Christopher Felstead
Year of Call: 1998
Clerks: James Watson / Lee Fifield
An experienced barrister, Christopher specialises in family law with a specific focus on heavy financial remedy cases. He is regularly instructed in cases involving businesses with complex ownership and accounting structures, farming and trusts cases, cases with complex pension issues including uniformed services pensions, and cases involving high net worth individuals.
He is consistently ranked as a Band 1 leading finance junior by Chambers and Partners, and the Legal 500.
Chambers UK 2022 describes him as a "standout junior" who specialises in family finance with a significant focus on complex ancillary relief. He is well versed in dealing with high-value settlements, tax considerations, family and businesses and farming cases. Strengths: "He has a very good head for figures and can assimilate financial information very quickly and condense it into clear, concise and advice." "His advice is clear and measured against his considerable experience."
Previous editions have included comments such as:
"He stands out for his professionalism, sound advice and ability to put the client at ease."
"Personable and extremely knowledgeable. His accurate, logical analysis of matters allows for meaningful negotiations. Clients are always reassured by the calibre of his advice."
"He is my first choice in Cardiff for his robust style and firm but fair approach."
"A very good finance practitioner who is very focused and organised."
"…he is emerging as one of the leading junior barristers on the circuit for financial disputes, and is typically instructed on cases involving high-value business and commercial assets. He is noted as a highly proficient advocate who is adept at understanding and interpreting complex financial arrangements."
"…he grasps a case so quickly and in such a proactive way that he adds an extra level of service and value. He is financially astute and commercial and gets to the crux of a case very quickly."
The Legal 500 2021 recommend him as a Leading Junior in Divorce and Financial Remedy. They comment "A first choice for financial remedy work".
The Legal 500 2020 also describes him as “A respected advocate who has no problem acting against opposite Leading Counsel.”
Previous editions have noted that
"he is extremely bright and gets to the crux of a case."
"recommended for complex financial remedy cases,"
"…he demonstrates particular expertise in multifaceted, complex ancillary relief issues."
He is applauded for his "adept handling of particularly challenging high-value financial matters."
Recent cases he has been instructed in include disputes involving:
Complex financial remedy application involving £15m company and off shore assets
Complex financial remedy application involving 200 properties, £30m gross companies
Setting aside a consent order for non-disclosure
Section 37 applications
Complex share buy out within financial remedy proceedings
Offshore Trusts (Jersey and BVI) and Discretionary Trusts
Public Sector and uniformed services pension scheme
Financial remedy applications involving farms and including third party claims
Third Party Intervenors
Arguments about the liquidity, value or sale of businesses
A multi-million pounds pre-marriage acquired assets case following a high-profile company flotation
Realising settlements from disputes involving complicated tax issues
Christopher sits as a Recorder in the Family Court and in the Crown Court. He also sits as the Legal Chair of the Mental Health Review Tribunal in cases involving restricted patients.
Christopher was educated at Leicester Grammar School before going on to study law at Cardiff University. He is a member of the Family Law Bar Association.