Recommend a divorce solicitor, London?

[Harry Flashman]

Morning, PH coven.

Not for me! Not getting married has advantages...

Please could someone recommend a divorce solicitor? For a friend. London based, he owns a business, rather stupidly made wife a shareholder years ago, she is asking for half of it. She does not work there, nor has she contributed financially, nor is she in the same field. I suspect he’s screwed.

She values it at £4m, it’s worth about 1m. He’s willing to hand it to her and move on (the business is him, so he’ll just start again) – she won’t accept. I think she is just stalling/drawing the process out to turn the kids against him. They have adult kids, the son works for him.

I think a woman may be a better choice as dealing with his wife is probably best left to another woman – she lies, is conniving and manipulative. They are separated, he has a new girlfriend (a good friend of mine). This is obviously not going down well. He is not worth millions, so someone who acts for oligarchs a no-no. Was hoping some PHers have advice. PM me if uncomfortable posting on this thread, please.

Virtual beers for all concerned.

Harry

[KFC]

Harry Flashman said:

She values it at £4m, it’s worth about 1m. He’s willing to hand it to her and move on (the business is him, so he’ll just start again) – she won’t accept.

If the business is just him, then its not worth £1m. Its worth nothing.

[hornetrider]

KFC said:

If the business is just him, then its not worth £1m. Its worth nothing.

Unless there's a bar in the company accounts...

[Fotic]

KFC said:

Harry Flashman said:

She values it at £4m, it’s worth about 1m. He’s willing to hand it to her and move on (the business is him, so he’ll just start again) – she won’t accept.

If the business is just him, then its not worth £1m. Its worth nothing.

How do you know what assets it has?

[Eric Mc]

Aha - the long term consequences of trying to make short term tax savings.

I don't suppose there is a shareholders' agreement either.

[KFC]

Fotic said:

How do you know what assets it has?

Sounds like its some sort of consulting gig if he can just walk away from it and set up again. Plus the fact he's going to just walk away from it suggests none/little assets there...

[Luke.]

Eric Mc said:

Aha - the long term consequences of trying to make short term tax savings.

I don't suppose there is a shareholders' agreement either.

Is smugness taught at Accountancy night class?

[monthefish]

Harry Flashman said:

Please could someone recommend a divorce solicitor?

I think this firm might fit the bill...

[singlecoil]

Luke. said:

Eric Mc said:

Aha - the long term consequences of trying to make short term tax savings.

I don't suppose there is a shareholders' agreement either.

Is smugness taught at Accountancy night class?

It didn't come across to me as smug, more as a way of suggesting that people think carefully about their tax avoidance arrangements.

[Eric Mc]

Luke. said:

Eric Mc said:

Aha - the long term consequences of trying to make short term tax savings.

I don't suppose there is a shareholders' agreement either.

Is smugness taught at Accountancy night class?

No - it's not smugness but a natural consequence of knowing things and seeing the same old sad scenarios being played out.

I've got a client in a similar position and it's not very nice for him.

[Harry Flashman]

KFC said:

Harry Flashman said:

She values it at £4m, it’s worth about 1m. He’s willing to hand it to her and move on (the business is him, so he’ll just start again) – she won’t accept.

If the business is just him, then its not worth £1m. Its worth nothing.

Well it isn't just him - what I meant is that clients are his, not hers. She takes no part in it. He employs people, has assets etc...

[Harry Flashman]

monthefish said:

Harry Flashman said:

Please could someone recommend a divorce solicitor?

I think this firm might fit the bill...

Already contacted them, but about arranging an accident for the wife, not a solicitor for the husband. Pick the appropriate tool for the task, etc...

[Harry Flashman]

So no sensible recommendations? I would have though PH a fertile hunting ground for divorce solicitor recommendations, given the amount of pain I see in this Lounge of ours.

EricMc - with you. Seen it before myself.

[ReaderScars]

Maybe you should edit that post about the wife having an accident - just in case she does, actually, have an accident. You might have some explaining to do...

[cossy400]

Breadvan maybe your man, hes in the know regarding solicitors.

Only thing to add is sounds a stty time for your mate.

Better off poor with fk all sometimes than working your arse off.

[Harry Flashman]

ReaderScars said:

Maybe you should edit that post about the wife having an accident - just in case she does, actually, have an accident. You might have some explaining to do...

Not really. Tonker & Soovy LLP are true professionals.

[Harry Flashman]

cossy400 said:

Breadvan maybe your man, hes in the know regarding solicitors.

Only thing to add is sounds a stty time for your mate.

Better off poor with fk all sometimes than working your arse off.

She wants a payout, and is attempting to overvalue the business massively. He’d rather hand it to her, walk away, and start again. Which she obviously doesn’t want, as she knows that without him, the business is worthless and she couldn’t run it in any way, shape or form. In the meantime, she is playing the adult children off against him and each other. Sadly the son, who works for him, is slightly hard-of-thinking and so, when he’s not licking windows, is giving his father a tough time. Personally, I’d fire the little sod.

All came about because the wife, a few years ago, stated that she wanted an open relationship. Husband, said (stupidly, but he loved her and did not want divorce to mess up the children during exam years) agreed – she has effectively been seeing this other chap for a while now. My friend never found anyone else. Until 2 years ago, when he met Lady Flashman’s best friend, who is beautiful, cool and 17 years his junior. Wife not pleased, and has gone a little loopy.

Anyway, thanks for moving, mods. Hopefully SP&L forum will provide some solicitor recommendations.

His all his own fault, frankly. What sane man agrees to an open relationship? The day Lady F asks for such, she’ll be under the patio with all the others before you can say “Fred West”

[cossy400]

Open relationship = end of relationship.

But as the saying goes loves a funny old thing and makes grown men do/agree to stupid things.

hopefully there will be an easyish option to solve this.

As for the lad, sounds like a good slap is in order, but as I "wisely" have chosen not to have kids but Mrs400 has 2 grown up 24/28 I have enough to deal with, with them asking advice or wanting a slap for bein damright stupid.

And believe me the list of occasions is growing rapidly just lately.

[anonymous-user]

I cannot honestly recommend any divorce lawyer. It is not my field, I am happy to say. Divorce lawyers are regarded by lawyers in other fields as being mostly useless and sharkish, and what little I know of them indicates that this view is well founded. The brightest and best lawyers do not go into family law, even though is a good way to make a big living. Compare and contrast medicine, where the best and brightest doctors do not go into infertility treatment, cosmetic medicine and such like, but the money chasers do.

[Alex]

Better call Saul!

Sorry, I don't have any actual recommendation, but this sentence made me chuckle. Classic PH!

Harry Flashman said:

Sadly the son, who works for him, is slightly hard-of-thinking and so, when he’s not licking windows, is giving his father a tough time. Personally, I’d fire the little sod.