Short bio:
I am a partner and head up the Family team at Lodders.
My focus is on financial work.
My Supreme Court decision in Mills v Mills helped to shape the law on spousal maintenance, and my reported decisions in the case of Moses Taiga v Taiga (2005) EWCA Civ 1013 continue with Mr Justice Cohen making the latest in several reported decisions – MT v OT (2018) EWHC 868 Fam. This case has covered subjects as diverse as maintenance pending suit to provision under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
I enjoy complicated financial situations where the objective must continue to be to resolve matters swiftly, amicably, and cost-effectively in furtherance of my client’s best interests.
My commitment to Resolution West Midlands affords me an opportunity to continue to promote the development of family law and the training of family professionals in the region.
I was invited to join the PAG2 committee, where I joined a range of experts in the field of Pension Sharing. The group considered the next steps, following the well-received PAG1 report, first published in 2019, which dealt with the treatment of Pensions in Divorce.
I contributed to the PAG2 report, published in November 2023. This continued the earlier work, seeking to educate professional advisors in this complicated aspect of Financial Remedy work. PAG2 covered aspects in further detail, such as capital or income equality, and drafting a sensible letter of instruction.
I am based in Birmingham but my work takes me all over the country.
What I excel in:
- Family Law
- Financial provision on divorce, nullity and judicial separation.
- Financial provision for children pursuant to Schedule 1 Children Act 1989
- Pre and postnuptial agreements
- Advising third parties who may seek to intervene or have been made parties to financial proceedings
- Jurisdictional disputes
Career highlights
- 20 years in representing one of the parties in the case widely reported as MT v OT [2018] EWHC 868 (Fam), including strenuously pursuing maintenance pending suit (in divorce proceedings) and maintenance to include legal fees (in Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 proceedings. Click here to view.
- Representing the husband in the Supreme Court in Mills v Mills. Click here to view.
- Acting for the wife in the reported decision of the Court of Appeal in Aly v Aly [2015] EWCA Civ 947, following which there was some fairly controversial and not entirely accurate press reporting over the wife having secured 100% of the matrimonial assets.
- Recognition within my peer group for my commitment to family law
- Recognition in Chambers UK and Legal 500
Help or advice with family law matters
Reach out to Lodders’ expert and friendly team – contact Beverley Morris directly or use the enquiry form and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
