Duncan Brooks KC > Chambers of Catherine Cowton KC and James Ewins KC. > London, England > Barrister Profile
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) Offices
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB)
QUEEN ELIZABETH BUILDING, TEMPLE
LONDON
EC4Y 9BS
England
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Duncan Brooks KC
Position
Duncan is known as “an excellent lawyer with superb client care skills” who deals with “very complex matrimonial finance proceedings and children law matters”. He is “a calm and authoritative advocate who prepares impeccably” has “brilliant judgment” and is “incredibly good to work with” (Chambers UK). He is “one of the very leading technical lawyers; a smart tactician and persuasive advocate” (Legal 500).
Duncan has been a Family Arbitrator (MCIArb) since 2013. He has also acted in arbitrations as a barrister. He regularly represents clients at Private FDRs and also acts as the Private FDR tribunal. He is also available as an early neutral evaluator in child welfare disputes.
Duncan is familiar with the financial complexities arising in cases involving high net worth clients, including businesses, trusts, taxation and international forum disputes (both in respect to divorce/financial applications and also relocating with children). He is often instructed where there is a knotty point of law.
Career
Called 2000 (Gray’s Inn). Tenant at QEB since 2001. Deputy district judge in family and county courts since 2010. Family Arbitrator (MCIArb) since 2013. Collaborative lawyer since 2009. Duncan has written articles on post-separation accrual of assets ((2005) Fam LJ No 49), financial injunctions ([2007] Fam Law 1089), reporting restrictions in financial remedy proceedings ([2012] Fam Law 300-312), and international forum disputes (Journal of Social and Welfare Law Vol 36 issue 1 Jan 2014 pp76-78.)
Languages
Conversational French and German.
Memberships
MCIArb, FLBA, Resolution. Member of two collaborative pods: Creative Divorce and the London Collaborative Group.
Education
St Aidan’s College, University of Durham (Law); Inns of Court School of Law; received the Lord Justice Holker Award from Gray’s Inn, 1999.
Leisure
Enjoys singing, playing cricket, tennis and football.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Family: private FDR judges and arbitrators
(leading Private FDR Judges and Arbitrators)Ranked: Tier 3Duncan Brooks KC– Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Duncan is calm, clever and sensible. He is an exceptional arbitrator and private FDR judge. He immediately puts clients at ease with his kind and thoughtful manner.’
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) is ‘a prominent family law specialist set with good quality at all levels’. Tim Amos KC is an expert on international family law, particularly cases of divorce and finance, while James Ewins KC is ‘the best tribunals in London and a first choice for financial arbitration and private FDRs’. Other team members include ‘experienced and skilled dispute resolution practitioner’ Tristan Harvey and the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Duncan Brooks KC, who was appointed silk in 2023.
London Bar > Family: divorce and financial remedy
(2023 Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Duncan Brooks KC –Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) ‘Duncan is phenomenally good. His knowledge of the law and procedure, which extends far beyond family law and the family procedure rules is second to none. His judgement is excellent, and he is always calm under pressure. His preparation of cases is exemplary, and clients love him. His advocacy is always measured yet persuasive, and he has the ear of all judges.’
Queen Elizabeth Building (QEB) is ‘a superb set for finance cases with top silks and juniors and great strength in depth’. William Tyzack specialises in cases involving international focus and, in the case S-L v S-L, is acting on behalf of an applicant challenging the assertion of English domicile and instead seeking proceedings in Monaco. Katie Cowton KC has significant expertise in financial applications of divorce and civil partnership dissolution and financial claims after overseas divorces. Duncan Brooks KC and Sarah Phipps KC took silk in March 2023.