Introduction
Francesca is joint head of the St Philips Family Finance Team; her practice covers all aspects of matrimonial finance provision, with an emphasis on high value cases, often involving contentious business valuations, complex trust and tax structures and third-party intervention.
Francesca also accepts instructions in relation to financial provision pursuant to Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and the claims of unmarried couples in the context of trusts of land.
Francesca is renowned nationally for her particular and extensive expertise in cases involving farms and landed estates and the connected issues of inherited wealth, family settlements, partnerships and third-party interests. She understands the underlying nuances of this type of case and she brings a skill to this area which is recognised in nationwide instruction.
In court, Francesca has a reputation for being tenacious, fearless, and straightforward. Yet she is also a highly effective, determined negotiator and she is keen to achieve sensible settlement when appropriate.
Family Finance Team
Francesca is consistently ranked at Tier 1 in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. She is described as ‘well-prepared, with sound judgment and a direct approach’.
Francesca takes a pragmatic and constructive approach to her cases and enjoys the negotiation or the contest, whatever is required to ensure the best outcome, structured to meet her client’s needs.
Francesca is instructed in cases of very high value involving complex issues of forensic accounting and tax, trust and corporate structures and jurisdictional issues.
Francesca is also recognised nationally for her expertise in farms and estates work, in relation to which she is tenacious in her pursuit of her case, deploying an effective and detailed understanding of issues in relation to inheritance, land and estate/farm management, partnerships and third party intervention.
Often instructed at an early stage of proceedings, Francesca builds strong professional relationships with her instructing solicitors and her lay clients and is happy to advise at any time in conference, by telephone or in writing.
Education
Appointments and Memberships
Family Law Bar Association
Agricultual Lawyers Association