Will D. Murray
Will is a partner in the Family & Divorce team and advises clients on the full range of family law issues arising on the breakdown of relationships. He has a particular interest in resolving complex financial claims often with an international element. He has over 15 years of experience having spent his formative years at Withers in London. He is ranked in the Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide and listed in the top recommended category of the Spears Family Law Index.
He also advises on arrangements for children following the breakdown of a relationship.
On the non-contentious side, he is frequently instructed by families to advise on wealth protection issues and nuptial and cohabitation agreements.
Specific areas of expertise include:
- financial claims on divorce often with assets held abroad or in corporate or trust structures;
- jurisdiction disputes and financial claims following a foreign divorce;
- advising clients wishing to vary or terminate ongoing maintenance payments;
- wealth protection including advising on domestic and international prenuptial and postnuptial agreements to protect businesses, trust interests and inherited wealth;
- advising on cohabitation agreements to avoid property disputes between unmarried couples;
- child arrangements disputes and acting for parents wishing to relocate abroad with their children; and
- financial claims for children brought by unmarried parents.
His clients have included professional sportspeople (including premiership football and rugby players), investment bankers, city professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners and landowners. His recent international work has involved other jurisdictions including Russia, Brazil, France, Italy, China, Serbia and the USA (Illinois and California) and he has worked closely with lawyers in those jurisdictions to achieve his client’s aims.
Where possible, Will seeks to settle cases without the need for contested court proceedings but he will fight his client’s corner if required.
Reported Cases
- M v M [2013] EWHC 2534 (Fam)
- Re S (A Child) (Abduction: Hearing the Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 155
Publications and Speaking Engagements
- Hanidel Jones LLP: What Succession tells us about protecting your assets – Spear’s, August 2022
- ‘The media are coming to a family court near you’ published in Thought Leaders HNW Divorce Magazine, February 2022.
- Appeared as a panellist at the Thought Leaders 4 Disputes Shareholder Disputes and Class Actions Conference in November 2021.
- Quoted in The Times on 6 April 2021 discussing how family lawyers adapted their working practices as a result of the Covid pandemic.
- ‘Striving for a fair result? Attacking real estate held by offshore companies’ Trusts and Estates Law and Tax Journal, April 2014
- Quoted in, ‘Coming soon: a divorce where no one is to blame’, the Times on 13 September 2018
- Delivered a talk at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales annual conference in November 2017 on valuation issues in Family Law
- Answered readers’ questions on spousal maintenance in FT Money, 23 September 2018
- Quoted in ‘Pass the word on security’, Your Money (Daily Express), 6 February 2019
Professional Memberships and awards
- Ranked in “Top Recommended” tier in Spear’s 2022 Family Law Index
- Resolution
Education
- University of St Andrews, Modern History MA (Hons)
- BBP Law School, London, PGDL and LPC