header-logo header-logo

High stakes & high hurdles

16 December 2010 / Edward Floyd
Issue: 7446 / Categories: Features , Divorce , Family
printer mail-detail

Edward Floyd highlights the difficulty of revisiting ancillary relief orders

In Gordon (formerly Stefanou) v Stefanou [2010] EWCA Civ 1074 there  was an 18-year marriage without children. By the time of judgment in September 2006, there had been a 10-year period of separation. Mr Justice Singer awarded capital to the wife comprising of the matrimonial home (with equity of c£900,000) and a two-stage lump sum of £1.1m. The husband retained his entire shareholding in his business. The shareholding was likened to “non-matrimonial” property because the growth in the company occurred in the period after separation. Emphasis was also placed on the fact that the husband would retain his risk-laden shareholding while the wife retained the home, being the “tangible” wealth of the family.

The husband’s expert stated in the proceedings that his shareholding had no appreciable value, whereas the wife’s expert valued his interest at £30m. Between the hearing and judgment (a period of four months) the husband achieved a refinancing of the company, which he did not disclose. One year

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Writing in NLJ this week, Thomas Rothwell and Kavish Shah of Falcon Chambers unpack the surprise inclusion of a ban on upwards-only rent reviews in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll