Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - South Eastern (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Harcourt Chambers is a standout set with operations in London and Oxford, which has long held sway as the leader on the South Eastern Circuit for an array of family and matrimonial cases. Its pre-eminent members are instructed in all aspects of family law, being able to tackle everything from high net worth financial remedy issues to complex care and adoption proceedings, as well as cases involving serious criminal charges. A source comments: "Harcourt Chambers has strength in the breadth and depth of its barristers from top to bottom." Another adds: "There is a wide and impressive range of practitioners, all of whom demonstrate strong expertise, professionalism, and a consistently high standard of advocacy."

Simon Boutwood is the chambers director.

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Aidan Vine
1
Band 1

Aidan Vine KC is a distinguished advocate who is experienced in matrimonial finance and children cases, including many with international complexities. He has appeared with regularity in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and also lectures and publishes on family law matters. He often handles care proceedings, including those involving abuse and neglect.

Aidan is extremely knowledgeable and effective.

Aidan’s legal knowledge is second to none, as is his understanding of medical issues in non-accidental injury cases, making his cross-examination of experts flawless.

Aidan is the perfect barrister to meticulously prepare a case and explore every nuance.

Aidan has a lovely manner, both his work in court and his written documents are first-rate.

Aidan is invariably totally on top of the brief and is a complete brainbox.

Douglas Allen
1
Douglas Allen
1
Band 1

Douglas Allen is a junior with extensive experience in a broad array of family law matters. He is particularly well regarded for his ability to handle complex divorce proceedings and financial remedy work.

Doug is simply wonderful; he's excellent with clients and is a brilliant advocate.

Douglas is a brilliant advocate who really shows empathy and understanding to his clients.

Doug is a delight. He picks up a case in seconds, offering pragmatic advice with a positivity that instantly sets clients at ease.

Doug is exceptional. He is calm and quiet in his manner, but doesn’t miss anything. You can rely on him to have the facts and law at his fingertips and execute a case with poise.

Fiona Hay
1
Fiona Hay
1
Band 1

Fiona Hay is a senior junior who is esteemed for her expertise in financial relief and particularly sought after for her knowledge of cases involving shareholdings and pensions. She has published a popular handbook on the subject. In addition to appearing as an advocate, she sits as a deputy High Court judge and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Fiona has a way of navigating through the most complex cases with a meticulous approach.

Fiona is brilliant, a pleasure to work with; she is calm and highly skilled both within and outside of the courtroom.

Fiona's experience puts everyone at ease. She is calm and her knowledge is extraordinary.

Fiona is always very well prepared and ready to deal with issues that come up.

Jane Campbell
1
Jane Campbell
1
Band 1

Jane Campbell is widely respected for her expertise in financial remedy and Children Act proceedings. She has also been appointed to sit as a deputy district judge. She attracts a broad range of clients, including high net worth and high-profile individuals. She regularly handles proceedings involving inherited wealth and overseas assets and serious abuse allegations.

Jane is always the go-to when clients need to feel embraced with support and backed by steely advocacy.

Jane has a very calm head in both negotiations and advocacy. She is very good to work with.

Jane provides clear, sensible advice and is a robust advocate.

Jane is charming, articulate and good on her feet.

1
Jonathan Sampson
1
Band 1

Jonathan Sampson KC is a distinguished advocate who maintains a vibrant public and private family law practice, which includes cases relating to children and vulnerable adults – for example, international relocation cases and care proceedings involving domestic and sexual abuse allegations. He undertakes a significant volume of appellate advocacy and has appeared in the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions.

Jonathan's mind is like a Rolls-Royce engine, superbly purring at all times, with extra power available to negotiate even the most arduous of legal terrain.

Jonathan is always exceptional; he is the most erudite advocate, and his written documents are brilliant.

Jonathan is an excellent barrister who has a particular talent for making the most complex of cases seem straightforward.

Jonathan is tactically very astute; he tenaciously pursues his client's case.

2
Emily Rayner
2
Band 2

Emily Rayner has a notable matrimonial finance practice complemented by additional strength in cross-border children matters. Her work includes representing parties in divorce proceedings where multimillion-pound businesses and high-value properties are at stake. In addition, Rayner has in-depth experience of care proceedings and matters involving international elements.

Emily is robust but fair. She is always organised and fully prepared and brings calmness to matters.

Emily is a brilliant and fierce advocate. She is always well prepared and handles each situation as it comes effortlessly.

Emily's advocacy style is measured and to the point; she is also great at dealing with her clients.

Emily is sharp-minded and effortlessly erudite, breezing through advice and advocacy with precision.

2
Louise Potter
2
Band 2

Louise Potter is noted for her ability to resolve high-value financial disputes through both litigation and out-of-court negotiation. She offers particular experience in cases involving pensions and business assets.

Louise is a very good lawyer; she is highly experienced and is great with her clients.

Louise has been one of my favourite barristers to instruct for many years and she consistently gets the results you want while also putting your clients at ease through the process.

Louise is always hard-working and clever; she can adapt well, pivoting when circumstances require.

Suzanne Syme
2
Suzanne Syme
2
Band 2

Suzanne Syme has an impressive practice handling high-value matrimonial finance cases. She has notable experience in financial remedy cases involving pensions, business assets, and trusts. Syme also has significant expertise in cross-jurisdictional matters.

Suzanne is a fierce advocate; she fights for her clients and gives her all.

Suzanne is technically very capable and confident; she scrutinises her case papers and misses nothing.

Suzanne is a great advocate that is great at dealing with the most difficult cases. She is robust when necessary and will put the best case forward for the client.

Suzanne is a great advocate, is on top of her papers and is sensible to deal with.

Suzanne's ability to work collaboratively with opposing counsel outside of court and her fierceness inside court is remarkable.

3
Daniel Sheridan
3
Band 3

Daniel Sheridan is a well-respected junior who often represents local authorities in highly complex child injury matters. He has experience at various levels of court, including the Court of Appeal.

Daniel brings undeniable flair and an expert approach to his matters, with a crucial attention to detail.

Daniel is an able advocate who builds a good rapport with his clients.

Julia Shillingford
3
Julia Shillingford
3
Band 3

Julia Shillingford is an experienced private family law specialist. She represents clients in all areas of matrimonial finance, dissolution and cohabitee disputes, regularly dealing with complex assets, including businesses and pensions, and allegations of conduct and asset dissipation.

Julia is able to advocate fiercely for her clients, while maintaining a compassionate approach.

Julia works tirelessly for her clients and is a force to be reckoned with.

Julia is a tenacious advocate, an expert tactician and is rarely wrong in her analysis.

Ranked Barristers at
Harcourt Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

South Eastern (Bar)

Family: Children

1
Aidan Vine KC
1
Band 1
1
Jonathan Sampson KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

South Eastern (Bar)

Family: Children

2
Emily Rayner
2
Band 2
3
Daniel Sheridan
3
Band 3
Jane Campbell
3
Jane Campbell
3
Band 3
Family: Matrimonial Finance

Douglas Allen
1
Douglas Allen
1
Band 1
Fiona Hay
1
Fiona Hay
1
Band 1
Jane Campbell
1
Jane Campbell
1
Band 1
2
Louise Potter
2
Band 2
Suzanne Syme
2
Suzanne Syme
2
Band 2
3
Emily Rayner
3
Band 3
Julia Shillingford
3
Julia Shillingford
3
Band 3