities possessed by Rachael include being "robust", "tenacious" and having “superior attention to detail”.  Rachael is also reported as having “great empathy with clients” and is "extremely good at helping clients feel supported and getting their voice heard".

Rachael lives on the outskirts of the New Forest and is married with two young children.  She enjoys running (having completed 4 marathons), cooking and the outdoors.

Expertise

  • Family
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    Finance/Property Team

    Rachael’s main area of practice is in this field and her expertise covers financial remedies on divorce or dissolution, cohabitation/co-owner disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and financial provision for children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.  Most of her cases feature at least one of the following factors:

    • Family businesses
    • Large pension funds, particularly military or other public sector pensions
    • Non-disclosure
    • Inherited wealth
    • Non-matrimonial property
    • Family trusts
    • Intervening third party interests
    • Variation applications
    • Enforcement
    • Court of Protection applications in relation to property and affairs

    Recent cases:

    • W v H (divorce financial remedies) [2020] EWFC B10

    Acted for the wife in a case involving how £2.1m of pension funds should be shared. Successful in obtaining equal sharing of income in retirement, despite the husband's pre-marital contributions . The case was before HHJ Hess, Deputy Lead Judge of the Financial Remedy Court.

    • H v H (2017)

    Acted for wife in application for maintenance pending suit against husband who worked in a company run by his father.  Wife successfully awarded a generous amount of maintenance with an order for costs against husband on the basis that husband was intentionally depleting his assets, transferring shares to other family members and reducing his income to thwart her claim.

    • B v S (2017)

    Acted for civil partner (‘S’) who lacked capacity in financial remedies application where Official Solicitor instructed to act as litigation friend.  Instruction of psychologist to report on effect on S of leaving the family home.  Successfully negotiated a favourable settlement shortly before final hearing that allowed S to remain in the family home.

    • E v E (2017)

    Successfully opposed an application to set aside a consent order on the grounds of an alleged ‘Barder’ event.  Order for costs made against the applicant.

    • B v B (2016)

    Acted for husband in application to downwardly vary and then terminate the order for spousal maintenance.  Court allowed husband’s application in its entirety on the basis that a joint lives order was converted into a 4 year term order with reducing amounts each year until termination with a section 28(1A) bar.

    Private Law Team

    Rachael is frequently instructed in applications for child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders that often include one or more of the following features:

    • Internal or external relocation
    • Living and contact arrangements
    • Entrenched/intractable disputes
    • Finding of fact hearings

    Recent cases:

    • B v G (2017)

    Acted for maternal grandmother of a 10 year old child who had tragically lost both of her parents.  There ensued a family dispute as to who child should reside with.  Rule 16.4 Guardian appointed.  Order for child to remain with maternal grandmother in what the judge described as an “overwhelming” case.  All contact ordered with paternal family was in accordance with maternal grandmother’s proposals.

    • D v D (2017)

    Acted for father at final hearing for a child arrangements order.  Successfully secured more extensive contact than was recommended in the section 7 report following cross-examination of CAFCASS Officer and mother.

    • U v U (2016)

    Acted for mother in successful application to relocate with children 5 hours away from father on the basis that she was moving closer to her family and support network.

  • Publications

    • Consider the carers: the impact of COVID-19

      1st Oct 2020

      3PB’s specialist family law barrister and Chair of the Western Circuit Women’s Forum (WCWF) Rachael Goodall sets out the WCWF’s proposals to mitigate the threat of significant and disproportionate attrition of women from the Bar due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Published in Counsel magazine October 2020 edition.

      View Publication

    • The Trader’s Not For Sharing JS v RS [2017] EWCA Civ 408

      30th Jun 2017

      3PB Family Barrister Rachael Goodall analyses the Court of Appeal's judgement in the appeal of JS v RS [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the division of matrimonial assets following the dissolution of a marriage.

      Rachael's analysis takes account of the jurisprudential relationship between Miller v Miller and McFarlane v McFarlane.

