Edward Benson

Edward Benson

Call: 2019

Ed is exceptional in every respect. He works tirelessly on behalf of clients and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the papers. He is an excellent advocate and his technical expertise extends well beyond his years.” 

“An extremely talented junior barrister. He has a lovely manner and is extremely bright. Your case is in good hands if you instruct him.”

“Ed is a star of the future – numerate, nimble and never afraid to punch above his weight.”

Chambers & Partners 2026 (Band 4), Legal 500 2026 (Rising Star), Doyle’s Guide (Recommended)

Practice

Ed practises in the financial and international elements of family law. He specialises in financial remedy work (including Part III and Schedule 1 claims), jurisdiction disputes, cohabitee claims under TLATA, and nuptial agreements. He sits as a private FDR evaluator.

Ed regularly represents clients in complex and high-profile financial remedy cases, both with and against leading counsel. He has appeared in the High Court in his own right on multiple occasions and has represented clients in the Court of Appeal, both at home and offshore. He has a growing offshore practice, providing advice and representation this year on English law issues in cases in the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Switzerland.

Ed has been ranked in all of the major legal directories since 2024, when he was described as “the outstanding junior of his class” and was the most junior barrister ranked for Matrimonial Finance in Chambers and Partners by several years’ call. He is now described as “exceptional in every respect” and an “extremely talented junior barrister”. He is specifically commended as an “excellent advocate” who is “robust and meticulous in his preparation” with “a great manner with clients and solicitors”.

Before joining 1 Hare Court, Ed undertook pupillage at a leading commercial Chambers. As a result, Ed has particular expertise in cases where commercial and trust law overlap with family law. He frequently acts in ‘intervenor’ cases involving third party claims in financial remedy proceedings; he has appeared in several leading authorities involving intervenors.

McGregor v Smith (Domicile/Misuse of Divorce Portal) [2026] EWFC 128 (B)

Acting as sole counsel for the successful respondent in a jurisdiction dispute, successfully proving that the applicant had attempted to fraudulently procure a divorce in the UK without the respondent’s knowledge. An important case highlighting flaws with the current operation of the Divorce Portal and the potential for its manipulation.

MM v FF [2026] CICA (Civ) 8 (led by Nicholas Yates KC)

Acting for the successful appellant in the Cayman Islands’ Court of Appeal. This case sets out key guidance for the necessary approach and procedure for dealing with allegations of alienating behaviour and domestic abuse in child contact proceedings.

HA v EN [2025] EWHC 2436 (Fam) (led by Nicholas Yates KC)

A leading case setting out guidance to the court’s approach in dealing with concluded Xydhias agreements, where one party seeks to vary the agreement’s terms.

Simon v Simon & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 1048 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A leading case addressing when litigation lenders should be permitted to intervene in financial remedy proceedings and the permitted scope of such interventions.

HA v WA & Anor [2022] EWFC 110 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A six-day preliminary issue hearing acting for the successful intervenor where it was established that properties in the wife’s name were beneficially owned by the intervenor.

Simon v Simon & Level (Joinder) [2022] EWFC 29 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A leading case concerning whether, and if so in what circumstances, a litigation lender could be joined to financial remedy proceedings.

Simon v Simon [2022] EWFC 35 (led by Richard Todd KC)

Acting for the husband in an intervenor’s application for civil proceedings to be heard concurrently with the husband and wife’s financial remedy proceedings.

LS v PS [2021] EWFC 108 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A leading case on the privilege which accords to FDRs, the applicability of FPR PD9A para 6.2 to private FDRs, and when disclosure of privileged FDR material may be ordered.

Ed is a contributor to Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters and is the editor of the chapter on ‘Injunctions in aid of financial remedy proceedings’.

He lectures on topics of interest in family law to both large conferences and firms of solicitors.

  • FLBA
  • Resolution
  • Advocate
  • Lincoln’s Inn

Qualifications

  • St Edmund Hall, Oxford University: BA Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (First-Class Honours).
  • BPP Law School:  Graduate Diploma in Law.
  • City, University of London: Bar Professional Training Course.

 

Scholarships, Awards and Prizes

  • St Edmund Hall, Oxford University: Open Scholarship (2015), Final Honour School Prize (2016).
  • Oxford University: Ranked 1st in Year: British Politics and Government (2016).
  • City, University of London: Academic Scholarship (2017).
  • Inns of Court: Hardwicke Award (2017), Lord Denning Scholarship (2017), EFTA Court Scholarship (2018), Harold G. Fox Scholarship (2018).
  • Other: 2nd Prize: UK Law Society Association International Mooting and Advocacy Competition (2018).

“Edward is an extremely talented junior barrister. He has a lovely manner and is extremely bright. Your case is in good hands if you instruct him.”

“Ed is a star of the future – numerate, nimble and never afraid to punch above his weight.”

“Robust and meticulous in his preparation and way he delivered his submissions”

“Edward has good technical understanding and a great manner with clients and solicitors.”

Chambers & Partners 2025 (Band 4)

 

“Ed is exceptional in every respect. He works tirelessly on behalf of clients and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the papers. He is an excellent advocate and his technical expertise extends well beyond his years.”

Legal 500 2026 (Rising Star)

 

“Edward is the outstanding junior of his class and delivers a legal service far above his level of experience.”

“Very friendly and an excellent advocate, who provides a fine service.”

“He is very much an up-and-coming name to be reckoned with. He punches above his weight, and is very professional and hard-working.”

Chambers & Partners 2025 (Up and Coming)

 

“A confident and eloquent advocate who thinks very quickly on his feet. He manages clients very well.”

Legal 500 2025 (Rising Star)

 

Doyles Guide 2025 (Recommended – Matrimonial Finance)

Before pupillage, Ed spent ten months as the Harold G. Fox Scholar at Canada’s leading litigation firm. He also was a judicial assistant at the Ontario Court of Appeal, and a trainee in the Cabinet of Bernd Hammerman at the EFTA Court in Luxembourg.

Ed is a cricket obsessive and occasional cricket broadcaster. He was part the official commentary team for the inaugural test match between Ireland v Pakistan in 2018.