UK Supreme Court divorce case sets precedent for dividing up assets – Emily Brand comments in the Financial Times

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for divorce settlements, the UK Supreme Court has ruled that Anna Standish, the wife of former UBS chief financial officer Clive Standish, is not entitled to half of a £78 million sum he transferred to her during their marriage.

The court found that the wealth was largely generated before the couple married in 2005, therefore should not be treated as marital property to be divided equally.

Clive Standish transferred investments valued at £78 million to his wife in 2017, eight years before the couple initiated divorce proceedings in 2020. A High Court judge had initially awarded Anna Standish £45 million, but this was later reduced to £25 million by the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court has now upheld the reduced award, emphasising the principle that non-marital assets, particularly those acquired before marriage, do not necessarily fall within the pool of property subject to equal division upon divorce.

The decision sets a significant precedent in English family law, reaffirming that the source and timing of wealth accumulation can play a decisive role in determining financial settlements between divorcing spouses.

Emily commented, saying that the decision was “a victory for pragmatism” noting that it offers clearer guidance for couples navigating prenuptial agreements and financial planning, particularly around tax. However, she also pointed out that the judgment stops short of resolving how similar principles should apply in more intricate cases, which will continue to depend heavily on their individual facts.

The full article published by Financial Times in July 2025 can be found here and sits behind a paywall.