Penelope Clapham

Penelope Clapham

Family finance & Private law children Matters Specialist

Penelope specialises in both family finance and private law children matters. She is recognised in the legal directories in both disciplines for her formidable advocacy and hard-working approach combined with excellent client care. Penelope regularly represents clients in international matters, both financial and involving their children. She is also an arbitrator, qualified to take on financial remedies work.

Penelope is recognised for her skill in complex private law children matters which require a sensitive but robust approach. She has acted in sensitive cases involving sexual abuse (of both adults and children), domestic violence, intractable hostility and parental alienation. She combines a robust and fearless court room style with a sensitivity to the difficult issues raised.

She is also regularly instructed by clients in financial remedy matters. She has considerable experience in high-net-worth claims involving complex business structures, trusts, offshore assets and international property as well as in more modest asset cases. She has also represented vulnerable clients including in which there is a concurrent Court of Protection issue.

In addition, she has advised and represented clients in international disputes involving jurisdiction and forum, financial relief after an overseas divorce (Part III claims) and international child maintenance obligations. Penelope has a particular interest in cases in Jersey and has advised and drafted documents for clients in the Royal Court in Jersey as well as providing representation at private FDR.

She regularly advises and appears on behalf of clients in international relocation matters. She has experience of international relocation to countries who are signatories to the Hague Convention as well as those which are not. She has been involved in cases in which the recognition and enforceability of orders in foreign jurisdictions is a particular focus, including to foreign territories that are not legally recognised by England.

Penelope is equally competent in cases between former cohabitants, representing clients in resolving property disputes (TOLATA claims) and in resolving financial arrangements for children (Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 claims). Penelope has a particular enjoyment of Schedule 1 cases and has co-authored a book on the topic, to be published in March 2018.

Penelope appreciates that not all clients wish to litigate in Court. Penelope has successfully represented clients at Arbitration, private FDR and lawyer-led mediation and is happy to advise as to which may be the most appropriate forum in a particular case.

Awards

Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship, Inner Temple

Streuben Prize Winner, Inner Temple

Exhibition, Inner Temple

Penelope was shortlisted for Young Barrister of the Year at the Jordans Family Law Awards. (2013)

Accreditations

MA (Hons), Jurisprudence, Somerville College, Oxford University

BVC, Inns of Court School of Law

Family Law Bar Association

Resolution (Associate Member)

Bar Pro Bono Unit

Rankings