Profile
Work Department
Position
Philip is a leading divorce and matrimonial finance junior. His main area of expertise is acting for spouses in the full range of financial remedy applications (including after an overseas divorce) and for spouses or other third parties in related preliminary issue hearings. He has a wealth of experience in cases involving disputed divorce jurisdiction, declarations as to parties’ marital status and issues as to the beneficial ownership of assets. He sits as an Arbitrator and conducts private FDRs.
Career
Year of Call: 2002, Middle Temple.
LLB law degree (First Class honours) in 2000, University of Bedfordshire. LLM Master of Law degree in 2001, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University.
Year of Call: 2002, Middle Temple.
Joseph Jackson Memorial Scholar, Caroline Lester Prize winner, Middle Temple Benefactors Scholar and awarded the Lloyd Jacob Memorial Exhibition.
Accredited Pupil Supervisor since 2013
Reported cases include: Dukali v Lamrani (Attorney-General Intervening) [2012] EWHC 1748 (Fam) [2012] 2 FLR 1099 (‘non-marriage’ in the Moroccan Consulate Office in London) and Fisher Meredith v JH and PH [2012] EWHC 408 (Fam) [2012] 2 FLR 536 (a leading case on the joinder of third parties). More recently: Boughajdim v Hayoukane (Validity of Foreign Marriage) [2022] EWHC 2673 (English divorce petition which relied on a decision of the Moroccan courts pursuant to the operation of law designed to provide retrospective recognition of marriage), J v A [2023] EWFC 132 (disputed divorce jurisdiction and forum as between England and Nigeria) and Mahtani v Mahtani [2023] EWHC 2988 (Fam) (refusal to recognise a divorce obtained by the respondent in Indonesia having been found to have deliberately misled the Indonesian court).
Memberships
Education
Monmouth School
University of Bedfordshire (2000 First Class LLB (Hons))
Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University (2001 LLM)
Inns of Court School of Law (2002 BVC)
Content supplied by 1GC | Family Law
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent. Paul Harris and his team provide exceptional service to their members, solicitors and lay clients. Paul in particular is a joy to work with and works extremely hard to accommodate the needs of solicitors and clients.'
- 'It is the best clerking operation in the business. Paul Harris is a dynamo of energy, David McDonald is Mr. Reliable, and the rest of the clerks team regularly solve the insolvable. A solicitor's dream.'
- 'Tommy Eyles is excellent. He will do whatever he can to help and is a great communicator. You feel you are in safe hands when you know your case is being looked after by Tommy and that he will get things done.'
- '1GC's clerking team are very accommodating and work hard to take care of everyone's needs. Their child arbitration and pFDR set up is particularly well run - Harry Elvin and Tommy Eyles always make sure things are run smoothly.'
- 'Charlie Mills is a very friendly and approachable clerk, always happy to discuss diaries and costs to fit in with the case at hand.'
- 'They listen to you! Always helpful whatever the problem. Paul Harris, David McDonald and Sam Ditchman will go out of their way find a solution.'
- 'Sam Ditchman, David McDonald and Paul Harris are top class.'
- 'Clerks are approachable, efficient, and a pleasure to deal with. David McDonald deserves particular recognition for providing excellent service and going out of his way to help.'