3PB

Family; Public and Regulatory; Direct Access

Tom Tyler has a background in all areas of family law. He specialises in giving advice and representing parties in all kinds of family finance disputes. He is usually involved in matters of greater complexity but he is always pleased to be briefed in more straightforward cases involving divorce, ancillary relief, trusts of land and property.

Tom is frequently instructed in divorce/financial proceedings where a party faces restraint and confiscation proceedings in the Crown Court having been convicted or accused of a serious criminal offence such as fraud, money laundering, drug/people trafficking.  This is a factor that complicates the financial aspects of the divorce and Tom has a great deal of expertise in this area.

Tom is instructed by the Serious Fraud Office as well as the Organised Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service as intervener in ancillary relief cases as well as by the parties themselves and affected third parties. Tom is currently representing the Crown Prosecution Service in the Gohil litigation that has recently been before the Supreme Court and is now ongoing once more in the High Court. Tom enjoys giving seminars and lectures on this shady corner of the law.

Legal experience is undoubtedly very valuable, however one of Tom’s outstanding qualities is his recognition of the uniquely difficult nature of family litigation involving children and money. He has been through the divorce and financial dispute process himself and therefore offers his clients a true understanding born of personal experience. He is a genuine source of wise and sympathetic advice at a difficult and painful time for either husbands or wives. If a dispute is capable of compromise then Tom will almost invariably sort it out and save the cost of further litigation. However, there may be factors that prevent agreement being reached and in such circumstances Tom can be relied upon to fight his client’s corner.

Tom is direct access trained and is always pleased to accept instructions from members of the public who choose not to instruct a solicitor.

Areas of Practice: 

• Divorce
• All aspects of matrimonial finance
• Trusts of Land and Property
• Inheritance Act disputes
• Asset Forfeiture and Confiscation

Family

Tom is experienced in all aspects of family law matrimonial finance litigation and Children Act disputes including:

• Co-habitation litigation under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
• Safeguarding of assets via freezing orders
• Maintenance pending suit
• Proceedings involving Interveners and other third parties
• Ancillary relief in England & Wales after a foreign decree
• Enforcement and appeals
• Setting aside of orders due to non-disclosure

Tom is always pleased to receive instructions from clients on a direct access basis. If you are considering instructing Tom, then he would welcome the opportunity of speaking to you on the telephone or Skype prior to being sent your papers. Subject to the complexity of the issues on the case, there is usually no fee for a preliminary consultation of this nature.

Recent reported case:

Gohil v Gohil (with CPS intervening) [2023] EWFC 1567
This decision of Mosyn J concerned the inexplicable differences that accompany a draft judgment handed down respectively in the King’s Bench Division, the Family Division, and the Crown Court.

RH v SV (Pension Apportionment: Reasons) [2020] EWFC B23
Circuit Judge level decision of HHJ Robinson cited in part 4 of the 2nd report of the Pensions Advisory Group. This decision is of interest when considering the issues that that arise when one party seeks a pension sharing order based on a contribution/apportionment argument.

Re TW v TM (Minors) [2015] EWHC 3054 (Fam)
Interest not payable under Judgments Act 1838 on arrears accrued under top-up order. Starting point for court ordered child maintenance calculations was the statutory formula.

Public and Regulatory Law 

Asset and Tax Recovery
Tom is frequently instructed in divorce/financial proceedings where a party faces restraint and confiscation proceedings in the Crown Court having been convicted or accused of a serious criminal offence such as fraud, money laundering, drug/people trafficking.  This is a factor that complicates the financial aspects of the divorce and Tom has a great deal of expertise in this area.

Tom is instructed by prosecuting authorities such as the Serious Fraud Office as well as the Organised Crime Division of the Crown Prosecution Service as intervener in ancillary relief cases in the Family/County Court as well as in the Crown Court. He is instructed by the Crown as well as by the parties themselves and affected third parties.

Tom is currently representing the Crown Prosecution Service in the Gohil litigation that has recently been before the Supreme Court and is now ongoing once more in the High Court.

Tom is always pleased to receive instructions from clients on a direct access basis. If you are considering instructing Tom, then he would welcome the opportunity of speaking to you on the telephone or Skype prior to being sent your papers. Subject to the complexity of the issues on the case, there is usually no fee for a preliminary consultation of this nature.

Direct Access
You will be fully supported and remain in control of your case, every step of the way.
Tom is a family law barrister who is authorised to practice by the Bar Council and is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. He has a right of audience in every court in England and Wales. Tom undertakes public access work and appears on the Bar Council Public Access Register and accepts instructions from solicitors in the traditional way.

When couples separate, financial and child care disputes often result and for many individuals the legal system is daunting, confusing and expensive. Tom is an expert who steps in and helps his clients take back control of their lives and move swiftly towards a more positive, settled future.
Why use a public access barrister?
Tom’s clients undertake the straightforward work themselves leaving the difficult parts to him. In this way, they save money on legal fees and remain fully informed at every stage of the case.

Pay as you go – The fee for each stage of the case is agreed in advance and in writing.

Flexible appointment times - Tom works around his client’s work and child care commitments.

Examples of family law work that barristers may do:-

•    providing expert legal advice at face to face meetings, in writing and by Skype;

•    representation at court;

•    drafting documents e.g. letters, offers, position statements & skeleton arguments;

•    persuasively and effectively negotiating on your behalf;

•    providing advice and direction at the next stage of your case;

•    preparing you for and/or assisting you at Mediation;

•    representation at round-table meetings;

•    reviewing and advising upon your case papers at various stages;

•    negotiation and representation at court;

•    preparing appeal documents.

Tom’s approach
Tom is a good listener, treating his clients with respect and dignity when they are speaking about very personal, often upsetting family matters. From the outset he is keen to identify and focus on the real issues in the case.

He brings a mix of common sense, objectivity and reality to the legal issues which may appear overwhelming to his clients.

Thorough preparation in advance of client meetings ensures that all meetings are well structured and highly effective with no time wasted. Tom provides sound and realistic legal advice ensuring that his clients feel well supported and clear about the way forward.

Tom has a wealth of court experience and the determination to robustly assert her client’s case. He is persuasive and has a strong reputation. Acknowledged by his colleagues as ‘a safe pair of hands’ he is committed to ensuring that family law issues are resolved fairly with the minimum possible delay, stress and cost for his clients.

Year of Call: 1996

Family Law Bar Association;

Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association.