1 Hare Court

Ancillary relief, claims under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989, private law children work, claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees act 1996.

Christian practises in all areas of private family law and is ranked as a leading barrister by the legal directories, described as “always brilliantly prepared and unruffled” and “approachable, knowledgeable and helpful” (Chambers and Partners 2016).

He is a specialist in financial disputes and is regularly instructed in cases involving substantial assets and complex issues such as contested international jurisdiction, company valuations, non-disclosure of assets and assets held offshore and/or within company or trust structures.

Christian regularly appears in the High Court, both with leading counsel and alone and has appeared in several of the leading reported cases involving international enforcement of financial orders and injunctive relief.

In addition to his financial practice, Christian regularly acts in challenging private law children disputes (including applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction) and in property disputes between unmarried partners under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act. Christian is also a Resolution trained mediator.

Notable cases:

EK v DK and Others [2023] EWHC 1829 (Fam). A High Court trial before Francis J relating to a set aside application brought by a wife on the basis of alleged fraudulent non-disclosure by the husband. In particular, the alleged non-disclosure related to the husband’s ability and available resources to house himself and also the prospects of success of the husband’s business foreign arbitration proceedings. The judgment contains a helpful synopsis of the law in relation to setting aside judgments on the basis of fraudulent or innocent non-disclosure.

HAT v LAT [2023] EWFC 162. Proceedings before Peel J concerning an application for financial relief brought by a wife 30 years after a Deed of Separation and 25 years after the divorce. The judgment provides a useful survey of the law in relation to MPS/LSPO applications also in relation to delay in bringing financial applications.

Nicolaisen v Nicolaisen [2023] 1 FLR 1163. A High Court jurisdiction trial heard by Mr Justice Moor, involving concurrent proceedings brought by the parties in England, Norway and Austria. The principal issues were whether (i) W had been habitually resident in England to the requisite standard when she brought her petition, and (ii) in the event that England did have jurisdiction, it was the appropriate forum. The case engaged the Marinos versus Munro debate as to the correct test for habitual residence under EC Regulation 2201/2003 (“Brussels II”) and also the transitional Brexit provisions in relation to jurisdiction. Very possibly the last reported case dealing with jurisdiction under Brussels II.

CG v SG [2023] EWHC 942 (Fam). A High Court financial remedy trial involving a disputed valuation of a financial advisory business. The judgment in particular addresses issues of valuation where is it asserted that a business is a “singleton” business reliant upon the relevant party’s future involvement in it. It also addresses the correct approach to costs where the court has preferred the evidence of one party’s expert over that of the other.

BC v BG (Financial Remedies) [2019] 2 FLR 337. A case in the High Court addressing the procedure and principles to be applied when challenging an arbitral award in Family Proceedings, in particular the extent to which any challenge was governed by the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996.

Solovyev v Solovyeva  [2014] EWFC 1546. A case concerning the validity of a Russian divorce obtained by the parties through the Consulate of the Russian Federation in London.

O’Farrell v O’Farrell [2013] 1 FLR 77. A case of significant legal complexity involving the enforcement of German maintenance orders in the Queens Bench Division, third party debt orders against the Crown and the use of ex parte freezing injunctions.

A v A (Reporting Restriction) [2013] 2 FLR 947. A case involving an application by a leading national newspaper to publish the details of financial remedy proceedings in the media. This involved consideration of the principles of open justice, confidentiality, the implied undertaking in relation to information produced under compulsion and the parties’ rights under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950.

Publications:

Bankruptcy and Family Law proceedings (Practical Law Company, 3 January 2013). A practice guide dealing with conflicts of interest arising between the trustee in bankruptcy and the rights of the family under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Family Law Act 1996 and the European Convention on Human Rights

Co-author of the forthcoming edition of Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters in relation to freezing injunctions and other injunctive measures in financial remedy proceedings.

Called to the Bar 2003, Inner Temple; tenancy at 1 Hare Court 2005.

French, Spanish.

FLBA.

University of Bristol (2001 modern languages First Class Hons); City University (2002 ); Inns of Court School of Law (2003).

Christian enjoys spending weekends in Devon and holidays in France and Austria. He enjoys captaining the chambers cricket team.

Travel, sports, painting.