Family: Private FDR Judges And Arbitrators

Leading Private FDR Judges And Arbitrators

Tim Amos KC – Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)

Janet Bazley KC – 1GC | Family Law ‘Janet is a very effective mediator and arbitrator. She has an assured and empathetic style and helps clients achieve a solution where all hope of amicable solutions is lost.’

Alexander Chandler KC –1 King’s Bench Walk 'Alexander is first-rate. He has the authority and judgment to persuade the lawyers to his way of thinking and the compassion and humility to show the parties that he cares. He is the go-to private FDR judge.'

Nigel Dyer KC - 1 Hare Court

Ben Fearnley – 29 Bedford Row Chambers 'Ben is an excellent all-around tribunal for cases of all shapes and sizes. He has a relaxed but authoritative manner and is effective in bringing lay clients on board with his indications. He is not afraid to grasp the nettle and is intellectually honest. He is a very technical lawyer who can distil the essence of his expertise into digestible chunks for lay clients.'

David Burles – 1GC | Family Law ‘David is focussed on helping the parties to achieve a fair outcome, giving generously of his time and using his experience as a judge to great effect.’

Barbara Mills KC – 4PB ‘Barbara thoroughly prepares for cases and has a clear grasp of complex issues. She is an expert in children’s law and empathetic to parents in difficult and stressful situations.’

Nicholas Allen KC – 29 Bedford Row Chambers 'Nicholas is extremely knowledgeable, clear and fair as a PFDR judge. He provides helpful indications with good reasoning that invariably unlocks the case. He is a go-to on complex cases.'

Alexis Campbell KC – 29 Bedford Row Chambers 'Alexis is a go-to silk in central London for financial remedy work. She is tenacious, bright and a stellar advocate.'

Richard Castle – 1 King’s Bench Walk 'Richard is a fantastic private FDR judge. He knows the law so well and is easily able to deal with tough and aggressive barristers appearing before him in difficult cases. He is respectful and an impressive lawyer.'

James Ewins KC – Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)

'James is an excellent tribunal. He is thoroughly prepared and puts considerable time and thought into his written determinations. He listens intently, asks insightful questions and inspires confidence.'

Nicola Fox – 1 King’s Bench Walk 'Nicola has an extremely good understanding of the facts and background of the case as an arbitrator. Her strong case management ensures the matter's progress swiftly and pragmatically. Her determinations are well-reasoned and demonstrative of her knowledge of the case.'

Tristan Harvey– Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)

'Tristan is the number one choice for a private FDR judge, mediator and arbitrator. He manages the most complex of cases well, keeping his calm and engaging all the parties while at the same time quickly inspiring the confidence of the clients and their solicitors.'

Claire Heppenstall – 1GC | Family Law ‘Claire is a go-to tribunal. She ensures that clients are bought into the process and feel heard. Her judgments are detailed and fair and provided promptly. Solicitors trust her.’

Katherine Kelsey – 1 King’s Bench Walk 'Katherine is wonderful. She is clear, calm, meticulously prepared and has sound and measured judgment. She is everything one could ask for in a private FDR judge.'

Peter Mitchell KC – 29 Bedford Row Chambers ‘Peter is a superb private FDR judge. He is good at dealing with difficult cases. He is courteous with barristers, solicitors and clients, which makes the whole process as easy and palatable as possible.'

Harry Oliver KC – 1 King’s Bench Walk 'Harry is a helpful tribunal in a difficult and acrimonious case. He is an experienced and steady pair of hands.'

Lucy Owens – 29 Bedford Row Chambers ‘Lucy is extremely experienced and able and is a very effective private FDR judge. She quickly identifies the issues and rolls up her sleeves to work out and present a fair and pragmatic resolution. She has the skills to persuade both parties of the fairness of the solution. She has excellent judgement and is always extremely well-prepared on top of all the facts and concepts.’

Christopher Pocock KC– 1 King’s Bench Walk ‘Christopher is a rock-steady tribunal for both arbitrations and private FDRs. He manages proceedings before him with a reassuring calmness, and his judgement is spot-on.’

James Roberts KC – 1 King’s Bench Walk ‘James has immense authority and gravitas as a tribunal. He commands the respect of lay clients even when delivering bad news because the rigour, care, humanity and process of thought are carefully and humanely explained and demonstrated. He can make the unsettleable settle on the fair and proper terms.’

Duncan Brooks KC– Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)

‘Duncan is calm, clever and sensible. He is an exceptional arbitrator and private FDR judge. He immediately puts clients at ease with his kind and thoughtful manner.’

Tom Carter – 1 Hare Court 'Tom is an excellent private FDR judge and arbitrator. He is always thoroughly prepared and understands the nuances of every case. He provides a thoughtful and reasoned tribunal.'

Andrew Day – St Ives Chambers ‘Andrew is an extremely thorough, insightful and pragmatic private FDR judge.’

