Securing equal division of significant assets
for our client
We were very pleased to act for a wife in securing 50% of the family’s assets after her divorce, with a value of over £140m.
Following a trial in the High Court in March 2023, judgment was handed down in the case of DR v UG [2023] EWFC 68 with the result that the wife was awarded 50% of the parties’ assets amounting to £284million in total. The husband had offered 30% of the assets and argued that there should be a departure from equality on the basis of “special contribution” and “post-separation endeavour” on his part. Mr Justice Moor rejected the arguments and formed the view that the husband did not satisfy the test for special contribution, and nor did the husband’s arguments regarding post-separation endeavour justify any reduction in the wife’s sharing claim.
Family Partner William Longrigg led the Charles Russell Speechlys team on this landmark case.
"Since the case of White v White in 2000, assets created during the course of a marriage are supposed to be divided equally on divorce. But it is so rare in big money cases for there to be an equal division that this really is a landmark case. The wives in cases with significant assets have nearly always received less than 50%, usually because there is an ongoing business or because the husband can establish some ‘post-separation endeavour’ which is supposedly unmatched by the wife’s contribution. The husband in this case put all the familiar arguments to the court but for various reasons they didn’t succeed - and the wife received her 50%."
William Longrigg
Partner
"I am very happy that an equal division of joint matrimonial assets at this level has finally been achieved in court.
"In our case, we made an equal investment with matrimonial assets which were earned during the course of our marriage putting everything we owned at risk including our family home. I gave up my job, career prospects and future earning capacity in order to support my husband and our three children. He travelled extensively and we moved around Europe in the interests of advancing and optimizing his career. Our marriage was a partnership and teamwork.
“Thanks also to my amazing team at Charles Russell Speechlys and the barristers for believing in my case from the beginning and supporting me throughout."
Mrs DR (applicant wife)
Alumni • Legal Notices • Accessibility • Privacy Notice • Fraudulent or 'scam' communication • Complaints Procedure • COVID Secure Certification • Pricing Information
© Charles Russell Speechlys 2024. Solicitors Regulation Authority number 420625.