header-logo header-logo

Family law brief: November 2025

14 November 2025 / Ellie Hampson-Jones , Carla Ditz
Issue: 8139 / Categories: Features , Family , Divorce , Child law
printer mail-detail
235680
In their latest update, Ellie Hampson-Jones & Carla Ditz consider three recently reported cases & some important developments in family law
  • In the latest instalment in Potanin v Potanina, the judgment makes clear that there is no statutory requirement to establish a ‘substantial’ connection to England and Wales.
  • Helliwell v Entwistle has shown the importance of full and frank disclosure when negotiating pre-nuptial agreements.
  • BC v BC demonstrates the need to respect confidentiality in the FDR and private FDR process.
  • Meanwhile, the Family Justice Council has published guidance on the use of covert recordings in family law proceedings, and there has been a useful evaluation of the Pathfinder court pilot.

Potanina v Potanin (No 2) [2025] EWCA Civ 1136

The Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in the latest instalment of the long-running case of Potanin v Potanina. The case concerns Russian multi-billionaire Vladimir Potanin (pictured) and his wife Natalia Potanina, who were married for 30 years before divorcing

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Freeths—Ruth Clare

Freeths—Ruth Clare

National real estate team bolstered by partner hire in Manchester

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Farrer & Co—Claire Gordon

Partner appointed head of family team

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

mfg Solicitors—Neil Harrison

Firm strengthens agriculture and rural affairs team with partner return

NEWS
Conveyancing lawyers have enjoyed a rapid win after campaigning against UK Finance’s decision to charge for access to the Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has launched a recruitment drive for talented early career and more senior barristers and solicitors
Regulators differed in the clarity and consistency of their post-Mazur advice and guidance, according to an interim report by the Legal Services Board (LSB)
Peter Kandler’s honorary KC marks long-overdue recognition of a man who helped prise open a closed legal world. In NLJ this week, Roger Smith, columnist and former director of JUSTICE, traces how Kandler founded the UK’s first law centre in 1970, challenging a profession that was largely seen as 'fixers for the rich and apologists for criminals'
The dangers of uncritical artificial intelligence (AI) use in legal practice are no longer hypothetical. In this week's NLJ, Dr Charanjit Singh of Holborn Chambers examines cases where lawyers relied on ‘hallucinated’ citations — entirely fictitious authorities generated by AI tools
back-to-top-scroll