Areas of Practice
Track Record
Acting with Harriet Errington and Katie Male for the wife in the case of KA v MA (prenuptial agreement: needs) [2018] EWHC 499 (Fam), [2018] All ER (D) 92 (Apr) concerning the extent to which a court should uphold the terms of a pre-nuptial agreement which the wife sought to disregard. Taking into account all of the circumstances of the case the court largely overturned the pre-nuptial agreement, on the basis that it failed to meet the wife’s reasonable needs, and provided the wife with an award of £2.73 million, well in excess of the provision in the pre-nuptial agreement
Acting for the HNW fund manager husband in his financial remedy proceedings following his divorce (B v B (2013) EWHC 1232 (Fam)in a two week trial in the High Court, which is now the lead authority on how valuable private equity funds are to be treated in HNW financial remedy proceedings following a divorce
Acting for Mr Don Gallagher, a male civil partner in the case of Lawrence v Gallagher [2012] EWCA Civ 394 which was the first civil partnership financial relief case to reach the High Court and subsequently the Court of Appeal. The case was widely reported in the media, being the first of its kind
Awards & Rankings
Spear’s Family Lawyers Index, Top Recommended , 2019 – 2022
Chambers UK, Ranked Individual, 2017 – 2020, 2022
Legal 500, Leading Individual, 2018, 2020 – 2022
Chambers HNW, Ranked Individual, 2017 – 2022
Tatler HNW Address Book 2020, Specialist in Family Law and Founding Partner
Spear’s Family Lawyers, Distinguished Individual, 2018
Education & Qualification
University of Nottingham
Qualified as a solicitor in 1983
Recommended by James
In Today’s Family Lawyer, Partner, Katie O’Callaghan details how family businesses can weather the emotional and financial storm of divorce proceedings to protect assets and avoid the loss of control in future.
Read more 5 min read 29 Jul 2022 Family Business & Divorce: Understanding the employment considerationsWhen a marriage at the heart of a family-owned business breaks down, the consequences can be far reaching, especially when one or both spouses have been working for the firm. Simon Gorham, Boodle Hatfield partner in the employment team discusses how the long term impact on individuals and business can be minimised.
Read more 6 min read 28 Jul 2022 Why every family business should consider a ‘pre-nup-as-standard’ policyFamily and Divorce Partner, Katie O’Callaghan reflects on why a pre-nuptial agreement is essential for a family-owned business.
Read more 5 min read 28 Jul 2022 Mediation is helpful – but no panaceaIn the Law Society Gazette, Katie O’Callaghan reflects on the benefits of mediation as an alternative form of dispute resolution to address issues relating to arrangements for children and the division of finances on divorce. Katie highlights how mediation provides a forum that allows parties to remain in control of the outcome, reduces acrimony and often improves communication to enable parties to move on in a more civil manner.
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