Ben Parry-Smith

Ben does family law because he cares about fairness, families and the children affected by relationship breakdown. He also enjoys the intellectual challenges: whether tackling trusts, difficult valuation issues or complex medical evidence. Oxford educated, Mishcon trained and Shackleton honed; Ben advises on all aspects of family law as calmly, clearly and cheerfully as possible: children, divorce/civil partnership, co-habitation, pre/post nuptial agreements, complex financial disputes and jurisdictional issues. Much of his work has an international element. Ben is described as “sharp and thoughtful, with an inventive mind which looks for and finds creative but positive solutions to the cases that he is involved in.”

He has dealt with abductions, the relocation of children and on matters involving same-sex parents. Ben has experience of dealing with cases where decision-making capacity is an issue and often acts in cases involving trusts (for beneficiaries, claimants or the trustees themselves).

Doing his own advocacy for a change, Ben recently obtained a transparency (reporting restriction order) in the High Court.

Ben has progressed the law on set aside cases with a judgment confirming that a fraudulent husband could not evade the consequences of his own dishonesty by pointing to the wife’s alleged delay in bringing her claim.

Ben has worked on the leading case involving “special contribution”, as part of the team representing HRH Princess Haya and recently on a case where his client received far more than half the substantial marital pot to meet her needs. He has a broad practice and experience at all court levels. He is one of a handful of lawyers doing heavy weight financial and complex children work. He has considerable experience addressing domestic abuse of all types and in obtaining injunctions. Ben is familiar with Sharia family law concepts. Over the years, he has acted for all sorts of people in all sorts of predicaments from all over the world.

Ben read law at Merton College, Oxford. He trained at Mishcon de Reya and joined Payne Hicks Beach on qualification in 2008. He became a partner in 2018.

Between 2009 and 2013 Ben delivered a legal aid and legal skills training project at the National University of Rwanda. Ben has recently led a cross-profession and multidisciplinary initiative to assist vulnerable clients and those working with them.

Ben contributed significantly to The Vulnerable Clients Guide for Legal Professionals, which provides guidance for family law practitioners on how to identify and support those involved in relationship breakdown who are struggling with their mental health.

Ben is listed in all the major directories including Chambers High Net Worth, Chambers UK, The Legal 500 UK, The Spear’s 500 and the Spear’s Family Lawyers Index. He is regarded as “razor sharp”, having “seen it all” and “someone you most definitely want on your side.”