Debbie Chism > Stewarts Law LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Stewarts Law LLP Offices

Stewarts Law LLP
5 NEW STREET SQUARE
LONDON
EC4A 3BF
England
Visit website 020 7822 8000 020 7822 8037

Debbie Chism

Debbie Chism photo
020 7822 8000 dchism@stewartslaw.com

Work Department

Divorce and Family

Position

Partner in the Divorce and Family department.

Debbie’s leading national reputation in family law is built on over 20 years’ experience advising high net worth individuals.

Debbie’s practice encompasses all aspects of family law (complex asset valuation, business interests, trusts and wealth protection structures). She advises regularly on international pre-nuptial agreements.

Debbie is known for her expertise in collaborative law, and she co-founded England’s first multi-disciplinary group of collaborative professionals (Creative Divorce).

Experience

  • IR v OR [2022] – Debbie acted for the wife, achieving an award of over £70m (exceeding the husband’s offer by over £20m). The case dealt with how wealth generated before the marriage and from the sale of a family business should be treated, as well as the enforceability of a pre-nuptial agreement.
  • XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 549; XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 2262, [2020] 4 WLR 22 – Debbie acted for the wife who was awarded one of the highest recorded English divorce settlements by the Court of Appeal. The case dealt with issues of special contribution, privacy and foreign marital contracts. The wife was successful, exceptionally, in her application for the reporting restrictions order granted in the High Court to be maintained in the Court of Appeal.
  • HRH Prince Louis v HRH Princess Tessy [2017]– Debbie acted for HRH Prince Louis of Luxembourg in the successful application for a reporting restrictions order relating to family proceedings.

Career

Debbie graduated from Oxford University (Jurisprudence).

Memberships

  • Resolution
  • International Academy of Family Lawyers
  • International Academy of Collaborative Professionals

Personal

Away from work, Debbie offers her support as Chair of Governors to an independent school for girls.

Leisure

As much reading, travel and theatre as her two children will allow.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Private client > Family

(Leading individuals)

Debbie Chism – Stewarts Law LLP

Stewarts Law LLP ‘floats above the stratosphere of the family law world with the largest collection of the highest altitude talent in the sphere’. The group led by Stephen Foster, who is praised for his ‘stellar client management skills’ and for his ability ‘to think incisively’. The bulk of its cases concern large volumes of money, with a large percentage of them involving assets in excess of £500m. Its reported cases frequently have a widespread impact on family law. Debbie Chism has an excellent matrimonial finance practice, while Emma Hatley specialises in complex family cases for high-net-worth individuals, usually with an international dimension. Richard Hogwood is highly recommended for his work on cases involving intricate trust and tax issues, as well as post and pre-nuptial agreements. Helen Ward is highly recommended, and Toby Atkinson has advised on some of the firm’s most significant international cases, often relating to jurisdictional disputes. It has ‘outstanding talent at all levels’, and other recommended individuals include Matthew Humphries, Carly Kinch, and Lewis Powers. Recent team developments include Lisette Dupré joining the practice from Dawson Cornwell LLP and Voirrey Ward’s recent promotion to the partnership.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

Firm Rankings