Hughes Fowler Carruthers is pleased to be ranked once again in The Spear’s 500 guide, with Frances Hughes and Mark Harper retaining their ‘top-flight’ family lawyers status and Pauline Fowler, Alex Carruthers, Renato Labi, Caroline Park, Bryan Jones and Kate Brett ranked as top and recommended family lawyers.

Spear’s notes Frances is “well-established as one of the ‘Queen Bees’ of family law” and “a powerhouse of the family law world” and highlights her reputation as one of the best litigators in the field.

The guide also highlights Pauline’s long-standing career and the significant instructions she continues to receive on a wide range of matters, nearly all of them with an international element, describing her as a well-known and respected family lawyer.

Alex’s ability to adapt to what his cases demand is also highlighted by Spear’s, which notes “he is a lawyer who would prefer to spare his clients the vagaries of a justice system suffering from government cuts”.

The guide also recognises Mark’s adaptability to clients’ needs when it comes to litigation, highlighting his specialty in international cases, and noting “he is not ‘deterred’ by complex, difficult situations or complex legal structures”.

Spear’s points out Renato’s wide experience in dealing with financial disputes within divorce proceedings and following cohabitation, and in complex private law children cases, noting he is a “highly effective operator”.

Caroline’s high-end, and often multi-jurisdictional, divorce work is also noted by Spear’s together with her dedication to protect her clients’ interests, fight their corner and get them through what can be a tumultuous process of divorce, with their dignity intact and energy restored for the next chapter of their lives.

The guide describes Bryan as “family law all-rounder” and points out his expertise in acting for international HNWs in financial and children matters, including Children Act proceedings.

It also details the praise received by Kate who was described as “a real star” with a “detailed and strategic approach to cases, together with a tenacity driven by her determination to achieve the best possible outcome for her clients” when she was appointed to partnership at the firm.

The Spear’s 500 is one of the foremost guides to the top private client advisers, wealth managers, lawyers and HNW service providers.

View the Spear’s 500 2022 online guide here.