England - London • Private client
1

Family

Farrer & Co

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At Farrer & Co, William Massey heads an ‘extremely talented team and very much leads by example’. The practice receives many plaudits for its ’almost incomparable experience’ and for its ability to ‘handle the most complex family law disputes with elegance and excellence’. The practice has a superb reputation for its high-value, complex work involving substantial assets, foreign jurisdictions, complicated asset protection structures, and trust and tax issues. Claire Gordon regularly represents entrepreneurs, professionals, individuals with private equity investments, the international elite, and those with very substantial generational wealth. Caroline Holley has a strong reputation for her international practice, while Sarah Hutchinson maintains a busy and varied caseload. Another member of the ’Rolls Royce of family law practices’ is Edward Floyd, who specialises in international high-net-worth work, specifically financial claims involving trusts and claims on overseas divorces. Amy Radnor’s practice encompasses both finances as well as difficult and contentious children cases, especially those with an international or safeguarding element. Flora Harragin, Alexander Woolley, and Frederick Tatham are also key members of the department, and John Davies was recently promoted to the partnership.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Outstanding service all round, could not wish for better or more - truly exceptional. I feel in very safe hands. Sarah Hutchinson is one of the most outstanding professionals I have ever worked with in my life. Incredible technical skills and experience, great judgement and a human touch and empathy that I find unique, and I value very highly. I trust her 100%.'

  • ‘Amy Radnor was exceptionally supportive before and throughout the case, providing sound, constructive and realistic advice, particularly when the case was getting more and more difficult and complicated. She acted with extreme empathy, compassion and integrity, supporting me throughout until reaching a sound solution.'

  • ‘Claire Gordon and Edward Floyd are two of the finest solicitors in London. They have good judgement, dignity, analysis and gravitas.'

  • ‘Caroline Holley is one of the greats of family law. She is an incredible solicitor totally dedicated to her work and clients. She has an enormous intellect and a wonderful client manner. She brings a light touch to her cases which clients love. All her opponents respect her for her judgement and sensibility.'

  • 'John Davies has recently been appointed partner. He deserves it. He is a totally dedicated lawyer. I have been involved with him on a long-running international case and he has coordinated the litigation in multiple jurisdictions. His attention to detail is quite unbelievable.'
  • 'William Massey is one of the best lawyers out there on the senior end. Flora Harrigan is a go-to on cross-border cases, whether with respect to money or children.'
  • 'Farrer's reputation speaks for itself. Their family team represents the very best in the business. What is perhaps more uncommon is for a firm of this pedigree to have such a young partnership team.'
  • 'Alexander Woolley never stops thinking - he is obsessed with every aspect of the case he is working on and, seemingly, loves the law more than most academics. He has an innate sense of fairness and is not afraid to disagree with others, irrespective of their seniority. He is a star in the making.'

Work highlights

  • Represented a client in connection with an application made by his former wife under Part III of the Family and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1984.
  • Acted for a client in relation to a contested divorce (including a forum conveniens dispute) and financial remedy proceedings involving multiple jurisdictions.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
William Massey
Hall of fameFarrer & Co
William Massey is a partner at Farrer & Co and head of the family team. He has specialised in family law since 1991 and has wide experience in money and children cases on relationship breakdown with particular emphasis on complex financial situations. His cases often involve issues covering trusts, companies, tax, pensions and other jurisdictions. His background in commercial law has helped him to build a reputation as a front runner in difficult financial cases.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Claire Gordon
Farrer & Co
Claire enjoys a diverse client base and an extensive caseload involving all aspects of family law for high net worth individuals, covering divorce, financial settlements, private law children matters, enforcement, civil partnership matters and unmarried couples. She also has considerable experience of drafting and advising upon pre and post-nuptial agreements. Her cases regularly include very complex financial, business and international matters, often involving offshore assets and trusts. Claire is a collaborative lawyer and a mediator and regards both practices as valuable alternative means of settling disputes.
Caroline Holley
Farrer & Co
Caroline advises a diverse client base on both contentious and non-contentious matters, with a particular focus on cases involving an international element. Her practice ranges from drafting and negotiating pre-nuptial agreements to advising in complex financial disputes arising out of all aspects of relationship breakdown. She also has considerable experience advising in private law children matters, including in relation to contact disputes, relocation applications and abduction. Her practice involves a significant level of international work and she has particular expertise in complex cross-jurisdictional cases. She speaks French and Italian and frequently uses her language skills and experience to assist clients whose cases involve international elements. She has also spent time on secondment with a top family law firm in Los Angeles, California. Caroline recently advised in the important case of Prest v Petrodel which was heard in the UK Supreme Court. The extremely complex case, the importance of which extends beyond family law and into important aspects or trust and company law, was ultimately decided in her client’s favour.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Flora Harragin
Farrer & Co
Flora works on a broad range of family matters, both contentious and non-contentious, for a wide variety of clients. These matters include divorce, complex financial disputes, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and cohabitation. Flora also deals with issues of child contact, residence and leave to remove children from the jurisdiction permanently. Flora has sat on the YRes committee since October 2012, and was appointed Treasurer in August 2013. Flora is also the Website Coordinator for the Family Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
Amy Radnor
Farrer & Co
Amy joined Farrer & Co in 2018 from a Tier 1 central London family department. Clients seek her advice on the full range of family law matters.Amy has extensive experience advising clients on all aspects of relationship breakdown and wealth protection, including financial claims on divorce, international and jurisdictional issues, and issues relating to children. She has a particular interest and expertise in drafting and negotiating pre- and post-nuptial agreements and in cross-border children work.
Frederick Tatham
Farrer & Co
Freddie works on a broad range of family law matters, both contentious and non-contentious, and often with an international element. These include divorce, complex financial disputes, pre-nuptial agreements and cohabitation. Freddie also deals with issues of child contact and residence. Freddie was part of the team advising in the landmark case of Prest v Petrodel in the UK Supreme Court. It was an extremely complex divorce case, the importance of which extends far beyond family law and into vital aspects of company law. The case was recently selected by the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, as one of the five most significant cases heard since the Supreme Court was established. Freddie recently spent three months on a Family Law secondment in Hong Kong.
John Davies
Farrer & Co
John qualified as a solicitor in 2013 and works on a broad range of family matters, both contentious and non-contentious. This includes divorce, complex financial disputes and children matters. A high proportion of John's caseload involves an international element. John was promoted to Partner in May 2023.
Edward Floyd
Farrer & Co
Edward advises on all family law issues, helping clients resolve the financial issues that arise on separation, arrangements for children and marital and relationship agreements. His cases often involve high-value, multi-jurisdictional assets, including trusts and his clients include high net worth and highly compensated individuals.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

William Massey

Other key lawyers

Claire Gordon, Caroline Holley, Sarah Hutchinson, Edward Floyd, Amy Radnor, Flora Harragin, John Davies, Alexander Woolley, Frederick Tatham, Rebecca Heyworth

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Registered address: 188 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AG