Matrimonial Finance Law & Practice: Shaping New Developments into Solution-Focused Answers for Your Clients

Programme

1. Chair's Introduction

   Matrimonial Finance Law & Practice: Shaping new developments into solution-focused answers for your clients

   Chaired by Grant Lazarus of 7 Harrington Street

   Grant is an "exceptional advocate, legal brain and public speaker”. "He is clear, concise, helpful and efficient”. He wrote the paper for PAG on professional negligence risks arising from Pension Sharing or Offsetting and is a member of the Legal Working Group of PAG2.

2. Maintenance

   What - right now - are the trends in spousal maintenance decisions and the impact on client advice caused by judicial inconsistency?

   Answered by Justin Warshaw KC

   Justin is "a strategic mastermind, extremely articulate, and a force to be reckoned with." "His real strength is his totally fearless approach to hard-litigated cases."

3. Single joint experts

   What are the golden rules for challenging the findings in a single joint expert's report and so gain an advantage for your clients?

   Answered by Jason Green of Harcourt Chambers

   Jason is "a class act whose his advocacy is pitched perfectly." "He is utterly charming with clients who love him and impressive in the way he handles difficult opponents."

4. Costs

   Under evolving costs rules, how do you pitch open and Without Prejudice offers, postpone offers, and what do you do when the other party is not making an offer?

   Answered by Alexis Campbell KC

   Alexis is "staggeringly good, not only at grasping detail and commercial practicalities of a case but also in presenting them." "She gives you answers rather than opinions."

5. S.37 injunction

   How do you approach - legally and practically - S37 injunctions preventing one party from disposing of assets and the costs implications?

   Answered by Christopher Miller of Fourteen

   Christopher is "incredibly persuasive, distilling complex facts into a compelling narrative, and a master tactician." He is instructed in the most complex financial matters.

6. Schedule 1

   What is realistic and achievable in schedule 1 applications?

   Are they only appropriate for asset/income-rich cases, and how do you gain an edge for your client?

   Answered by Tim Parker KC

   Tim is "technically brilliant with fine attention to detail." "He gets superb results for his clients and is a first-class silk for heavy-weight cases." He is a Family Law Arbitrator.

7. Pensions

   How far can you push "need" in pensions cases, particularly in short to medium-length and childless marriages or where parties are comparatively young?

   Answered by Samantha Hillas KC

   Samantha is "fantastic on her feet, brilliantly clever, charming and one of the best-prepped barristers out there." "She never fails to put her heart and soul into a case."