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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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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