THE SPEAR’S 500 Legal


Thomas Brownrigg Goodman Ray


FOCUS Family law, mediation


Kate Brett Hughes Fowler Carruthers


Carolyn Bottomley Keystone Law


FOCUSHigh-value, complex financial disputes


Carolyn.Bottomley@keystonelaw.co.uk, +44 (0)20 3319 3700 keystonelaw.co.uk


A partner in Keystone Law’s family team, Carolyn Bottomley tells Spear’s she strives to achieve the most advantageous results for her clients without creating unnecessary friction between the parties. ‘I guide my clients as to which battles are worth engaging, avoiding those that only serve to increase costs,’ she says. She adds that she finds ‘advocating for clients and observing their own personal development throughout a matter’ incredibly rewarding: ‘For me, empowering each client can be as important as the outcome of each case. I aim to make family transitions as smooth as possible for the client, and in the process, I ensure that they have the confidence to walk happily into their new lives.’


Adviser profile Joining Keystone was a defining moment that has allowed her to focus on cases she feels passionate about. ‘The last year has brought yet more varied cases, particularly with an international element,’ she says. Alleviating clients of the turmoil resulting from a relationship


breakdown is her primary goal. When clients come to her, they’re often in distress, and it is a priority to ‘achieve the best possible outcome as quickly and painlessly as possible’. ‘The first thing I tell them is to hand all that stress over to me, to


focus on themselves and their children, and that I will take care of everything else,’ she says. She then enquires as to the client’s priorities and formulates a bespoke strategy to get them through this challenging period. Whether it is negotiating a delicate prenup, dealing with an acrimonious divorce case or standing up for an alienated parent, she employs a creative approach that she tailors to the individual client. Bottomley is also a master of discretion, amicability and keeping things low-key. The work she does for high-profile clients means that she must be discreet to protect their public reputation. Yet she is also mindful that, where children are involved, clients are likely to have ongoing relationships with their ex-partners long after the lawyers have closed their files, and for this reason, she ‘always strives to reduce tension and not further inflame matters when dealing with the other side’, irrespective of the emotional intensity of the situation at the time. She is also enthusiastic about reducing gender inequality in family proceedings. Despite legislation in the UK being gender-neutral, gender stereotypes based on a client’s identity sometimes shine through, and this needs to be dismantled. ‘I am always advocating for my client to receive the most advantageous outcome, regardless of their gender,’ she says.


FOCUS Children’s matters k.brett@hfclaw.com +44 (0)20 7421 8383 hfclaw.com


Kate Brett joined Hughes Fowler Carruthers in 2009. Before this, she trained at Anthony Gold where she gained experience in family law, civil litigation and residential and commercial property. Brett now acts for international high-net-worth and high-profile individuals in financial and children matters. Her cases are often high-value financially, and have a complex element such as multiple jurisdictions, relocation from a jurisdiction, or the involvement of substance abuse. On her promotion to partner in


2019, James Roberts QC described Brett as ‘a real star’ and praised her ‘detailed and strategic approach to cases, together with a tenacity driven by her determination to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients’.


Adviser profile Brett specialises in all aspects of family law and in particular acting for international high-net-worth and high-profile individuals in financial and children’s matters. An ‘extremely diligent solicitor’


who leaves no stone unturned when fighting every element of her clients’ cases, Brett has extensive experience in a wide range of cases including a number of reported cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Her practice includes high-value financial cases involving complex trust structures and offshore assets. She continues to expand her practice in complex Children Act and Family Law Act cases and has particular expertise in cases involving substance misuse and drug testing.


Tom Brownrigg has built a practice popular with clients from Spain, Mexico and South America, helping them deal with the often opaque elements of international family law. ‘I focus on resolving cases amicably, be that negotiating with the solicitor directly, having round-table meetings, or using other methods of dispute resolution such as mediation or collaborative law,’ he says. Legal mediation is a speciality. Brownrigg sits on the Goodman Ray mediation team, aiming to bring resolution to even the most challenging cases. Hand-holding and empathy are important, says Brownrigg. This helps to let clients know that their lawyer is on their side, but also helps him keep sight of their goals, and to define a path to success.


Simon Bruce Farrer & Co


FOCUS Family law, children law


Simon Bruce summarises his approach as guided by pragmatism, empathy and a dedication to getting results. His aim, he says, is to reach a settlement in the quickest and most efficient way, thus avoiding unnecessary costs. As senior counsel, he has been


involved in several cases in the Supreme Court. These include the landmark children and abduction cases Re A (Children) (AP), Re B (A child) and Radmacher. The latter was particularly significant in establishing the importance of autonomy and premarital contracts in family law. Bruce is a fluent French speaker and a previous President of the Family Law Commission of the Union Internationale des Avocats.


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