Catherine Cowton

Katie was appointed Queen’s Counsel in March 2019. She had been rated as a leading junior for matrimonial finance by Legal 500 for many years, and was shortlisted as Legal 500 Family Junior Barrister of the Year in 2017. She sits as a family Judge (Recorder), and is a family Arbitrator. Katie is instructed to appear in complex international cases, involving trusts and tax issues, predominantly in the High Court and Central Family Court. A tough negotiator and tenacious advocate, she quickly wins the confidence of her clients. Much of Katie’s practice takes place away from the public eye, resolving complicated, often high-profile cases at private FDRs. Her work includes financial applications on divorce and civil partnership dissolution, Schedule 1 financial applications for children, and representing trustees in financial cases. She drafts pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.

Katie has been involved in numerous significant reported cases including: Martin v Martin [2018] EWCA Civ 2866 (valuation of private companies; approach to non-marital wealth); WM v HM [2017] EWFC 25 (linear approach to business valuation); Zimina v Zimin [2017] EWCA Civ 1429 (successful appeal against Part III MFPA order); Z v Z [2016] EWHC 911 & 1720 (Fam) (Part III MFPA application); WG v HG [2016] EWHC 3279 (Fam) (pre-marital business); WW v HW [2015] EWHC 1844 (Fam) (pre-nuptial agreement)

Katie lectures on a range of topics including Pre-Nuptial Agreements, Financial Claims after Overseas Divorces, Brexit and Jurisdiction Issues, Enforcement and Spousal Maintenance.

Magdalene College, Cambridge (MA Hons Law); Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple.