Phillip’s advocacy skills are exemplary, even against much more experienced opposition, he is measured, calm and highly persuasive. He reads the judge well, and knows exactly which points to push, and which to leave, his written notes are excellent and he works well with highly sophisticated clients.
Phillip is consistently ranked as a leading matrimonial finance junior by both of the legal directories, Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. He is described as being “exceptional”, “charming yet ferocious”, able to “change his line of attack very easily” whilst also “being willing to take a judge on”. He is said to have “a brain like a calculator” and is a “skilled advocate with an impressive technical grasp of the law”.
Phillip’s expertise lies in managing and resolving financial disputes when relationships end, whether through separation, divorce or death. He is regularly instructed in cases involving offshore assets, trusts, complicated company structures, hidden wealth and other atypical financial resources that demand special consideration and proficiency.
He has acted in many cases involving technical legal arguments, the outcome of which is decisive to the success or otherwise of the main proceedings. Recent examples include the extent to which a party should be held to a nuptial agreement, the effect of a party’s failure to comply with disclosure rules, and establishing / resisting claims by interveners to ownership of assets that would otherwise be subject to the court’s dispositive jurisdiction.
Phillip has appeared before the range of tribunals up to and including Court of Appeal level. Before the Court of Appeal, he has appeared both with and without a leader. Several of his cases are now the leading authorities on the points of law in issue. In addition, Phillip has experience in drafting successful grounds of objection to the Supreme Court.
He has a reputation as a powerful, effective advocate – “an extremely persuasive advocate” – (The Legal 500, 2018); in part, the product of invaluable experience in criminal law trial work in his early career.
