Renato has wide experience in dealing with financial disputes within divorce proceedings and following cohabitation, and in complex private law children cases. He is a member of Resolution and a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Renato is featured in Spear’s Family Law Index’s ‘Top Recommended Family Lawyers’ list.
Renato is recommended in both Chambers and The Legal 500 as a leading individual. Chambers UK 2021 reconfirms Renato’s Band 1 ranking and the guide notes he is highly recommended for his established practice in divorce proceedings, praising him for handling a range of complex matters, including cross-border financial remedy and enforcement cases. Chambers UK 2020 reconfirms Renato’s Band 1 ranking and describes him as “clever, resourceful and cool under pressure”, commending his ability to “turn over every stone to find the evidence needed”. Chambers HNW 2020 reconfirms his Band 2 ranking, and describes him as a well-regarded litigator who handles matrimonial finance disputes and complex children’s cases. The guide notes that “each step is carefully judged, and tenacity is what comes across”. Renato has been further praised for being “a highly esteemed practitioner” and “loved by clients”. Chambers added that he is “well known for acting on behalf of affluent individuals and families”, and “a brilliant tactician”.
The Legal 500 UK 2021 reconfirms Renato’s ranking as a ‘Leading Individual’ and praises him for having a “first-rate legal mind”, describing him as “charming to his clients but tenacious with the opposition”. The Legal 500 UK 2020 recognises Renato as a ‘Leading Individual’. He is considered a “key figure for his work on very high value and complex family litigation”.
Renato’s interests include politics, music and the arts. For many years he was a trustee and Chair of Poet in the City, a venture philanthropy charity, and he remains on the corporate panel.
He studied international history and politics at Leeds University, and qualified as a solicitor in 1997.
He spent a year as a commercial litigator in City law firm DLA before joining the family department of Bates, Wells & Braithwaite in 1998. Renato has been a partner at Hughes Fowler Carruthers since 2005.
Chambers UK 2019 ranked Renato Band 1 and praised him as a “key figure for his work on very high value and complex family litigation”. Chambers also described him as “tactically astute and a pleasure to work with”.
The Legal 500 UK 2019 recognised Renato as a ‘Leading Individual’ and regarded him as “outstanding”.
Chambers HNW 2018 recommended Renato once again, described him as “brilliant” and “very easy to deal with”.
Chambers UK 2018 reconfirmed Renato’s Band 1 ranking, praising him for being “very effective, very clever and very good at what he does”.
Chambers HNW 2017 described Renato as “a calm, gracious individual, but that masks a really incisive mind and a tenacity that will stand any case in good stead. He stands by the client in thick and thin”.
Chambers UK 2017 ranked Renato Band 1 and identified him as “an extremely bright lawyer with really good judgement” with a client commenting that “he demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and creativity in dealing with sensitive or difficult issues. He combines consummate professionalism with both the sensitivity and humour that is required in an area of law that can be quite emotionally charged”.
Chambers HNW 2016 Renato is highlighted by a source as “a star of the future”, who adds: “He knows the law backwards. He can negotiate if that’s required, but he is also up for the fight. Clients love him”. “His knowledge of detail and technicalities is huge. He is very pleasant and gets on with most opponents”, says a commentator, who adds: “He achieves far more by charming than most people do by shouting, but carries a big stick if necessary”. Another interviewee comments: “I rate him highly”.
Chambers UK 2016 Renato is rated as being “hugely respected in the profession for being astute, sharp, diligent, committed and reliable”.
Chambers UK 2015 said “he has a very smooth, assured touch where clients really benefit from his forensic ability”.
Chambers UK 2012 stated “he is absolutely fantastic and punches above his weight”.
The Legal 500 UK 2017 reconfirmed Renato’s position as a ‘Leading Individual’, describing him as “outstanding”, “knowledgeable yet sensitive”, and “an exceptionally safe pair of hands”.
The Legal 500 UK 2016 recognised Renato as a ‘Leading Individual’ and comments on his ability to “explain complex issues in a very user-friendly way”.
The Legal 500 UK 2013 described him as “the perfect choice for complex offshore trust disclosure”.
