Extraordinary wealth and a departure from equality

Table of contents

• Original news
• What is the significance of this decision?
• What does this decision tell us about the extent of the assets available for distribution as between the husband and the wife (the computation issue)?
• To what extent did those assets fall to be considered as part of the marital acquest, or alternatively to what extent had they been generated in the period between separation and the date of trial?
• How did the court approach the percentage of the overall available wealth each party should receive at the end of the marriage?
• What does this case tell us about the use of Wells sharing?
• Could the judgment lead to greater use of arbitration?

Article summary

Family analysis: Could the generation of extraordinary wealth by the husband be regarded as special contribution and as such justify a departure from the long-standing principle of equality? Rayner Grice, partner and head of the Birmingham family team at Clarke Willmott, examines the court’s approach to this high value divorce case.