Francesca Fothergill
Call: 1994
Francesca Fothergill
Somerville College, Oxford MA (Oxon) Modern History
City University Diploma in Law
Inns of Court School of Law
Middle Temple Harmsworth Scholar
FLBA
Agricultural Lawyers Association
Associate Member at 29 Bedford Row.
Trustee of Lord Crewe’s Charity, which provides community, clergy and educational support primarily in Northumberland and County Durham.
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Francesca is a highly experienced matrimonial finance specialist, with an emphasis on high net worth cases, which often involve contested business valuations, complex tax and trust structures, inherited wealth, nuptial agreements and third party intervention.
Renowned nationally for her particular expertise in relation to cases concerning farms and landed estates.
Francesca has experience representing individuals with cross-border financial arrangements and is frequently instructed in cases involving foreign assets and cross jurisdictional disputes.
Reputation
”Francesca Fothergill is an extremely competent matrimonial finance advocate with a significant reputation for her grasp of issues relating to farming and landed estates. She is frequently instructed in cases with complex forensic accountancy evidence and in matters such as prenuptial agreements. She is well reputed for her knowledge of trusts, inheritance and taxation matters. She is formidable and will fight her corner for her clients. She is no-nonsense and gets to the heart of the issues for the clients. Francesca is an excellent advocate.” (Chambers and Partners, 2025)
”Francesca is the legal swan: dignified and graceful but with a powerful kick under the water when needed. A stunningly good advocate. Francesca Fothergill is ‘fearless in her advocacy’ and ‘eminently comfortable on her feet’, with an excellent track record in handling high-net-worth matrimonial finance cases, and is widely recognised for her niche expertise in advising on cases involving landed estates and farms.” (Legal 500, 2025)
"Very technical and great at dealing with complex matters. She understands the peculiarities of high net worth finance cases. Very experienced, very good at cross-examining and a very good advocate. She is forensic in her approach, and she is very direct and doesn't give false hope. She will act as the devil's advocate, and she is very forthright and very determined."(Chambers and Partners 2024)
”Francesca is excellent at building rapport with the clients and commands much respect from them for this, as well as for her honest, pragmatic advice.Her advice is robust and firm, Francesca has an excellent manner with clients and is a completely safe pair of capable hands."(Chambers and Partners 2023)
“Francesca is a polished performer with a forthright approach. She is able to build excellent rapport with a wide variety of clients." (Legal 500, 2023)
"She is an extremely bright and able junior." (Legal 500, 2022)
”A fearsome opponent and a superb advocate who has the ability to think on her feet like no other."(Legal 500, 2021)
"Extremely competent matrimonial finance advocate. Very clear in her advice and meticulous in her preparation."(Chambers and Partners 2020)
"She is really good at building a rapport with clients, she’s really bright, she has a great brain."(Chambers and Partners, 2019)
"A formidable advocate, very good with agricultural cases and very approachable. Her practical knowledge is great and she is also very bright. She is good at grasping the intricacies of a case."(Chambers and Partners, 2018)
"Francesca is good at dealing with complex cases, and particularly good with difficult clients and opponents."(Legal 500, 2018)
Expertise
Francesca lectures at Resolution and FLBA events, and also provides ‘in-house’ bespoke training to solicitors.
Francesca welcomes instructions to sit as a private FDR Evaluator.
Notable Cases
A v A: (2023) Arbitration with assets of £8m, mainly a dispute as to the value of car dealerships, with contested specialist forensic accountancy evidence, and issues as to pre-marital wealth and the nature of contributions
J v J: (2023) Arable farming case, assets ca. £24 million, with farming operation across limited companies, partnerships, and sole trader entities. Disputed accountancy evidence as to future maintainable income, and a dispute as to the relevance of inherited/gifted assets after a very long marriage.
L v L (2022): Assets of £124m arising upon the sale of a private company. Preliminary issue as to the enforceability of a previous agreement, and thereafter arguments as to special contribution, post separation accrual and enforcement.
W v W: (2022) H had significant business assets in UK, Europe and SE Asia (ca. £10 million). Complicated issues in relation to offshore trusts and taxation, and focus upon the relevance of pre-marital wealth and post -separation accrual.
M v M: (2021) Enforcement of separation agreement. Assets £42 million. Analysis of autonomy and the effect of the agreement, liquidity/Wells v Wells sharing, respective earning capacities and post-separation accrual.
C v F: (2020) Couple with extensive family companies in the travel industry, based in the UK and the Caribbean. Issues of illiquidity, projected profitability and taxation. Relevance of pre-marital wealth.
T v T: (2020)Application for declaration of nullity based on lack of capacity and non-consummation. H had died, instructed by his executors. Expert medical evidence contested. Successful at final hearing.
Clerks
