I am always bemused when newspapers claim that the start of the New Year is the busiest time of year for divorce lawyers. Sitting at my desk today, utterly exhausted, I would beg to disagree. In last week’s run up to the holidays, a client flew in from the Channel Isles to see me, I was in London then on to Exeter in Devon, I had a 300 mile car journey back to Leeds, then to Hale in Cheshire for an entire day and back to Leeds for a 6.30am start appearing on the radio. Of the other lawyers in the office, Chris McVay was in court in Newcastle, Julian Hawkhead in the High Court in London, Frank Arndt was in court in Leeds, Judith Routledge was in court in York, Stephen Hopwood in court in Harrogate. Everyone I see who is still left in the office, is breathlessly rushing around, and has hardly any time to count down the hours to a well-earned break.

So do I think New Year will bring an immediate divorce for couples whose relationship is going through a bad patch?

I don’t think so.

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The Maynard School was founded 350 years ago by Sir John Maynard, a Cromwellian Roundhead with visionary ambition for the education of girls in Devon.  

The school at Exeter marked its 350-year milestone this week when I was honoured to be asked to present the prizes and address an audience of over 1,000 people, including the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Exeter, the Governors, parents and girls at their annual Prize Giving.

The event at the Great Hall of Exeter University was a magnificent start to Maynard’s year of celebration. The inspirational Head, Dr Daphne West, plays a key role in the school’s impressive achievements. The Governors are clearly very supportive and Dr West’s excellent teachers motivate the girls to aspire to the highest standards academically - as well as in charitable activities, sports and music and the arts. I was very impressed on meeting them and particularly struck by their concert, which followed the Prize Giving.

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“The Courts have been waiting eagerly for a pre-nup test case like this…”

Pamela Harriman the late daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill was as renowned for her political foresight in supporting the then unknown but coincidentally charismatic and good looking Bill Clinton for the US Presidency - as she was for her string of incredibly rich lovers and husbands.  Although she sometimes ended up apparently poverty stricken, she always managed to find someone else to bank-roll her lifestyle.

It may be wrong to place the undeniably stunning Susan Crossley, nee Sangster (racing magnate), nee Lilley (of Lilley and Skinner shoe empire fame) nee Nicholson (Kwik Save co-founder) into the same category. However, this serial divorcee who is seeking a share of her last husband’s reputed £45million fortune despite signing a pre-nup agreement - has just found out to her cost that the Courts are not impressed with this conduct.

We may be witnessing a change in the Court’s approach to wealthy wives who have made little or no financial contribution to a short, childless marriage. I never understood why such women walked away with great riches, and I still maintain that the House of Lords award last year to Melissa Miller - who in her early 30’s reaped a £5million settlement for a two-year marriage to which she had not contributed financially - was wrong and excessive.

I hear ‘on the lawyer’s grapevine’ that the Courts have been waiting eagerly for a pre-nup test case like this - and voilà! ­ Continue reading »

“If soldiers could declare a truce at Christmas, why can’t warring parents? Even in the midst of war, there can be peace.”

At the darkest time of the year, for people of many faiths, a light comes shining through the darkness. December is one of the most beautiful months: we place lights in our homes, in gardens, in our parks, to light up our streets, and on beautifully decorated Xmas trees to celebrate festivals that give us hope and faith for the year to come.

My own family celebrates Chanukah, the ‘Festival of Light’, with children lighting different-coloured candles every night for a week. They sing festive songs, eat doughnuts and tear their presents open with sticky fingers.

When our son was still a toddler, we took him to Disneyland for Xmas. On Xmas Eve we stood in a long winding queue round an enormous, beautifully lit Xmas tree, waiting to meet Santa. We could hear his booming American voice wishing each spellbound child in turn, “Merry Christmas little one!”

Finally it was our son’s turn, and he toddled into Santa’s Grotto. Santa looked at our awestruck little boy, staring open-mouthed with wonder at Santa’s red outfit and luxuriant grey beard.

“Happy Chanukah little one” said Santa out of the blue. I laughed and said, “How do you know?” He winked and replied, “Father Chanukah knows everything”.

Knowing that light in the darkness brings hope to everyone in the world, I feel so sorry for families experiencing breakdown. For them, this year’s festivities will not be as they were. As Xmas approaches, I have been listening to parents expressing concern, pain and anger that domestic turmoil will ruin their children’s Xmas. For children, Xmas should be full of light, hope and love - and nothing less. They shouldn’t have to endure the fall-out from ongoing vitriol, the distress of divorce proceedings and the time it takes to conclude a settlement. At Xmas, when children are away from their parents, or if the holiday period is divided up with disproportionate contact, the parents’ pain is very real.

I believe that with a good deal of effort, it is possible to place emotions on hold at Xmas, if just for a brief period of time. In 1914, English and German soliders fighting in the First World War declared a truce on Christmas Eve. For a few hours, the Great War stopped and the soldiers played football against one another. Even in the midst of war, there can be peace.

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I have been profiled in the latest issue of Yorkshire Today magazine.

You’ve earned the nickname ‘The Barracuda’ but can you explain how this came about and if you think it’s justified?

It was coined by a husband of a client and it made me laugh! I frequently handle cases involving assets of up to £100 million. Is it justified? You’ll have to ask my clients’ former spouses! Barracudas are fearless hunters of the deep, so in some ways I suppose it is rather apt.

The full interview is after the jump.

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