8 November 2012
Is it two nil to the non discloser?
The recent Court of Appeal decision of Petrodel Resources Limited v Prest [2012] has (once again) caused a ripple of shock amongst family lawyers, and it highlights the conflict between the differing approach of Judges in the Family Division and those in the Chancery Division. The Court of Appeal, by a majority of 2 to 1, overturned an Order for the transfer to the wife of various properties owned by corporate entities which were owned and controlled by the husband.
1 November 2012
A disastrous financial settlement for the husband leads to a windfall for the wife
Christos Malialis and Elizabeth Malialis, both 59, were married for 34 years and have 2 grown up children. As a fully contributing husband and father in a long, financially comfortable marriage, Mr Malialis can be forgiven for expecting that the division of assets would be deliberated with an intention that both parties’ reasonable needs were met.
26 October 2012
Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher – is a ‘private’ divorce possible?
Various press reports this week, both in England and in the US, suggest that Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher have been unable to finalise their divorce due to their inability to reach a financial settlement and the prospect of an “ugly” court battle has been raised. This blog explores the alternative routes to highly public divorces in the UK.
19 October 2012
A divorce worthy of Downton
The recent High Court case of Y v Y has all the hallmarks of a certain popular period drama: inherited wealth built up over generations, landed gentry forced to downsize and the pitfalls of managing a large country estate.
15 October 2012
Are both dual role super mothers and committed fathers short changed by our current social policies and divorce laws?
Over the last 20 years, we have seen a greater tendency for women to enter into the higher occupational sphere and according to recent reports, many of these women feel that our current divorce laws, whilst evolving, do not reflect the fact that they are both homemaker and breadwinner while their spouses do not have to worry about household management as well as their careers.