Nigel Gowling

Family

Nigel is a specialist in family finances, including financial remedies on divorce, financial applications relating to children pursuant to Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and civil actions between former co-habitants.

He is regularly instructed in the full range of family finance disputes from multi-million pound divorces to cases where the assets are more modest. He is particularly experienced in dealing with complex cases involving family trusts, third party property rights, pensions, and cases where there are issues relating to disclosure.

Nigel originally studied agriculture and worked in Africa and the Middle East for many years before coming to the Bar.  His previous experience in this industry places him well for any agricultural-related disputes including complex private FDR disputes in high net worth divorce cases involving land and property.

In private law children Nigel’s practice includes especially complex cases which require separate representation of children or involve domestic abuse and/or parental alienation. He has a particular interest in the application of Practice Direction 12J to cases which involve allegations of domestic abuse, including coercive or controlling behaviour as well as national and international relocation.

Nigel’s work in Family Law proceedings includes representing those seeking or responding to applications for injunctive relief or occupation orders relating to the family home.

Nigel’s work also includes:

• Arrangements for children after divorce or separation, including intractable disputes and those involving allegations of violence or abuse
• Specific issues regarding children’s upbringing, including schooling, medical treatment and change of name
• Requests to take children abroad, either temporarily or permanently
• Enforcement of (and changes to) existing orders regarding children, including those made abroad
• Children cases with an international dimension including child abduction

Nigel has a reputation for his clinical advocacy skills having spent his formative years at the Bar in many criminal courts across the West Midlands gaining significant experience with the most difficult of witnesses.  He also has a very strategic  approach and always considers the stark commerciality of pursuing litigation in situations where there may be options.

Nigel qualified as a mediator in 2008 and carries out mediation across the UK in all his areas of specialism.  He also accepts Direct Instructions under the DPA scheme allowing him to work in-house for solicitors, businesses and local authorities.

Other Practice Areas

TOLATA/Trust disputes

Land & Property disputes including boundary disputes and agricultural tenancy issues

Inheritance Act claims

Wills & Probate

Private FDR

Public Law

Examples of recent work include:

• Arrangements for children after divorce or separation, including intractable disputes and those involving allegations of violence or abuse
• Specific issues regarding children’s upbringing, including schooling, medical treatment, and change of name
• Requests to take children abroad, either temporarily or permanently
• Enforcement of and variation to existing orders regarding children
• Children cases with an international dimension
• FDR involving farming business and estate worth over 5 million
• Financial remedies following sale of UK business in South Africa
• Applications relating to pensions held in the U.S. and FDR proceedings
• FDR involving monies held in trust and in the IOM and failure to disclose

Examples of recent civil work include:

• Agricultural land and tenancy disputes
• Adverse Possession claims
• Crop/land damage claims
• Trespass and adverse possessions claims
• Equine contractual issues
• Easement and boundary disputes
• Nuisance claims
• Commercial contract claims
• Landlord and tenant issues involving the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and Arbitration Act 1986