Lee became Partner in 2001 and heads up the family law department. A member of The Law Society Family Panel and a Resolution accredited specialist Lee is experienced in high value ancillary relief applications and cases involving complex pension issues and company valuations.
At Work
Lee regularly acts for Business Owners, including owners of SME'S, Limited Companies, Directors of larger organisations and multinational companies and Entrepreneurs across the North West including Cheshire, Lancashire, and Manchester and surrounding areas. Lee also works on behalf of business owners to protect the financial integrity of their firm/company as a trading entity whilst advising on the retention of company interests and appropriate corresponding settlements required to the other spouse.
Lee regularly works with forensic accountants and company accountants in structuring settlements for the other spouse and capital awards to take into account the cashflow requirements of the company.
Mindful of the paramount need for discretion and confidentiality in such cases, where numerous employees may be unsettled by issues affecting directors and shareholders, Lee can advise on and set up confidentiality agreements with parties involved. Most businesses are people orientated, and staff unsettled by the future of the company can cause issues in company performance.
Lee is mindful of the pitfalls and the opportunities that the internet brings. In one recent case parties made comments regarding family disputes on a social networking site which meant re-opening matters before the Court.
Lee also has expertise in uncovering potential hidden assets and working on the preservation of matrimonial assets. He is also experienced in cases involving family trusts or where for tax reasons company shares have been placed in trusts.
In the current economic environment Lee advises business owners on settlements and maintenance reviews, based on the downturn and credit difficulties that arise from that. For example, Lee is advising a number of directors and business owners who need existing maintenance reviewed on the basis that they are simply not able to draw the same level of income they were previously achieving and which formed the basis of pre-credit-crunch divorce settlements/orders. Similarly the former spouses of such high earners.
Lee also acts on behalf of Police personnel, Fire Fighters and Armed Forces personnel, particularly in relation to legal advice on pension schemes.
Articles written by Lee include:
At Home
Married with two young children Lee enjoys tackling demanding DIY projects. He once considered playing pool at a national level but now dedicates his free time to his love of classic cars.
Lee read Law in London, then studied at York College of Law before joining Clough & Willis as an articled clerk, qualifying in 1997.
