Alex O’Dwyer Curran

Alex is a legal director in the Family department at Payne Hicks Beach.

Alex is described by the legal directories as “an iron fist in a velvet glove” with an “intelligent, eloquent approach to cases [which] makes the unarguable appear arguable.” Alex is ranked in Chambers High Net Worth 2025, Chambers UK 2025 and The Legal 500 UK 2025. He is named as one of the 2024 eprivateclient NextGen Leaders. Alex is recognised as "a star of the future" and for being "bright, clever, engaged, driven and having a really good feel for cases".

Alex's field of expertise spans the spectrum of private family law matters, although he predominantly specialises in advising on the financial issues arising upon the breakdown of marriage for high and ultra-high net worth individuals and their spouses. He has worked on cases that have been heard in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court and has acted for and against Premier League footballers, musicians, business leaders, the ultra-wealthy and City bankers. The work that Alex undertakes will often feature international individuals or assets, with complex asset structures involving trusts, businesses and nuptial agreements, the drafting of which, he regularly deals with. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with applications for emergency injunctive relief to preserve assets or to rectify wrongful interference with them. Alex is also accustomed to advising and representing clients in proceedings concerning financial provision for the children of unmarried parents.

Alex’s children law experience has seen him act on cases involving applications for leave to remove to the United States and working on cases involving risks of international child abduction and securing appropriate safeguards (including the biggest financial bond ever reported to permit international travel) in Switzerland, Monaco, France, Dubai and India. He has successfully pursued and obtained findings in proceedings involving the falsification of physical and sexual abuse allegations, coaching and parental alienation.

Alex is able to bring a wealth of experience to his clients to assist them in identifying their aims and objectives and devising a clear and strategic path to obtain them by providing pragmatic and coherent advice. He is adept at working with conciliatory and constructive methods of dispute resolution just as much as he is litigating proceedings when required.

Qualified 2015, joined Payne Hicks Beach 2021.

Industry and national publications.

AS v RS [2024] EWFC 32 (B)

AS v RS [2023] EWFC 284 (B)

AS v RS (Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act: Part III Application) [2023] EWFC 283 (B)

LKM v NPM [2022] EWHC 140 (Fam)

AB v CD [2021] EWFC 38

AB v CD and C (no2) [2019] EWHC 2244 (Fam)

AB v CD and C [2019] EWHC 1695 (Fam)

Alex studied Law with French at university, and spent a year studying in Political Science and International Relations in Aix-en-Provence.