Gareth Jacques

Matrimonial Finance

Gareth regularly represents both husbands and wives following the breakdown of their marriage and the subsequent financial remedy proceedings before the courts. Gareth specialises in every aspect of family finance including (but not limited to):

• Applications under Schedule I of the Children Act 1989;
• Freezing injunctions and applications under s.37 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973;
• Applications involving Trusts and Intervenors;
• Applications for enforcement of orders;
• Applications to vary / suspend / terminate or capitalise maintenance;
• Civil Partnerships;
• Appeals;
• Cases involving high net worth individuals;
• Cases involving inherited or pre / post acquired assets;
• Cases involving businesses and trusts;
• Cases with an agricultural element;
• Conducting and representing clients at Private FDR’s and Arbitrations;
• Applications under TOLATA with respect of cohabiting couples.

Gareth is able to provide expert advice in conference before proceedings have been issued to advise the client as to a realistic settlement, in the hope of avoiding litigation.

Gareth regularly appears both in person and remotely before courts across the East Midlands, Yorkshire and East Anglia (and before High Court Judges of the Financial Remedies Court).

Gareth is known for the clarity of his advice and the sensible, client-focused way in which he approaches financial remedy cases and has been consistently ranked as a leading practitioner in the field by the Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 directories.

Cases with an Agricultural Element

Living in rural Lincolnshire and being a member of the local farming community, Gareth has a particular interest and expertise in advising and representing clients in financial remedy cases that have an agricultural element to them, be it property, land or livestock.

Gareth’s expertise in such cases has been recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Guide to the Bar and Gareth’s reputation across the East Midlands in relation to such cases is formidable.

In this niche practice, Gareth frequently represents both farmers and their ex-spouses in the most difficult and complex divorce case across the country.

Prenuptial / Cohabitation Agreements

Gareth advises on and drafts prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements for people who wish to settle their financial matters in advance of any marriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.

He has given seminars to local solicitors on this evolving area of law and regularly provides clear written advice to clients on their proposed agreements.

Unmarried Couples

Gareth is skilled at representing unmarried couples that have separated and need to resolve their finances following the breakdown of their relationship under TOLATA proceedings. This area of law is complex, and Gareth’s analytical skills and knowledge of the procedure and law have helped guide many clients and solicitors through TOLATA proceedings.

Committal Applications

Gareth is skilled at the bringing and defending of committal applications financial remedy proceedings. Recent cases have seen Gareth secure the committal to prison of parties for breaching undertakings and failure to disclose assets in financial remedy proceedings.

Committal applications require a close attention to detail given the prescriptive nature of the rules that govern this particular area. Gareth is able to advise on and draft such documents that are required to have an effective committal or defence

Private FDR

Gareth was a founding member of our Dispute Resolution service and regularly sits as an independent evaluator at Private FDR’s, giving thorough and thoughtful indications to individuals using the service.

Gareth has represented numerous clients at Private FDR’s and is known as one of the leading individuals in this field in the East Midlands.

Fee to act as Private FDR Evaluator - £2,500 plus VAT

Arbitration

Gareth is a qualified arbitrator under the IFLA Financial Scheme. Under the scheme, Gareth can arbitrate financial remedy, TOLATA and Schedule 1 disputes allowing parties an alternative to having their dispute determined by the court for a fixed fee.

Fees to act as Arbitrator:

Preliminary hearing - £750 to £1,500 plus VAT

Arbitration hearing, up to one day, with one A4 bundle of papers not exceeding 350 pages, to include the hearing of evidence, submissions and the writing of the award - £3,000 + VAT 

For each additional day required for the arbitration beyond one day - £1,500 + VAT 

For each additional A4 bundle of papers (maximum 350 pages per bundle) - £500 + VAT