Region Area

Barristers

Francesca Dowse

Francesca Dowse

4PB, London

Work Department

Financial Remedies; Inquests and Inquiries; International Children Law; Private Children Law; Arbitration; Collaborative Law; Private FDR and Early Neutral Evaluation; Direct Access

Position

Francesca practises exclusively in private family and family related work. Her practice is split between Financial remedies work and private children law children work. She has expertise in dealing with Schedule 1 claims, Inheritance Act (dependents) claims and Inquests/Inquiries. Dealing with both finance and children cases as an advocate allows the client to have continuity across all areas of dispute.

Francesca developed a substantial international practice advising client’s all over the world and is easily able to maintain a highly effective international practice. Francesca is often instructed in international disputes particularly in complex offshore matters involving trusts and partnerships in the context of high net worth divorce and on complex international pre-nuptial agreements. She is also often instructed on complex cases involving the movement of children around the world.

Francesca has a particular interest in all branches of NCDR and using NCDR to reach resolution. Francesca is a dual qualified arbitrator and has experience hearing both finance and children cases together. This provides a highly effective and efficient resolution.

Francesca also accepts Direct Access work, subject to suitability.

In addition to being called to the Bar of England and Wales, Francesca has also been called to the Bar of Cayman Islands. From late 2008 to late 2014 Francesca practised as an Attorney for Samson & McGrath in the Cayman Islands. During this time, Francesca appeared before the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on numerous occasions and was involved in multiple high net worth ‘offshore’ financial remedy cases and international disputes regarding relocation and abduction of children.

Non-court dispute resolution

Francesca is a dual qualified arbitrator and sits regularly in both areas, and occasionally hearing applications together. Francesca also sits as a private FDR judge and undertakes early neutral evaluations.

Family Finance

Francesca is a highly regarded senior junior with a busy finance practice including matrimonial and Schedule 1 claims. Francesca also acts in cases related to family law such as Inheritance Act claims or inquests and inquiries.

Francesca has a broad spectrum of experience in complex financial remedy work with particular interest in businesses, complex company structures, non-disclosure, pensions and conduct.

Francesca is keen to advocate all forms of NCDR and is regularly involved in private FDR’s, arbitrations and sits as a finance arbitrator.

Inquests and Public Enquiries

Francesca has coronial experience appearing in inquests, representing interested persons and especially bereaved families in matters examining the actions or inactions of medical professionals. She has also acted for insurance companies. Francesca has a sensitive yet robust approach.

International Children Law

Francesca represents parents in the UK and abroad in cross-jurisdictional disputes and where applications are made for permission to remove a child from the jurisdiction. Francesca has experience practising internationally from her time working in the Cayman Islands and having then brought her practice to London.

Private Children Law

Francesca practises in all areas of private children work and has a particular interest in relocation case, both internal and international.

Francesca also has expertise in representing clients involved in highly acrimonious and lengthy intractable contact and residence disputes. She is often instructed in cases involving allegations of parental alienation and where expert medical evidence is pertinent.

Francesca also has considerable experience of cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and is well versed in child protection procedure having initially undertaken public law work. Francesca represents clients seeking injunctions and responding to injunctions, and cases that lead to complex fact-finding hearings.

Career

Year of Call: 2004 Called to the Bar of England and Wales 2004 Called to the Bar of the Cayman Islands 2009

Memberships

Family Law Bar Association Free Representation Unit Bar Pro Bono Unit Middle Temple Association of Lawyers of Children Institute of Family Law Arbitrators Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Education

Lancaster University BA (Hons) Manchester University CPE/PGDL 2002 Manchester University BVC 2003 Diploma in Ayurvedic Consultancy 2014 Arbitrator (CIARB) Children 2021 Arbitrator (CIARB) Finance 2022

Leisure

Ayurvedic Consultant, running.

Mentions

London Bar

Family: children and domestic abuse

Leading junior4
Francesca Dowse –4PB ‘Francesca is truly top-notch. Her judgement is always spot on, her ability to grasp the nuances of each case is exceptional, and she provides great client care. Her advocacy is always well-pitched, constructive and robust.’