Welcome to the 3PB family law newsletter

Our December family law group newsletter brings you a wealth of judiciary announcements and involvement in high profile finance and probate cases, as well as a new book on nuptial agreements.

We welcome Charles Hogan, Rachel Bloxwich and Jim Hirschmann to our team and bring you a round up of our September and November family law brunch talks with links to our presentations. Our hosts over the time period were Nicola Frost and Esther Lieu and Aimee
Fox and Ségolène Lapeyre.

Lucy Hendry QC provides insights in Re H-D-H (Children) & C (a child) [2021] EWCA CIV 1192 and Luke Nelson a guide

to the principles of equitable accounting.

You are invited to register for our next family law brunch webinar to be hosted by Nathalie Bull and Ségolène Lapeyre on 27 January, as well as for Nicola Frost's book launch on 12 January.

We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter and please do contact our clerking team if we can help with further information or enquiries.

Lucy Hendry appointed Silk

3PB family law barrister Lucy Hendry QC was formally sworn in at the Queen’s Counsel Appointment Ceremony at Westminster Hall.

Our many congratulations to Lucy who becomes 3PB's fourteenth Silk.

Michael George successful in only reported case (T v T) on variation of pension sharing orders​​​ 

Michael George represented the wife appellant in T v T (variation of a pension sharing order and underfunded schemes) [2021] EWFC B67, a case covering issues of underfunded pensions, reduced pension credits, moving target syndrome and variation applications, in which HHJ Hess advised that “Family Lawyers would be well
advised in the meantime not to tick either boxes in section F”, as per the advice of the PAG report of July 2019 on pension sharing annexes  [80]-[81] .

Another excellent year for our family law team in the Legal Directories​

Congratulations to our team for another set of outstanding results in both Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 directories.

The Legal 500 attributed 36 individual rankings to 27 of our barristers – including 8 new rankings. Chambers and Partners rewarded us with 20 individual rankings, acknowledging the expertise of 16 of our barristers, including 3 new rankings.

Leading family law barrister Rachael Goodall appointed District Judge​​

We are delighted to announce that the Queen has appointed 3PB’s specialist family law barrister Rachael Goodall to be a District Judge with effect from 1 November  2021.

District Judge Goodall will sit on the Western Circuit, and be based at Southampton Combined Court.

NEW BOOK!
‘A Practical Guide to Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements’ by Nicola Frost

Nicola Frost's new book on nuptial agreements was published in November. This user-friendly and authoritative reference book is the go-to text for financial remedy practitioners, providing a clear explanation of the applicable legal principles involved in drafting and implementing the terms of pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements (and their civil partnership equivalents) as well as insightful tips on avoiding common pitfalls.

Oliver Ingham in Hirachand landmark Inheritance Act appeal​​

Probate and chancery barrister Oliver Ingham represented the appellant in Hirachand v Hirachand (“Re H”) in the Court of Appeal, with the judgment bringing some radical and important changes to the litigation of cases under the Inheritance Act 1975.

3PB barristers speak at Dorset Resolution "Family Law for the Future" event

Lucy Hendry QC, Michael George, Mark Elliott, Oliver Thorne and Nicola Frost were delighted to present at the event hosted by Dorset Resolution Chair Kim Davies of Trethowans, with Leah Steele of Searching for Serenity.

Adeo Fraser stars in ITV Central series ‘In my shoes’​​​

3PB’s specialist family law barrister, Adeo Fraser has appeared on ITV Central in a programme scheduled as part of Black History Month. Adeo features in ‘In my
shoes’ which looks at what it’s like to be black in Britain.

Adeo talks about his personal journey to becoming a barrister as a black man and the pressures he has faced over the years as a minority in the UK’s legal sector and specifically at the UK Bar.

Aimee Fox elected to the Council of the Birmingham Law Society​​

3PB family and education law barrister Aimee Fox has been elected to the Council of the Birmingham Law Society, which oversees the activities of the Board and represent the interests of its 5,000 legal professionals across Birmingham and the Greater Midlands.

Charles Hogan joins former colleagues at 3PB​​​​​

Family law barrister Charles Hogan has joined 3PB in Birmingham from another set in Northampton, where he will team up again with former colleagues and family lawyers Ria Herbert, Adeo Fraser and James Legg.

Charles has a well-known expertise and focus on family finance and TOLATA cases, as well as private children, injunctions and care and adoption
cases.

Rachel Bloxwich joins 3PB Family Group ​​​

We welcome Rachel Bloxwich, who specialises in handling divorce, separation, financial matters and arrangements for children, as a new tenant and a member of our Family Law Group. Rachel spent nearly 15 years as a family solicitor with law firms across the West Midlands, including latterly with FBC Manby Bowdler as an Associate in their top-rated family team in Wolverhampton.

Jim Hirschmann joins our family and public law teams ​​​​

We are delighted to announce that specialist family, public and regulatory barrister Jim Hirschmann has joined our team. Jim's family law caseload takes in care proceedings, private children disputes and applications for injunctive relief where there are allegations of domestic violence. He also takes instructions in Court of Protection cases relating to health and welfare decisions,
deprivation of liberty orders and forced marriage protection orders.

The scope of fact-finding

3PB children specialist Lucy Hendry QC considers Re H-D-H (Children) & C (a child) [2021] EWCA CIV 1192, matters in which the local authorities appealed against case management decisions - that the court would not investigate and make findings of fact about serious allegations - raising the question of the scope of fact-finding.

Lucy first delivered this talk
to the FLBA on 19 September.

There’s no accounting for taste: a guide to the principles of equitable accounting

In this article, family practitioner Luke Nelson addresses some of the main questions that arise when the issue of equitable accounting is raised for unmarried cohabitees entitled to an interest in disputed property.

'Variation Applications in Financial Remedy and Schedule 1 Proceedings' and 'Can it go in the bundle? (Un)authorised disclosures in financial remedy proceedings.'

Aimee Fox and Ségolène Lapeyre hosted our family law brunch on Thursday 25
November.

‘Pre-nups: can you have your wedding cake and eat it?’ and ‘The impact of Brexit on financial remedies’

Nicola Frost and Esther Lieu hosted our September family law brunch, focusing on these important topics.

View Esther's profile here

View Nicola's profile here

Celebrate with Nicola Frost the launch of her new book on 12 January at 5:30pm

Nicola Frost will be celebrating the launch of her new book along with barristers Matthew Cannings and Amy Beddis​. The trio will highlight the key issues relating to nuptial agreements in a 'question time and discussion' held via Zoom.
All attendees will receive an exclusive launch party discount code.

27 January Family Law Brunch

Nathalie Bull and Ségolène Lapeyre will host our next family law brunch via Zoom on Thursday 27 January at 11am, covering Fact Finding Hearings and “Summary disposal” of Children Act
1989.

Please click the link to register for this event.

Meet the team

3PB’s family group advises and represents clients on financial provision (divorce, cohabitation and death), child arrangements orders, property disputes, childcare / adoption, judicial review, professional negligence, regulatory matters, incapacity / Court of Protection welfare issues, international children’s issues and human rights.