Barrister specialising in matrimonial finance, professional negligence, inheritance claims, trusts, and matrimonial civil work; cases include: H-J v H-J (financial provision: equality) [2002] 1 FLR 415; Kimber v Kimber [2000] 1 FLR 383; Miller Smith v Miller Smith [2009] EWCA Civ 1297; W v M (TOLATA proceedings: anonymity) [2012] EWHC 1679 (Fam). Prosecuting counsel for the Bar Standards Board. Patron of National Family Mediation. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Editor-in-chief of Family Affairs (the FLBA newsletter).

John focusses on financial remedy cases and cohabitation and family provision claims.

Prior to joining 1 Hare Court he had a wide-ranging general civil and matrimonial practice encompassing commercial arbitration, personal injury (and in particular traumatic brain injury cases), landlord and tenant, construction law, contentious and non-contentious probate work and professional negligence.

Notable cases:

Birch v Birch [2017] UKSC 53 ; [2017]1 WLR 2959; [2017] 2 FLR 1031 Montalto -v- Popat [2016] EWHC 810 (Ch) W -v- M (TOLATA Proceedings: Anonymity) [2013] 1 FLR 1513 Miller Smith -v- Miller Smith (No 2) [2010] 2 FLR 351 Miller Smith -v- Miller Smith [2010] 1 FLR 1402 H-J v H-J (Financial Provision: Equality) (2002) 1 FLR 415: October 17, 2001 Kimber v Kimber (2000) 1 FLR 383: January 20, 2000 H v P (Illegitimate Child: Capital Provision) (1993) Fam Law 515: January 28, 1993 Turner v Blunden (1986) 2 FLR 69: November 29, 1985

Publications:

Cohabitation Claims: Law, Practice and Procedure (First edition published in 2009, second edition published in 2015) Contributing Author to Jackson’s Matrimonial Finance, 9th Edition (published in 2012) Contributing Author to Cases that Changed our Lives, Volume 2 (published in 2014) Contributing Author to Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters (18th Edition) Editor in Chief of Family Affairs, the magazine of the Family Law Bar Association At the Dark Hour (a novel).  For more information please click here.

French.

Family Law Bar Association 2010 to 2014 member of the Family Procedure Rules Committee Patron of National Family Mediation Fellow of the Royal College of Arts Member of the Society of Authors Prosecuting Counsel for the Bar Standards Board Editor in Chief of Family Affairs Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers Member of the Chancery Bar Association

1970 to 1973 Ampleforth College, York 1973 to 1976 St John Rigby Sixth Form College, Wigan 1977 to 1980 Pembroke College Cambridge 1980 to 1981 Inns of Court School of Law

ohn comes from Wigan and is accordingly a fervent supporter of Wigan Warriors (Rugby League) and Wigan Athletic. His other interests include literature, the theatre and France.

John’s first novel, At the Dark Hour, was published in 2018.  For more information please click here.