JUNIOR PROFILE
Penny Clapham

Penny Clapham

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by 1GC|Family Law

Practice Areas

Penny specialises in family finance matters, both as an advocate and as a qualified Arbitrator.

She regularly accepts instructions on a wide array of financial disputes. She acts in cases between both between married and unmarried couples, in an international context including under Part III of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, and in respect of children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Penny is equally comfortable representing vulnerable clients in which there is a concurrent Court of Protection issue.

Penny’s international practice extends outside this jurisdiction and she has advised and represented clients in Jersey, where she maintains a particular interest.

Many of Penny’s cases involve high net worth claims or celebrity clients where both skill and discretion are required. Her work regularly involves complex business structures, trusts, farming disputes, offshore assets and international property. She appears at all Court levels and against opponents often many years her senior (including KC’s), both with and without a leader.

Career

Qualified Arbitrator (Family Financial Scheme) - 2021

MA (Hons) Jurisprudence, Oxford University; BVC Inns of Court School of Law;

Inner Temple prize winner: Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, Streuben Prize, Exhibition

Professional Memberships

MCIArb

FLBA

Publications

Guide to the 2007 Hague Maintenance Convention (Thomson Reuters- Practical Family Law) - of renewed importance to international child maintenance disputes following Brexit.

Co-author of ‘A Guide to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989’ and "DIY Divorce & Separation: The Expert Guide to Representing Yourself"

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Family: Matrimonial Finance - London (Bar)

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Penelope Clapham has a mixed practice and handles both high-value matrimonial finance and sensitive children matters, tackling work which often features a strong international element. She is also experienced at handling TOLATA disputes and cases involving medical concerns.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Penny Clapham is extremely assertive and fearless as an advocate. She's very persuasive and robust in her advocacy, but also extremely friendly and approachable to clients.

    Family: Matrimonial FinanceUK Bar
  • Penny is a robust advocate who earns the respect of clients and opponents due to her no-nonsense style.

    Family: Matrimonial FinanceUK Bar
  • Penny provides a very high level of client service and is always well organised and on top of practice and procedure.

    Family: Matrimonial FinanceUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 1GC|Family Law (59)

All Circuits

  • Profile image of Andrew Bagchi KC
    Andrew Bagchi KC

    Court of Protection: Health & Welfare

    View profile
  • Profile image of Malcolm Chisholm
    Malcolm Chisholm

    Court of Protection: Health & Welfare

    View profile
  • Profile image of Janet Bazley KC
    Janet Bazley KC

    Family/Matrimonial: Non-Court Dispute Resolution

    View profile
  • Profile image of Claire Heppenstall
    Claire Heppenstall

    Family/Matrimonial: Non-Court Dispute Resolution

    View profile
  • Profile image of David Burles
    David Burles

    Family/Matrimonial: Non-Court Dispute Resolution

    View profile

London (Bar)

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