Doyle’s Guide 2026 Listings
We are delighted to have 14 members of our family team listed in Doyle's Guide 2026. The listings detail counsel practising in the Manchester...
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“Charles is both an excellent advocate and negotiator. He is super user-friendly and fantastic at putting clients at ease. He is great at dealing with very complex cases, particularly those with business assets. His very full diary is a testament to his skills and popularity.”
Legal 500, 2027
Strengths: “Charles is exceptionally thorough, knowledgeable and client-focused.”
“Charles’ expertise and advocacy skills are impressive. He has a wonderful client manner and his attention to detail in the case is second to none.”
“Charles is a star in the field. He is great with clients and in the courtroom alike.”
Chambers UK Bar, 2027 (Family: Matrimonial Finance)
Financial remedy specialist well known for his attention to detail and firm approach on his clients’ behalf. He represents high net worth clients in private FDR proceedings, often concerning shared trust and company assets, as well as inherited wealth. He acts for parties on both sides of the docket in Children Act claims.
Charles read Law at Christ Church, Oxford, and was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1988.
Family finance
Charles practises exclusively in financial areas within family law.
Particular interest:
- Primarily in Matrimonial Finance, with work also undertaken in Schedule 1 and Inheritance Act claims.
- Matrimonial cases typically involving high assets, business related issues including company valuation and liquidity, and also trusts, pensions and third party claims/interests.
- Schedule 1 CA 1989 claims both for and against high net worth individuals.
- Cohabitation and Inheritance Act Claims.
Cases
Walkden v Walkden [2010] 1 FLR 174: Appeal – Financial relief – Consent order – Leave to appeal based on new event – Whether sale of shares at higher value a Barder event.
Topping v Topping [2008] EWCA Civ 1142: Appeal against Committal Order for non-payment of lump sum under terms of consent order. Evidential status of the original Financial Order having been made by consent.
Private FDR
Charles has more than 30 years’ experience at the family bar, focused on financial remedies and matrimonial finance. He is accustomed to chairing Private FDRs and representing high net worth clients in private FDR proceedings, often concerning shared trust and company assets, as well as inherited wealth.
Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
Legal Directory Recommendations
‘Charles is fantastic at dealing with cases where there are complex financial structures. He is a skilled advocate and negotiator.’
‘Charles Eastwood is a ‘go-to senior junior in Manchester for complex financial remedy work’. Legal 500 2026
Strengths: “An absolute class act.” “A superb advocate and a highly experienced barrister.” “A hugely able barrister at the top of his field.” “Charles is THE senior junior in Manchester when it comes to complex financial remedy cases.” “Charles has a fabulous presence and is excellent on his feet.” Chambers UK Bar 2026
Strengths: “Charles Eastwood is a top performer. He always delivers the best possible results and he’s super-friendly and accessible.” “He is a great advocate and negotiator and clients love his user-friendly, pragmatic approach.” “He leaves no stone unturned.” Chambers UK Bar 2025
“Charles is a go-to financial remedy counsel in Manchester. He is extremely knowledgeable, always well prepared, gives the case 110%, his negotiation and advocacy skills are excellent, and clients love him.” Legal 500 2025
Strengths: “Charles Eastwood is fabulous with clients, he is a formidable advocate and he is always impeccably prepared.” “He is very tenacious, extremely well prepared and a very good advocate.” “Charles is the leading junior counsel for family finance work in the North West.” Chambers UK Bar 2024
“Charles has become the leading junior counsel for family finance work in the North West. He is a fierce and tenacious advocate who will push matters as far as he can for clients; he’s a real fighter.” Legal 500 2024
Strengths: “Charles Eastwood is hugely knowledgeable and skilled at dealing with complex issues. He has a great bedside manner, and clients love him.” “Charles is extremely well prepared, fights a tough corner, gives clear succinct advice and is methodical. He is able to distil arguments in a clear and persuasive way.” “Charles is a must go-to junior, leading the field. He has an easy manner with clients and is a tenacious, skilled advocate.” Chambers UK Bar 2023
“Clients love Charles. He gets to the nub of the case very quickly, he is very personable and he makes them feel that he is fighting their corner 100%. He is also a great advocate. He is very knowledgeable regarding company and tax issues and other complex financial arrangements.” Legal 500 2023
Strengths: “His client manner is excellent. The way he conducts himself in court is very polished and the way he conveys himself is very clear.” “He is very tenacious and always phenomenally prepared while providing practical and pragmatic advice.” Chambers UK Bar 2022
“Charles is simply one of the best financial remedy practitioners in the country. His attention to detail, robust advocacy and bedside manner make him my go to counsel. I know that when he is instructed, my client is in the best possible hands.“ Legal 500 2022
Strengths: “He is one of those trusted counsels you know will do the job. He has wonderful manner, fights and gets the results.” “He is well prepared for the case and it is clear he is thorough in familiarising himself with the details of the case.” Chambers UK Bar 2021
“Extremely well prepared and very impressive on his feet in Court. Brilliant tactical mind and very good junior in trust cases.” Legal 500 2021
Strengths: “He is thorough, with excellent attention to detail, and he’s a robust advocate who fights your client’s corner.” “He gives sound advice with excellent commercial understanding.” Chambers UK Bar 2020
“A great choice for more vulnerable clients.” Legal 500 2020
“Fastidious in his preparation and a formidable opponent. Clients love him.” “He always knows his cases down to the finest details and has experience of taking judges through the most complicated of legal arguments.” Chambers & Partners 2019
“An excellent combination of empathy and fighting spirit.” Legal 500 2019
Strengths: “Has an incredible attention to detail, combined with an excellent bedside manner which is reassuring for the most nervous of clients.” “He is dynamic and creative in the solutions he finds for clients.”
Recent work: “Represented a high-profile husband in Moses v Moses, an application for a stay/dismissal of his wife’s English divorce petition in circumstances where he had subsequently petitioned for divorce in Georgia, USA.” Chambers & Partners 2018
“A hardy and extremely bright advocate.” Legal 500 2017
Strengths: “A thorough, good communicator with excellent advocacy skills“. “His knowledge and experience make him suitable for the most complex of cases“. Chambers & Partners 2017
“He has an excellent ability to deal with complex financial structures with ease.” Legal 500 2016
“Significant name in the financial family law market with a notable capability in company and business-related disputes and negotiations, including valuation and liquidity, trusts and pensions. Also highly able in inheritance matters and Schedule 1 Children Act.
Strengths: “He is in his own league in the detailed way he prepares cases, sometimes in a very short period, and you can see how knowledgeable he is. It’s incredible.” “He has an excellent reputation and is very polished.”” Chambers UK 2016
“A relentless advocate who takes no prisoners.” Legal 500 2015
“He has an incredible eye for detail and is a stunning advocate.”
“He has phenomenal attention to detail, which inspires huge confidence from clients.” – Placed in Band 1, Chambers UK 2015
“A leader in financial cases in the region, and particularly commended for his impressive advocacy skills and his sensitive nature with clients.” – Placed in Band 1, Chambers UK, 2014
“He has technical knowledge of the law and complex financial issues” Legal 500 2014
“Noted for his ‘extreme thoroughness and focus’.” Legal 500 2013
“Concentrated on high-value ancillary relief” Chambers UK 2013
“Is extremely tenacious” Legal 500 2012
“a real detail man” Legal 500 2011
“He is a formidable opponent, who is very assured on his feet and very good with clients“. Chambers & Partners 2010
