Family/Matrimonial | UK Bar

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 has a very good team of formidable advocates." Another adds: "It is an excellent set of barristers who would be my first point of call for any hearing but especially the complex ones."

Simon Boutwood is the chambers director.

1 Crown Office Row's Brighton chambers boast solid expertise in a broad array of family law matters. The set's barristers specialise in public and private children law matters, including care proceedings and parental alienation issues, as well as matrimonial finance cases. Barristers at the set are regularly instructed by vulnerable clients, such as abuse victims and people with learning and other difficulties. A source comments: "The set has such a strong team that there is always a suitably qualified barrister (usually multiple) to instruct".

The practice director is David Bingham.

42BR Barristers is a well-established set with a range of barristers able to handle complex matrimonial finance and children law matters. Members have extensive experience in finance-related issues, including those arising from the breakdown of civil partnerships, divorces with international elements, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and cases involving company assets, pensions and trusts. In addition to this, the set can offer clients members with significant expertise in public and private children law, including care proceedings, adoptions, abductions and radicalisation. An interviewee comments: "My experience of working with barristers at 42BR Barristers is that they are able to handle complex and sophisticated matters extremely well."

Steve Sheridan is the set's director of clerking.