Philip Newton
1984 (Middle Temple)
Date of call
1984 (Middle Temple)
Qualifications
B.A. (Hons)
LL.M
Diploma in International Human Rights Law (Strasbourg)
Memberships
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Philip Newton is a highly experienced family law specialist who has spent the last 30 years practising exclusively in this field. He began as a criminal barrister, practising from the Temple (including the Attorney General’s set), where he developed the robust courtroom skills that now help him to get the best results for his family law clients. Philip now focuses on Private Law Children disputes, including as an Arbitrator, and Financial Remedies on divorce and civil partnership dissolution but his experience over the years covers all areas of family law.
Philip is particularly known for acting with great sympathy for his clients’ difficulties. He has an absolute determination to achieve the very best he can for them, even in the most hard-fought family disputes or complex finance cases.
Philip has a Master’s degree in international human rights law and holds a Diploma from the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, specialist qualifications which help him to deal confidently with the variety of international issues that arise in his practice and have given him a deep dedication to protecting human rights in general; particularly where people are vulnerable because of mental or physical disability, or by circumstances such as their cultural, religious, or racial background.
Arbitration
Philip is also a qualified Family Law (Children) Arbitrator (‘the Children Scheme’), which means he can be instructed by parties to decide the issues between them. This avoids the need for court proceedings, and all the delays in the court system, and follows a process and timetable agreed by the parties while still resulting in a binding and enforceable decision.
Philip acts for clients in all aspects of divorce and civil partnership financial remedy; advising, drafting documents and representing them in court. He has over 30 years’ experience in financial remedy, including extremely complex cases.
The areas that Philip helps with include maintenance for a spouse (whether long-term or interim), and financial provision for children, acting in disputes over matrimonial property (e.g. the house and any other assets) and dealing with injunctions to prevent one party from disposing of the any of the matrimonial assets. He is experienced in dealing with cases involving complex assets – such as multiple businesses and property held abroad.
Philip helps his clients to understand their options and to make decisions at every stage of the proceedings from First Directions to Final Hearings, and applications to vary the final Order and appeals.
Examples of his financial remedy cases have involved complications including debilitating illness, a lottery win, wealth acquired after separation, a stellar career prematurely ended by mental health problems, multiple businesses, property held abroad, conduct allegations relating to prostitution successfully relied upon, variation of maintenance and lump sums, set aside and appeals.
“Upon meeting you for the first time that morning, I was immediately assured that you had obviously made a close study of the brief…that you had familiarised yourself with, and understood, all the finer points of the case. My spirits and confidence rose as I realised I was in good hands…for me it was the best outcome for which I could possibly have dared wish. And, for that I can only express my heartfelt gratitude.”
The areas that Philip helps with include maintenance for a spouse (whether long-term or interim), and financial provision for children, acting in disputes over matrimonial property (e.g. the house and any other assets) and dealing with injunctions to prevent one party from disposing of the any of the matrimonial assets. He is experienced in dealing with cases involving complex assets – such as multiple businesses and property held abroad.
Philip helps his clients to understand their options and to make decisions at every stage of the proceedings from First Directions to Final Hearings, and applications to vary the final Order and appeals.
Examples of his financial remedy cases have involved complications including debilitating illness, a lottery win, wealth acquired after separation, a stellar career prematurely ended by mental health problems, multiple businesses, property held abroad, conduct allegations relating to prostitution successfully relied upon, variation of maintenance and lump sums, set aside and appeals.
“Upon meeting you for the first time that morning, I was immediately assured that you had obviously made a close study of the brief…that you had familiarised yourself with, and understood, all the finer points of the case. My spirits and confidence rose as I realised I was in good hands…for me it was the best outcome for which I could possibly have dared wish. And, for that I can only express my heartfelt gratitude.”
In Philip’s 30 years of representing clients in family disputes he has covered almost every imaginable parental dispute involving children. Most of his cases involve complex issues, and he has vast experience of dealing with cases involving disputes between parents over issues such as which parent the children will live with, contact, removal from the country, including applying for or preventing emigration with the children and obtaining the children’s return after a wrongful removal abroad. These disputes frequently also include children’s schooling; medical treatment, cultural and religious differences, and many others.
He supports his clients by advising, drafting documents and representing them in Court in all aspects of family disputes over children.
Arbitration
Philip is also qualified as a Children Law Arbitrator and welcomes instructions in private law disputes by both parties to decide the issue between them. Arbitration can be done privately and according to a timetable dictated by the client, rather than by the court system, but also results in a binding decision at the end of it.
He supports his clients by advising, drafting documents and representing them in Court in all aspects of family disputes over children.
Arbitration
Philip is also qualified as a Children Law Arbitrator and welcomes instructions in private law disputes by both parties to decide the issue between them. Arbitration can be done privately and according to a timetable dictated by the client, rather than by the court system, but also results in a binding decision at the end of it.
Almost every aspect of Philip’s family practice has involved injunctions of one sort or another in the 30 plus years that he has specialised in this area. The need for these injunctions might arise on their own, because of allegations of domestic violence, and/or an application for one of the parties to be made to leave from the family home.
They might also be bound up with protection of the parent and children in a children case or protection of family money in a matrimonial finance case.
They might also be bound up with protection of the parent and children in a children case or protection of family money in a matrimonial finance case.
“Our client was really pleased with Mr Newton and how well he handled his case in court and the issues our client was experiencing with social services’ failure to engage with our client. Mr Newton was available to discuss the case when needed and clearly had a really good understanding of the complex matter. Our client is extremely happy Mr Newton is available to represent him at the Final Hearing.”
Miss L from solicitors, instructing Philip Newton
Please can you pass on my thanks and appreciation to Mr Newton for his continued excellent work on my case. I really do feel confident that I know the children and I are in the best hands with him. He is fighting extremely well for our best interests, with what is an incredibly difficult situation for us. He has a great way of ensuring my voice and concerns are listened to by the court, something of which I don’t believe I could achieve on my own.
Ms W Instructing Philip Newton through the DPA scheme
I will say as usual both my client and I found Philip extremely well prepped, direct and honest in his advice and sympathetic to my client’s particular unique set of circumstances. My client and indeed I were more than satisfied with Philip’s representation and clearly I would not hesitate to continue to instruct him on matters, both in relation to children and finances.
Ms S from Solicitors Instructing Philip Newton
Thank you very much for this, and also thank you for your great work in this case, I am very happy with the final result.
Divorce & Matrimonial Finance / Ms C instructing Philip Newton through solicitors
Mr Newton I’m not sure the following words really do justice to my appreciation of your hard work over the last 18 months. Thank you so much for your guidance, encouragement and support in my case, I am immensely delighted with the outcome.
Ms J Instructing Philip Newton through Solicitors
Philip was/ and is a brilliant advocate. He had a firm grasp of the issues in the matter of ‘X’ which resulted in a successful outcome. I will highly recommend Philip due to his attention to detail and he has an excellent way with clients.
Miss I from solicitors instructing Philip Newton