Christopher Wall

Christopher Wall moved from London in 1990, to Canterbury where he now lives with his family. For more than 20 years he has specialised in all areas of Family Law at every level. His practice has a particular emphasis on Financial Remedy, Public Law Children Act cases and Private Law cases.

Christopher is recommended in Chambers and Partners 2016

"Focuses on both finance and children work, and has particular expertise in financial remedies, property and inheritance disputes involving private companies, trusts, pensions and international assets. He is also involved in residence issues, child abductions and care and adoption proceedings."

Strengths: "He is an experienced advocate who knows his stuff." "He is senior, experienced and knows what he is talking about. He has a great way with clients and puts in the hard work."
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Christopher Wall moved from London in 1990, to Canterbury where he now lives with his family.  For more than 20 years he has specialised in all areas of Family Law at every level. His practice has a particular emphasis on Financial Remedy, Public Law Children Act cases and Private Law cases.

He regularly represents parents, grandparents and children in Care and Adoption, Residence and Contact Order proceedings, as well as cases where parents wish to take children abroad. He has particular experience of cases involving abuse or neglect as well as expertise in cases where parents and/or children have disabilities.

In financial remedy cases his broad experience encompasses everything from complex multi-million pound cases involving complex assets structures to the particular challenges facing low-income families.

Christopher’s advice is highly regarded by his clients as being sensible and realistic, and, whilst he will help his clients reach their desired outcome through negotiation where possible, he also has a reputation for being a persuasive and forceful advocate in Court.

Christopher has been accredited to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the Direct Public Access Scheme.

Christopher is recommended in Chambers and Partners 2016 , 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, Legal 500 2019

Christopher WallBecket ChambersSpecialises in public law children and matrimonial finance work.

Legal 500 2019

Very experienced in matrimonial finance and public law children matters.

Chambers and Partners 2020

Christopher Wall
Junior who is predominantly instructed in matrimonial finance matters and public law children work. He has notable experience in complex disputes concerning private companies, trusts and international assets, and also regularly tackles difficult children cases involving abuse and neglect.
Strengths: “He’s very astute and is a safe pair of hands.” “He’s a good performer in court.”

Chambers and Partners 2017 

“Junior who is predominantly instructed in matrimonial finance matters and public law children work. He has distinguished experience of complex disputes concerning private companies, trusts and international assets, and also regularly tackles difficult children cases involving abuse and neglect.”
Strengths: “Highly experienced and has great depth of knowledge.” “He is a very sensible barrister, the sort who will tell clients exactly how it is and will manage their expectations. He has a calm, reassuring manner and is very experienced.”

Chambers and Partners 2016

“Focuses on both finance and children work, and has particular expertise in financial remedies, property and inheritance disputes involving private companies, trusts, pensions and international assets. He is also involved in residence issues, child abductions and care and adoption proceedings.”

Strengths: “He is an experienced advocate who knows his stuff.” “He is senior, experienced and knows what he is talking about. He has a great way with clients and puts in the hard work.”

Reported Cases

Re A (a child) (residence order) [2007] All ER (D) 156 (Jun)

RE S (Permission to seek relief) [2006] EWCA Civ 1190

[2007] 1 FLR 482, [2006] 3 FCR 50

Re O (Supervision Order) [2001] EWCA CIV 16 [2001] 1 FLR 923

T v W (Contact: Reasons for refusing leave) [1996] 2 FLR 473

 

Public Law Children

Christopher has considerable expertise in Public Law cases and regularly represents parents, grandparents, and children in Care and Adoption proceedings.

He has been involved in many cases involving either sexual and/or physical abuse, as well as in cases where there has been significant neglect of children’s physical, emotional or educational needs. He has also acted in many cases where the parents or children have significant disabilities.

Christopher is known for giving sensible, realistic advice to his clients. Wherever possible he will help his clients to reach a fair outcome by negotiation but in the event that the matter proceeds to a final hearing at Court he is known for his persuasive and forceful advocacy that achieves the best possible outcome for his clients.

He has frequently appeared in all tiers of the Family Court.

