Speakers

Conference Chair:

Mr Justice Peel

Mr Justice Peel is a High Court Judge of the Family Division. He practiced general common law for some years before specialising in matrimonial finance. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2010 and has appeared in numerous high value financial remedy cases.

In 2009 Robert was appointed a Recorder on the Midland circuit, undertaking Civil and Family work, and in 2016 he was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge. Robert served a term on the Bar Council and two terms as a designated chairperson of the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service. He is a qualified Family Arbitrator.

Keynote Speaker:

Lord Leggatt

George Andrew Midsomer Leggatt became a Justice of the Supreme Court in April 2020.

He practised as a barrister from Brick Court Chambers until 2012, specialising mainly in commercial cases. He was appointed a QC in 1997. He also sat as a Recorder on the Western Circuit for 10 years.

From 2006-2008 he was Vice-Chair of the Bar Standards Board. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 2012, assigned to the Queen's Bench Division, and was promoted to the Court of Appeal in 2018.

Speakers & Panellists (in order of appearance):

Sassa-Ann Amaouche, 29 Bedford Row Chambers

Sassa’s practice focus is on all aspects of financial remedy proceedings, to include pre-nuptial settlements, Part III and variation applications, and, Schedule 1. She has a particular expertise in cases involving non-disclosure, complex company structures and assets located in multiple jurisdictions. She has appeared in both the Court of Appeal, most recently in Ravendark Holdings Ltd v Rotenberg & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1661 and Des Pallieres v Des Pallieres [2021] EWCA Civ 955, and in the Supreme Court in Mills v Mills [2018] UKSC 38.

Sassa was voted the Chambers & Partners Family Junior of the Year in 2019. Her approach has been described as “robust” and “a fearless advocate” but always underpinned by the willingness to give unwelcome advice to her own clients, Sassa is ranked in Band 1 in the latest addition of Chambers & Partners.

Michael Horton KC, Coram Chambers

Equally at home in the civil and family courts, Michael Horton KC specialises in complex financial remedy cases and in property disputes between unmarried couples and other family members (ie TOLATA disputes), including appellate work and work with an international element. He is known for his accessible, down to earth and robust approach, incisive analysis, and unrivalled legal knowledge.

HHJ Farquhar

His Honour Judge Stuart Farquhar is a Circuit Judge sitting in the Family Court at Brighton. He is the Lead Judge for the Financial Remedies Court for Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Stuart chaired the group considering the issue of remote hearings and improvements in the FRC process in 2021 before chairing the FRC sub-group of the Transparency Implementation Group set up by the President which reported in May 2023.

Stuart was called to the Bar in 1985 and practiced from Nottingham chambers where he specialised in matrimonial finance work. He was appointed a District Judge in 2005, where he sat in Cambridgeshire before moving to his present appointment in 2013.

Alexander Chandler KC MCIArb, 1 King's Bench Walk

Alexander Chandler KC is a barrister specialising in financial remedies and TLATA at 1 King’s Bench Walk in London. He sits as a Recorder, Arbitrator and private FDR judge, posts blogs at familybrief.org, and tweets @familybrief.

President of the Family Division

The Right Honourable Sir Andrew McFarlane. Andrew McFarlane was called to the Bar in 1977 and practiced in chambers in Birmingham until 1993 when he moved to specialist family law chambers in London.

He appeared at all levels of court including the House of Lords and the European Court of Human Rights. He was appointed as a QC in 1998.

In April 2005 he was appointed to the High Court, Family Division and was, for five years, the Family Division Liaison Judge for the Midland Circuit. He was the legal member of the Government ‘Family Justice Review’ Panel.

HHJ Edward Hess

His Honour Judge Edward Hess is a Circuit Judge, Lead Judge for the London FRC, Deputy High Court Judge and Deputy National Lead Judge of the Financial Remedies Court and Co-Chair of the Pensions Advisory Group.

Thomas Haggie, QEB

Tom is a financial remedy specialist barrister at QEB, with experience in trust and company disputes. He is also known for his expertise in financial provision for children, applications under TLATA 1996, and Inheritance Act disputes.

Emma Hatley, Stewarts

Emma has achieved top ranking in the Directories as a ‘Star Individual’ and has a reputation as the best technical lawyer of her generation. In Chambers, Emma is described as a “superb, no-nonsense and efficient" lawyer who "solves cases very quickly."

Deepak Nagpal KC, 1 King's Bench Walk

Deepak is one of the leading matrimonial finance barristers in the country.

Deepak has appeared at all levels in matrimonial finance proceedings, including in the House of Lords and in the Supreme Court. He has acted in some of the biggest and most complicated divorce cases in London. He has appeared in numerous landmark decisions, such as McFarlane; Charman; Crossley; Granatino v Radmacher; Juffali; Gray v Work; Sharp; and Akhter.

Cherie Blair CBE, KC, Omnia Strategy LLP

Cherie Blair CBE, KC is the Founder and Chair of Omnia Strategy where she focuses on international arbitration, strategic international legal and advisory work and practices as a barrister. She is a King’s Counsel and wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. With over 40 years’ experience as a leading barrister specialising in public international law, human rights, employment law, arbitration and mediation, Cherie has represented in excess of 30 governments as well as numerous multinational corporations in international disputes. Through Omnia Strategy, Cherie advises clients on complex issues relating to international dispute resolution, investment treaties, corporate responsibility and business & human rights, and government relations. She also represents clients as counsel in international arbitrations and legal cases.

Mr Justice Moor

Sir Mathew Thorpe

The Rt. Hon. Sir Mathew Thorpe is a former Lord Justice of Appeal (England and Wales), Vice-President of the Family Division and the inaugural Head of International Family Law. He remains the leading expert in the field of the international movement of children.

Lord Wilson of Culworth

Nicholas Allan Roy Wilson, Lord Wilson of Culworth, PC known as Lord Wilson (born 9 May 1945), is a retired British judge. On 26 May 2011, he became a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, having previously served as a Lord Justice of Appeal since 2005.

Mr Justice Mostyn

Mr Justice Mostyn is a High Court Judge of the Family Division. He was previously a barrister specialising in Financial Remedies.

He is an author of Capitalise, Quantum Cloud and AAG Cloud. He is also a co-author of At A Glance and Financial Remedies Practice.

Richard Todd KC, 1 Hare Court

Richard is “Star”-ranked in the Chambers & Partners Guide (for England & Wales, for China Asia-Pacific and for Global). He has been in the Star Category for each of the past 9 years. There are just four Silks in that category. For the Legal 500 he is in the highest category; Tier 1 and has been for each of the last nine years. He is also one of the three top Silks for China Asia-Pacific. He is also Top-Ranked by Doyles’ Australasia Guide. Nobody at the Bar is ranked higher than Richard.