      View Publication
  • Recommendations

    An expert in matrimonial finance who acts on a range of matters including issues of non-disclosure and dissipation, as well as pre-matrimonial businesses assets and pensions. She is also able to advise on private children matters and is increasingly active on cross-border mandates.
    Strengths: "She provides first-class client care, goes above and beyond for her clients and is a pleasure to work with." "She is always thoroughly prepared and is an excellent advocate."
    Chambers UK 2021/Family: Matrimonial Finance - Western (Bar) - Band 2

    ‘Rachael is always thoroughly prepared and excellent with clients. Rachael is always available to assist on existing cases as and when the need arises. Rachael is an excellent advocate and makes the clients feel at ease.’
    Legal 500 2021/Divorce and Financial Remedy/Leading Juniors/Tier 2/Western Circuit

    Primarily works on financial remedy and TOLATA disputes, especially those arising from relationship breakdown.
    Strengths: "Rachael Goodall is particularly impressive. She's a fierce advocate when needed, but also a steady and calming hand. She's excellent with clients and is always available to assist on existing cases as and when the need arises." "She's a fantastic barrister, and is always thoroughly well prepared."
    Chambers UK 2020/Family - Matrimonial - Western (Bar) - Band 2

    ‘She sets clients' expectations and delivers upon them.’
    Legal 500 2020/Family and children law – Leading juniors

    "Rachael has a solid work ethic. Her preparation is excellent and her representation at court is thorough and on point. She has an engaging, supportive and positive attitude towards any given case." "She is an excellent advocate with exemplary client care skills."
    Chambers UK 2019/Family - Matrimonial - Western (Bar)

    ‘A fearless advocate who takes no prisoners.’
    Legal 500 2018/19/Family and children law – Leading juniors

    Strengths: "An excellent advocate with exemplary client care skills. She is extremely good at helping clients feel supported and getting their voice heard. Rachael is also able to adopt a robust and tenacious approach when required." "She has a direct approach which the clients appreciate. She is frank but also very affable."
    Chambers UK 2018/Family - Matrimonial - Western (Bar)

    ‘She has exemplary client-care skills.’
    Legal 500 2017/Family and children law – Leading juniors

    Strengths: "A great all-rounder, whose manner with clients is commendable as she is sensitive yet strong. Her advice is top class." "Offers excellent knowledge of matrimonial financial law and proceedings, thorough and prompt preparation, superior attention to detail, and great empathy with clients in difficult circumstances."'
    Chambers UK 2017/Family - Matrimonial - Western (Bar)

    'She has superb manner with clients and a detailed knowledge of papers.'
    Legal 500 2016/Family and children law – Leading juniors

    'Handles the financial aspects of family law and has a focus on TOLATA lawsuits. She is also proficient in dealing with arrangement orders and removal from jurisdiction disputes.'
    Chambers UK 2016/Family - Matrimonial - Western (Bar)

    'She provides pragmatic and sensible advice in a sensitive manner'
    Legal 500 2015/Regional Bar - Western Circuit, Family and children law – Leading juniors

    '...handles a variety of cases within family law, with noted expertise in financial resolutions following the breakdown of a relationship. She has considerable experience in dealing with multifaceted cases involving concealed assets and third party claimants. She is also noted for her work in private children law issues involving domestic violence allegations and international relocations.'
    Chambers UK 2015/Family Law - Matrimonial – Western (Bar)

    ‘highly competent and well prepared’.
    Legal 500 2013/14/Western Circuit - Family.

    '...highly praised for her preparation, advocacy style and lovely manner with clients. She specialises in financial proceedings after relationship breakdown and the related children matters.

    Expertise: “She is always very clear with her advice and very knowledgeable. She is also extremely efficient and friendly with clients.”'
    Chambers UK 2014/Family - Matrimonial – Western (Bar)

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  • The Legal 500 - Leading Set 2021 Logo
  • Top Ranked Chambers - Leading Set 2020 - UK Bar Logo

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Hons) Law and Politics

Professional qualifications & appointments

  • Deputy District Judge
  • Western Circuit Pupil Advocacy Trainer
  • Western Circuit Women’s Forum Steering Group
  • Pupil Supervisor
  • Bar Council Retention Panel
  • FLBA Vulnerable Witness Training Working Group

Professional bodies

  • Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit)
  • Family Law Bar Association
  • Western Circuit

Direct Access

Rachael Goodall is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients under the Direct Public Access scheme.

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