Christopher Wall's Public Law Children Cases

Mother and new partner seeking to adopt

Christopher acted for a mother and her new husband – with whom the children had developed a particularly good relationship and who sought to adopt the children. The father objected. Christopher successfully persuaded the court to grant the adoption.

Christopher Wall's Testimonials for Public Law Children

“Very happy today thank you…..Barrister was great, listened to me and put forward what he needed to”

Client instructing Chris Wall through Solicitors – July 23

Children - Private Law (CAP)

Christopher has considerable expertise in Private Law cases including not only Residence and Contact Order disputes but in cases where parents wish to take their children abroad against the wishes of the other parent or where there are concerns about child abduction.

Christopher is known for giving sensible, realistic advice to his clients. Wherever possible he will help his clients to reach a fair outcome by negotiation but in the event that the matter proceeds to a final hearing at Court he is known for his persuasive and forceful advocacy that achieves the best possible outcome for his clients.

Christopher Wall's Children - Private Law (CAP) Cases

Seeking permission for children to holiday abroad

Christopher acted for a mother who sought to take her children on holiday abroad, where the Father objected due to his concerns about the mother’s new partner. Christopher successfully persuaded the court that his client and children should be able to holiday with his her boyfriend.

Mother moving to USA.

Christopher acted for a mother who sought to move to the USA with her son to start a new life with her boyfriend. The Father, who shared care, resisted, but the mother’s application was allowed.

Christopher Wall's Testimonials for Children - Private Law (CAP)

“Our family cannot thank Mr Wall enough for his commitment to our case. We used the direct access scheme and Mr Wall provided clear instructions on the documentation concerning the proceedings. It has been a very emotional time however Mr Wall has been our voice of reason and always gave realistic advice, which we appreciated. My daughter is now in a safe, loving home and Mr Wall played an instrumental part of that.”

Mr K instructing Christopher Wall through the Direct Access Scheme – Aug 23

Mr Wall was  extremely helpful , thorough and proactive and  we’re completely satisfied with his  services .

Solicitors Instructing Christopher Wall in Private Children’s Proceeding – May 2022

I instructed Chris in a finely balanced children case in which he quickly developed a good understanding of the client and their perspective and gave clear advice.  He prepared a detailed and clear position statement for the court. His presentation in court was concise, accurate and sensitively done and the client felt well represented.

Solicitors Instructing Christopher Wall in a Private Children’s Law – March 2022

Divorce & Matrimonial Finance

Christopher specialises in the whole range of family-related financial disputes.

His expertise includes:

  • Applications for financial remedy orders arising out of divorce or civil partnership dissolution
  • Applications for financial remedies under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989 in respect of unmarried parents
  • Cases under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975

He has acted in a wide range of financial proceedings, ranging from low-income families to multi-million pound cases. He has experience of cases involving complex asset structures, large property portfolios, family companies, trusts, pensions and internationally held assets.

Christopher Wall's Divorce & Matrimonial Finance Cases

Enforcing an order for sale

Christopher acted for a Wife in a case involving enforcing a previous order. The parties separated had separated several years previously, and agreed financial matters between them. The main aspects of the agreement were that the Husband was to pay the Wife a lump sum and she was to transfer the family home to him Continue reading

Articles by Christopher Wall

Case Law Update – Barder events and pension sharing orders (Goodyear v Executors of the Estate of Heather Goodyear (deceased) [2022] EWFC 96)

In this rather tragic case the court had to consider whether the wife’s death after the making of a Pension Sharing Order was a Barder Event The Facts The husband (H) and the wife (W) agreed their financial settlement and a consent order was approved by the court in January 2021. Decree absolute had been Continue reading

Christopher Wall's Testimonials for Divorce & Matrimonial Finance

“Thank you for your help and work you have put into my case….. you will never know how much I do appreciate it you saved my family home which my children can now grow up in.
You were unbelievably professional and it was amazing to see how you picked them apart which such coolness and made me hold my nerve.”

Mr C Instructing Christopher Wall through Solicitors – December 20

“I was very happy with the work Christopher did for us and the effort he put in, it was a long day. The client was also happy with the representation and I look forward to working with Chris again in the future.”

Ms T from Solicitors Instructing Christopher Wall – February 2020