Francis Wilkinson

Called 2001

BA (Hons) (Dunelm)

Main Areas of Practice

Children and Family Law
Public Law and Local Government

Professional Memberships

FLBA
ALC

Profile

Francis Wilkinson has a busy family law practice.  It covers child care and related public law work for local authorities, parents and guardians; financial, contact and residence proceedings with jurisdictional issues; and particularly financial remedies of all kinds and dividing the property of separating cohabitants.  He appears regularly in the High Court and in county courts.

Having achieved a very senior position in the public sector prior to qualifying for the Bar, Francis has wide experience of public speaking.  He has recently spoken on the procedure for dividing the property of separating cohabitants and on interveners in financial remedies.  Outside his work at the Bar he has a particular interest in the reform of the law on drugs.

Francis undertakes public access work.

Notable Cases  

P v G (Family Law Act 1986: Jurisdiction) [2010] 2 FLR 1888; [2010] EWHC 1311 (Fam)
Francis acted for the defendant in a case that clarified the provisions of child law where English and Scottish jurisdictions are involved.

Re Farr v Farr (2008) FD06DO1479
Represented a husband who was successful before Baron J in an ancillary relief appeal in relation to periodical payments.

Re Henry v Henry EC07DOO414.
Represented a divorcing wife appealing against a division of assets which failed to distinguish between the parties' personal and business assets.

Stack v Dowden [2 007] UKHL 17 in which the House of Lords decided how the homes of separating cohabitants should be divided between them. Francis was instructed throughout the case.

Publications

He has published articles on marital contracts, the Land Registration Rules as they affect ancillary relief, and the sharing of pensions on divorce.

If you would like any further information regarding Francis Wilkinson's practice, please contact his clerks or call +44 (0)20 7405 6114.