England - London • Private client

Hughes Fowler Carruthers

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Family law boutique Hughes Fowler Carruthers is well-versed in the full gamut of high-value matters, with expertise representing high-net-worth individuals in complex divorce, cohabitation, and child wellbeing related cases. Frances Hughes - 'the go-to solicitor for complex financial disputes' - leads the team, specialising in divorce and complex children’s cases, often with an international element, whilst simultaneously sitting as a senior mediator. Along with Hughes, the other two founding partners of the firm Pauline Fowler and 'tenacious negotiator' Alex Carruthers are key to the practice, with expertise in international adoption and surrogacy, and trusts-related work respectively. The 'exceptional' Renato Labi‘s practice extends to intricate financial disputes within divorce proceedings and post-cohabitation disputes, along with highly complex private law children cases. Caroline Park and Kate Brett are both integral to the practice, with experience in drafting and negotiating pre- and post- nuptial agreements, and complex cases including cross-jurisdictional children matters. Also of note is Mark Harper, who is widely lauded for his divorce and trust litigation expertise.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Hughes Fowler Carruthers have an exceptionally strong team.’
  • ‘Frances Hughes is the go-to solicitor for complex financial disputes. She knows how to win.’
  • ‘Renato Labi is an exceptional lawyer - always two steps ahead of his opponent.’
  • ‘Bryan Jones is a masterful tactician.’
  • ‘Alex Carruthers is a tenacious negotiator who has unrivalled experience of dealing with difficult offshore cases.’
  • ‘Hughes Fowler Carruthers is an excellent firm and indeed has many more excellent solicitors then almost anyone practising in this area. I can particularly recommend Frances Hughes, Pauline Fowler, Alex Carruthers, Mark Harper, Caroline Park, Renato Labi, Liam Bennett, Kate Brett, Bryan Jones and Rachael Burton.’
  • ‘Frances Hughes is probably the pre-eminent practitioner in this area.’
  • ‘If I had to recommend a solicitor to act for a trust who had been brought into family proceedings I would name Mark Harper of Hughes Fowler Carruthers as a go-to solicitor.’

Work highlights

  • Acting in Potanin v Potanina, an international divorce with extremely high financial stakes (USD 20 billion), which has garnered significant media attention due to the oligarch status of the husband.
  • Acting in a reported case for leave to remove concerning the UK-based children a mother from a leading Brazilian entrepreneurial family and a French father, with many highly sensitive and complex issues.
  • Enforcing an award made in the High Court against a husband who has left the jurisdiction to Morocco and France – a very complex, multijurisdictional and high value matter (USD 20 million), with extensive cross-border elements.

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.

Alex Carruthers

Alex Carruthers

Hall of fameHughes Fowler Carruthers

Partner dealing with matrimonial finance and children’s work. Most of his work is complex, involving jurisdictional questions and/or high-net-worth individuals. Regular speaker on issues concerning divorce , most particularly those involving trusts and complex financial structures.

Pauline Fowler

Pauline Fowler

Hall of fameHughes Fowler Carruthers

Partner in top ranked niche family law practice; work includes complex financial matters with an international dimension; private children’s law including international adoption; pre- and post-nuptial contracts; cohabitation; mediation, particularly in complex financial cases.

Frances Hughes

Frances Hughes

Hall of fameHughes Fowler Carruthers

Chair of board of family law niche practice and leading figure in family law for many years specialising in complex financial cases, including those with substantial business assets and partnerships; trusts and tax problem cases involving foreign jurisdictions; cohabitation cases; prenuptial agreements and also private children’s residence and other children’s matters including child abduction.

Leading individuals

Mark Harper

Mark Harper

Hughes Fowler Carruthers

Partner specialising in family law matters including financial matters with an international element involving trusts pre-nuptial agreements. Acted for John Charman in the leading case on the treatment of trusts in divorce. Also acted for Stuart Crossley in a leading case on pre-nuptial agreements.

Caroline Park

Caroline Park

Hughes Fowler Carruthers

Partner dealing with matrimonial finance including complex and high net worth cases, pre and postnuptial agreements, cohabitation cases and private law children work.

Next Generation Partners

Kate Brett

Kate Brett

Hughes Fowler Carruthers

Partner specialising in high net worth and complex matrimonial finance work, including pre and post-nuptial agreements. Cases involving foreign jurisdictions and complex private law children and Family Law Act work.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Frances Hughes

Other key lawyers

Alex Carruthers, Pauline Fowler, Mark Harper, Renato Labi, Caroline Park, Kate Brett