John Darnton
Partner
Experience
John joined Bircham Dyson Bell as a family partner in October 1998, having previously been a partner in a niche family law practice. He has over 25 years' experience of all aspects of matrimonial work, with an emphasis on the resolution of complex financial and child related disputes, especially those with an international element. John is a long-standing member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors' Family Law Association) and a trained collaborative lawyer. John is a member of two groups of Collaborative practitioners, one in London SW1 (www.resolution.org.uk/sw1group) and the other in Chelmsford, Essex.
Working closely with members of our Private Wealth team, John is frequently asked to advise in cases involving both onshore and offshore trusts. Increasingly he is engaged to negotiate and draft pre-marital agreements and advise on asset protection measures. He also has experience of advising on civil partnerships and related cohabitation and pre-civil partnership agreements.
John is a member of the firm's Individuals Group and also a member of the Contentious Trusts and Probate Team - he has a particular interest in claims brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.
John has been recommended in recent editions of The Legal 500 and was listed as a leading lawyer in the Honours List for family and matrimonial lawyers by Citywealth. His reported cases include:-
- Clifford v Clifford [1985] FLR 732
- re M (Abduction) (Consent:Acquiesence) [1999] 1 FLR 171
- T v T (Child Abduction: Non-Convention Country) [1998] 2 FLR 1110
- Morgan & Anor v Cilento & Ors [2004] EWHC 188 (Ch)
- Wolff & Wolff -v- Wolff and Others [2004] Lawtel
- Robson v Robson [2010] EWCA Civ 1171
John is an avid ice-skater, occasional rock climber and sometime surfer.