People

Marie is highly experienced in advising spouses in relation to their financial settlement during the divorce process. She has acted for high net worth individuals, professionals and family business owners. Marie undertakes all aspects of work involved in financial remedy claims such as advising at the outset of claim, maintenance pending suit applications, section 37 applications, through to final hearings. Marie has a particular expertise in third party claims against a divorcing couple involving civil elements such as TOLATA claims and loans.

Marie also undertakes cases pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 for unmarried parents to claim financial provision for their children.

Marie appears in all aspects of private law proceedings including disputes over who children should live with and spend time with. She has considerable experience in cases involving removal from the Jurisdiction and internal relocation. Marie accepts instructions for parents, other family members, and children.

Marie’s financial remedy practice is complemented by work in the civil courts advising and representing cohabiting couples in TOLATA claims. Marie also acts for business associates with TOLATA claims when those business associates decide to part ways. She can also provide advice on equitable accounting in such claims.  Marie has expertise in advising on prospects of success, drafting pleadings and representation throughout the process to trial.

Typical cases include:

• Claims by individuals against former co-habiting partners;
• Claims by individuals against former business partners;
• Advising on the prospects of success of a claim.

Marie has practised in all matters pertaining to the Court of Protection.  Her work covers statutory wills and various other property matters as well as health and welfare claims, including but not limited to challenges against standard authorisations pursuant to section 21A.

Typical cases include:

• Applications to make a statutory will on behalf of an incapacitated individual;
• Applications to the Court of Protection for declarations pertaining to dealings with an individual’s property;
• Applications to the Court of Protection for declarations pertaining to dealings with an individual’s care.

As well as Court of Protection work, Marie is adept at providing advice and advocacy skills in relation to inheritance claims by dependents against a deceased’s estate and claims involving testamentary capacity, want of knowledge and approval, undue influence and fraud.

Marie also advises and represents clients on the rectification of wills and the validity of mutual wills.

Typical cases include:

• Claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975;
• Claims against a deceased’s estate for the deceased’s lack of testamentary capacity upon execution of the will;
• Claims against a deceased’s estate where the deceased was coerced into making and executing a will;
• Applications to court to rectify the deceased’s will where there has been a mistake in the drafting.

Marie is experienced at dealing with fact finds and care proceedings acting for parents, guardians and local authorities in all relevant courts.