Family.
Family law barrister Rachel Bloxwich joined 3PB in April 2021, having spent nearly 15 years practising as a family solicitor with law firms in the West Midlands. Most recently, Rachel worked for nearly four years with FBC Manby Bowdler as an Associate in their top-rated family team in Wolverhampton.
Rachel has specialised since qualification in 2007 in all aspects of family law and has gained extensive knowledge from her focus on financial remedy, private law children cases and domestic violence disputes. This has seen her build up a strong practice in divorce and separation cases, financial matters and advising on the arrangements for children. She accepts instructions for cases across the UK.
Rachel’s financial remedy cases have involved complex and high value disputes, including those involving vulnerable parties.
Rachel forms part of the team involved in organising 3PB’s popular annual Private Law and Financial Remedy conference and regularly speaks at their monthly Family Brunch webinars and frequently provides bespoke training and case updates to solicitors.
Family
Rachel is skilled at providing advice and representation on TOLATA matters, including those involving concurrent proceedings under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.
Rachel is known for taking a pragmatic and focused approach and understanding the need for cost-effective solutions for clients.
Rachel regularly deals with cases where expert evidence is required including actuarial and accountancy reports to value business structures, including family businesses, partnerships and minority shareholdings and where there are disputes concerning pre- and post-acquired assets.
She has experience in dealing with cases for individuals who have lost litigation capacity and who act via a litigation friend and in cases where one party raises the conduct of the other as a relevant factor.
Rachel is regularly instructed to represent parties at private FDRs and is experienced in utilising this format to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients.
Recent Cases:
K v K: represented applicant in financial remedy proceedings with extensive public sector pensions, property abroad and in circumstances where there was ongoing civil litigation concerning one party’s business interests.
R v R: representing applicant in financial remedy proceedings with overseas pensions and pensions in payment.
W v P: represented applicant. Both parties had lost capacity. This was a short marriage with extensive pre-acquired assets where needs were a key factor and secured periodical payments a relevant consideration.
C v G: represented applicant in financial remedy proceedings where respondent raised conduct as a relevant factor and court heard submissions as to whether it should be taken into account.
K v S & K: represented applicant, providing urgent advice as to an application under s.37 Matrimonial Causes Act relating to the transfer of shares and in subsequent proceedings which included an intervenor and valuations of business interests.
R v R: represented respondent in financial remedy proceedings where the needs of a child with disabilities was a significant consideration and there was local authority involvement relating to funding home improvements to meet that child’s needs.
K v B: represented applicant in financial remedy proceedings where there was extensive non-disclosure by the respondent. Included applications for third-party disclosure orders and a valuation of an investment property portfolio.
D v D: represented applicant in financial remedy proceedings where the respondent, acting as a litigant in person, had lost capacity and the Official Solicitor invited to become involved.
F v F: proceedings under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act commenced over 5 years post-separation. Representation at all hearings including CCMC and Final Hearings and dealing with costs budgeting arguments.
Private Law
Rachel Bloxwich has a wide range of experience in representing parties at all stages of private law children disputes, including disputes involving grandparents.
Rachel has extensive experience in complex private law matters involving:
Rachel is adept at dealing with applications where there is an overlap between private law disputes and domestic violence injunctions. Rachel is experienced in dealing with applications for Special Guardianship Orders, including those which have arisen from care proceedings.
Rachel has excellent experience in representing parties where expert evidence is required from independent social workers, psychologists and teachers and where there is local authority involvement.
She is well-equipped to deal with applications concerning specific issues such as school placements and internal relocation.
Rachel also has experience of representing vulnerable parties, including those where capacity assessments are necessary and intermediaries or other participation directions are required.
Recent Cases:
J v J: representing applicant in complex private law proceedings against a leading KC, including specific issue applications concerning schooling, appointment of a Guardian, similar fact evidence and consolidation of other ongoing proceedings.
N v N: representing a parent in private law proceedings involving allegations of fabricated or induced illness and alienating behaviours.
J v J: representing applicant in long running private law proceedings relating to alienating behaviours, including involvement from a psychologist, instruction of an independent contact supervisor, appointment of a Guardian and involvement from the local authority. Arguments as to the children’s living arrangements both in the short and longer term.
F v F: representing respondent in an application for internal relocation, where there had been local authority involvement.
N v G: representing applicant in an application for enforcement and variation in circumstances where alienating behaviour had been raised as a concern. Securing an early reinstatement of contact.
M v M: representing a parent in the fourth set of proceedings concerning a child with physical disabilities and learning difficulties. Proceedings concerning living arrangements, specific issues concerning a specialist school placement and relating to the child’s presence on social media.
A v Q: representing applicant in application regarding child arrangements, including on appeal of a case management decision regarding expert evidence.
Domestic Violence
Rachel has a wealth of experience in representing applicants and respondents in applications for non-molestation and occupation orders. This includes representing parties where extensive police disclosure and other expert evidence is required.
Rachel is known for her sensitive approach and understanding of the wider issues of the parties’ needs and circumstances.
Recent Cases:
I v D: representing applicant in an application for a non-molestation order with allegations which would impact upon any subsequent Children Act proceedings and extensive video evidence.
S v S: representing party in application for occupation and non-molestation orders where both parties remained in occupation of the family home and clearly defined orders as to their occupation was required.
Clerk Details
Legal 500 rankings
Academic qualifications
Professional bodies
Direct Access
Rachel Bloxwich is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients under the Direct Access (or Public Access) scheme.
Year of Call: 2021 Solicitor: 2007