Welcome Claire Athis Schofield
We are delighted to welcome Claire Athis Schofield to Chambers. Claire specialises in matrimonial finance matters. She is familiar with complex financial remedy applications,...
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Claire specialises in matrimonial finance matters. She is familiar with complex financial remedy applications, including issues around company and pension valuation, farming and property businesses and inherited wealth.
Solicitors appreciate Claire’s hands-on approach and her focus on negotiating the best deal possible for her client at the earliest opportunity, whilst always being prepared to take the matter to Final Hearing if required. She has exceptional financial acumen and attention to detail.
Claire will represent clients within the forum of Alternative Dispute Resolution, such as Round Table Meetings or Private FDRs, giving advice on offers for settlement at each stage. She has experience of dealing with allegations of non-disclosure; non-matrimonial property, personal, financial and litigation misconduct and disputed valuations.
Family finance
Claire now practises exclusively in financial areas within family law, primarily in Financial Remedy applications following divorce.
Claire undertakes preliminary applications within matrimonial finance proceedings, for example, Maintenance Pending Suit (MPS), Legal Services Payment Order (LSPO), Section 37 and Notice to Show Cause.
Claire will act for intervenors within proceedings seeking to protect family assets from a spousal claim. Claire also welcomes instructions on Schedule 1 Children Act and Enforcement applications.
Claire has a busy court-based practice, however, she is also able to provide prompt written advice on all aspects of Financial Remedy law and practice.
Prior to joining Chambers Claire had a professional background in banking and education and she gained a wealth of negotiating experience from six years spent leading the largest professional trade union branch in the North West. As an active trade unionist, Claire had daily involvement in dispute management and resolution, often within long-running, complex situations and this has informed her pragmatic approach to solving her clients’ problems.
Private FDR
Claire is an accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator with ADR Group and will sit as Chair/Judge in ADR/Private FDRs in cases with limited assets in her own right.
Children (Private law)
In Private Children’s Act proceedings, Claire deals with complex parental disputes, often with issues arising from allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation, including where there has been a complete cessation of contact with one parent. Claire has experience of dealing with applications featuring mental health concerns, alcohol and drug misuse, internal and international relocation, education, and vaccination. Confident in handling cases where experts are instructed or the Local Authority involved, Claire’s practical and friendly approach is welcomed by her clients. She is regularly instructed in Finding of Fact and Final Hearings, where her forensic and analytical style of advocacy is appreciated.
Education
Claire studied PPE at Christ Church, Oxford, before achieving a Distinction in her Graduate Diploma of Law. She gained an Outstanding BPTC and was the Top Barrister of her Call at Lincoln’s Inn on 28th July 2016.
