Clerking team

Paul Laverty
Paul Laverty

Senior Clerk - Family and Court of Protection

Ryan Barker

Assistant Senior and Matrimonial Finance Clerk

Emma Manning

Matrimonial Finance Clerk

“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 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

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.

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