Paul Britton

Paul was involved in a highly complex, £40 million proceeds of crime case involving multi-jurisdictional issues as well as seized goods, frozen accounts and assets. The case was heard in the Crown Court and lasted 8 weeks.

In the same year, he acted in a child abduction case heard in Manchester. The case involved matters such as alienation, assault, domestic abuse and contempt of court proceedings.

Paul acted for Mr Powell in the well-publicised case of Powell v Thomas. The civil case spanned 2 years and involved sophisticated expert evidence, a quantum meruit agreement and disputes over property interests.

Later in the year, he acted on a contested probate issue for his beneficiary clients who successfully brought a claim against the estate in question.

Paul acted for an international client regarding a contractual interest in property that dated back several years. The matter was heard in Wales and he achieved an award that far exceeded his client’s expectations.

He also acted for a high net-worth client in an extremely contentious and complex matrimonial dispute involving divorce, finances and child contact arrangements.

Paul was instructed to act in a complex Admiralty Court case (Queens Bench Division) which crossed with a claim under the Inheritance Act in the Property, Trust and Probate Court (Chancery Division). He successfully secured a maritime asset for his client in the Admiralty Courts, while simultaneously being successful in the Inheritance Act claim.

Paul exercised his rights of audience in both cases to achieve the best result for his client.

Furthermore, he also acted for another client in a high-profile matrimonial and Schedule 1 Children Act case, which included multi-jurisdictional issues. This protracted and complicated dispute was over residence, contact and an application to permanently remove the children from the jurisdiction.

Other cases throughout the year included matters of intractable and alienated parentage.

Paul acted for an elderly client who had been subjected to sophisticated fraud and undue influence by her accountant. The unlawful conduct took place over decades and detailed forensic accounting was required to uncover what had transpired.

Also in 2019, he acted for a client to tackle a complex and commercially sensitive issue at short notice, and provided urgent legal and tactical advice in the early stages of an investigation into a potentially serious criminal allegation that resulted in no further action by the authorities.

Paul acted for and successfully defended a client who was accused of crimes under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In the same year, and despite a pandemic, he also resolved a high net-valued contested estate for his executor clients.

Paul continued to act for clients on matters from Contested Probates to Criminal matters in both the magistrates and crown courts.

In a family dispute, he settled a £9 million matrimonial matter at second hearing with no spousal maintenance, pension sharing order or lump sum payment and achieved a clean break order.

In a separate case, Paul was successful while acting for a wife, in expelling a post-nuptial agreement from evidence in financial remedy proceedings.

In a Schedule 1, Overspend, Costs Clawback action, Paul was successful in persuading the court to backdate the agreed child maintenance to the start of proceedings; this secured his client a lump sum of £25,000 which, in turn, allowed her to clear all debts to date.

In a separate litigation case, Paul recently achieved a judgment, after three years of contentious litigation, in favour of his client in a seven-figure sum. Costs were awarded in favour of his client on an indemnity basis.

Paul continues to act for clients on a variety of matters from fraud to employment and is available to take instructions from both our London Mayfair and Brighton office.