Harriet is an associate specialising in the resolution of financial matters upon the breakdown of a marriage. Harriet represents clients through divorce proceedings and the dissolution of civil partnerships, as well as acting for clients in respect of financial matters on both a contested and an uncontested basis. This includes dealing with companies, partnerships, pensions, farms, financial contributions from relatives and pre-acquired assets where relevant.

Harriet attended the University of Exeter and gained a first class degree in English Literature before completing her GDL and LPC. She joined Stephens Scown in 2015 and qualified as a solicitor in 2017.

Harriet’s recent work includes:

• Successfully representing clients to retain the family farm
• Representing clients where there is a family business, to include dealing with valuations, and subsequent settlements which involve complex buybacks or holding company structures
• Successfully defending claims that clients have a beneficial interest in properties legally owned by other members of the family, and equally representing clients in making applications for properties legally owned by extended family to be included within the matrimonial pot where these are beneficially owned by the parties
• Advising clients in relation to pensions, including NHS pensions, Armed Forces pensions, teachers pensions and other complex public sector pension schemes
• Successfully representing clients where one party has refused to engage with financial remedy proceedings, or has subsequently reneged on an agreement
• Successfully representing clients where their spouse is (or was) imprisoned for behaviour relating to the marriage, otherwise known as “conduct” cases
• Representing clients making, or enforcing, maintenance applications, including applications for interim maintenance and legal service payment orders to provide clients with interim funding for legal costs where financial matters are contested

Outside of work Harriet enjoys playing netball, spending time at her allotment and pottering at the beach with her little boy.