Gary Fawcett

Barrister

Date of Call: 1975

BSB Number: 12420

garyfawcett@no18chambers.com

Gary has been in Chambers in Southampton since 1977 and is primarily a family and relationship practitioner. He has extensive experience in dealing with all types of applications under various legislation that involve Divorce and separation, and Public Law including; Matrimonial Causes Act, Children Act, Family Law Act, Civil Partnership Act, and Inheritance Act.

Gary is happy to advise in conference, in writing or over the telephone, and is able to take instructions from solicitors, and other professionals.

Public and Direct Access: Gary is authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct public direct access and litigation. Gary is happy to take on cases from Solicitors, to maintain continuum, where the client’s money is limited.

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Expertise

Family: Care & Children

Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings

Gary has extensive experience in dealing with care proceedings, ranging from the start of proceedings eg Emergency Protection hearings, through the process of Interim Care Order, Case Management hearings and Issue Resolution hearings.

He has represented Local Authorities, parents, guardians, children and interveners in care cases. He regularly deals with cases involving allegations of neglect, sexual abuse and non-accidental injury, and is fully conversant with the complex medical evidence and expert testimony. He is also experienced in dealing with cases involving adoption, special guardianship, long-term foster care placements, residential placements, secure units and cases involving parties with serious learning difficulties.

Gary

  • Acts for local authorities, parents, children's guardians and interveners
  • Experienced in particularly sensitive and complex care proceedings
  • Experienced in alleged non-accidental injury cases and proceedings
  • Sexual abuse
  • Particular experience of representing both vulnerable and aggressive clients
  • Secure accommodation orders

Family: Finance

Divorce & Separation

Gary has extensive experience in relation to the Financial provisions surrounding divorce and Separation.  Over his 40 years of practice  Gary has dealt with all interim applications for maintenance and costs, security for costs, applications for provision for a child of unmarried parents under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and financial remedy.

Furthermore  he is able to advise in relation to pre and post nuptial agreements as well as issuing divorce petitions and defended divorces.

Most cases Gary has dealt with revolve around maintenance pending suit and the financial remedy application on divorce through the 3 stage hearing process.  With regard to the latter it is important to get as much financial information ready for the first hearing so that it can be dealt with as an financial dispute resolution hearing, which is a saving on costs.  

Of particular importance in either type of case is the need to prepare a comprehensive list of outgoings from the start.

Gary has also a wealth of expertise involving the concealment of assets, family companies, assets abroad, pensions and disputes about property valuations.

In many of these cases the parties are under emotional and/or financial strain and a sensitive, if strong approach is often called for.


Inheritance Act claims

The cases Gary has dealt with nearly all involve representing the partner of the deceased, in an unmarried relationship.  Often the deceased had children from an earlier relationship with competing claims to those of the deceased’s co-habitee.  Because the costs can escalate quickly with multi parties in a case like this, attempts to settle should be made as early as possible.  The settlement process is never easy when the parties have lost a loved one, and a careful and understanding approach is essential when the parties have had such an emotionally traumatic event.

As stated above, the cases Gary has dealt with nearly all involve representing the partner of the deceased, in an unmarried relationship.  Often the deceased had children from an earlier relationship with competing claims to those of the deceased’s co-habitee.  Because the costs can escalate quickly with multi parties in a case like this, attempts to settle should be made as early as possible.  The settlement process is never easy when the parties have lost a loved one, and a careful and understanding approach is essential when the parties have had such an emotionally traumatic event.


No 18 Children’s Arbitration & Resolution

Qualifications

  • LLB (Hons) Southampton University 1972
  • Bar School obtaining the degree of Utter Barrister

Personal Info

Away from Chambers, enjoys creative writing, having self-published two novels (eg babysrevenge.co.uk) and occasional portrait painting.
Gary's interests requiring more physical exertion include modern jive, skiing, horse riding, driving and breaking horses and walking his dog.  The foregoing have lead to an appreciation of at the art of brewing.

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