Fiona Hay –Harcourt Chambers ‘Fiona is highly effective, unpretentious and down to earth both as an advocate and a tribunal. She is highly pragmatic and collaborative.’

Geoffrey Kelly – Pump Court Chambers 'A persuasive junior, whose preparation is meticulous and his manner with the lay clients always sets them at ease.'

Gavin Smith - 1 Hare Court

Rhys Taylor –The 36 Group 'Rhys is a competent, experienced specialist who knows what he is doing and does it well as an arbitrator. He is tireless in his efforts to bring the sides together in private FDR matters.'

2024 Silks

Andrzej Bojarski KC –The 36 Group 'Andrzej brings his advocacy skills to the private judging sphere. He is thorough, empathetic and kind, hugely intelligent, and probably thinking five steps ahead of the advocates in front of him on every case, hard-working and keen to find/broker settlement. He is fully resolution-focused and will leave no stone unturned in trying to get a couple to that end.'

Edward Boydell KC – Pump Court Chambers 'Edward is first-class. He is a formidable practitioner with a very deft human touch.'

Family: private FDR judges and arbitrators in London Bar

1GC | Family Law

1GC | Family Law is a ‘very good set’ of barristers involved in all areas of family dispute resolution. Janet Bazley KC is a ‘very fair tribunal’ who is very active as a mediator and regularly conducts early neutral evaluations and private FDRs. David Burles has more than three decades of experience in family law and regularly works with high-net-worth clients, while Claire Heppenstall is renowned for her ‘fair and detailed judgements and ability to manage arbitrations perfectly’.

Testimonials

‘Paul Harris is exceptional. The clerking team is top-notch and provides excellent service with no fuss.’

‘1GC | Family Law is a very strong set, particularly concerning children’s work. It goes the extra mile for solicitors and clients. It has a strong group at all levels, particularly amongst their mid-senior ranks.’

‘1GC | Family Law is a great set of chambers with a lot of solid talent in the team and some great juniors.’

‘The clerks are fantastic, very responsive and helpful.’

1 King's Bench Walk

1 King’s Bench Walk is a ‘leading set for family law matters with unrivalled strength in depth at silk level’. Alexander Chandler KC is a ‘go-to private FDR judge’ and regularly acts as arbitrator in claims involving financial remedies, while Richard Castle is known for his expertise in international aspects of financial remedy and divorce. Other key members of the team include the ‘sensible, approachable, proportionate’ Nicola Fox and the ‘much liked and respected’ Katherine Kelsey , who are active across the matrimonial finance space.

Testimonials

‘Chris Gittens is an excellent head clerk, and with Tim Madden and Nicola Cade, the set has a strong clerking team.’

‘1 King’s Bench Walk has a very efficient clerks room.’

‘1 King’s Bench Walk is a superb set – very much sought after in the market.’

‘1 King’s Bench Walk is a top rate set with the breadth of talent available.’

‘1 King’s Bench Walk is a good chamber with a wide variety of barristers.’

29 Bedford Row Chambers

29 Bedford Row Chambers is a ‘market leading set for financial remedy work’ that consistently ‘goes above and beyond’. Ben Fearnley is an ‘excellent private FDR judge’ who specialises in financial aspects of divorce, dissolution of civil partnerships, separation of unmarried couples, financial provision for children, and jurisdiction disputes. Other key contacts include the ‘technically brilliant advocate’ Nicholas Allen KC and Peter Mitchell KC, who has extensive expertise in drafting, implementation and enforcement of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. ‘Thorough and balanced FDR judge’ Lucy Owens is another key contact.

Testimonials

’29 Bedford Row is a top-notch financial remedy chamber.’

’29 Bedford Row is a go-to set.’

’29 Bedford Row has a strong and developing ADR offer, with good strength in depth from experienced counsel.’

‘The clerks are always helpful, and Julie Holcombe leads the way.’

’29 Bedford Row has a top clerking team. James Shorthall is everything that one wants from a senior clerk.’

Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)

Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) is ‘a prominent family law specialist set with good quality at all levels’. Tim Amos KC is an expert on international family law, particularly cases of divorce and finance, while James Ewins KC is ‘the best tribunals in London and a first choice for financial arbitration and private FDRs’. Other team members include ‘experienced and skilled dispute resolution practitioner’ Tristan Harvey and the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Duncan Brooks KC, who was appointed silk in 2023.

Testimonials

‘The clerks are helpful at every turn. Jon Bartlett, in particular, is highly effective and efficient and gives a fantastic service to solicitors.’

‘Jon Bartlett is excellent, and Harry Tennent is very good.’

‘QEB is the best set for complex financial work.’

‘Queen Elizabeth Building is a fantastic set for money cases with top-class counsel. It is always a first choice for clients.’

‘QEB is a fantastic set with the biggest strength on financial and jurisdiction cases.’

Coverage By Practice AreaLondon Bar