People

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People

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 - 2022

Portrait of Kerry Fretwell
Areas of expertise: Family law, Private wealth

Profile

Kerry is a partner and qualified mediator in the family law team in Reading who specialises in acting for mid to high net worth individuals. Having trained and practised in a leading firm in London, she has been a partner for over 20 years and has more than 28 years’ experience. Kerry regards her ability to offer a London quality service at regional rates as one of her strengths. Familiar with the London bar and courts, Kerry’s cases come from London, down to the South Coast and through the Cotswolds, and she acts for company directors, lawyers, accountants, bankers and their spouses.

As well as negotiating financial settlements on divorce, Kerry's practice includes children work and acting for mothers and fathers in contact, residence and leave to remove disputes. She has developed an expertise in financial settlements between unmarried parents, applications for children on behalf of unmarried mothers and acting for interveners. Kerry also has many international clients.

Kerry is an active member of Resolution, the leading membership organisation for specialist family lawyers in England and Wales, and regularly speaks and writes articles on family law issues. Recognised as a leading individual in the legal directories, Kerry is described in Chambers UK as ‘super experienced and thoughtful’ by a client, who adds: ‘She gives sensible, practical advice, is responsive and is solutions-oriented in the advice she offers.’

Recent work highlights

  • Acted for a mother in contentious Schedule 1 and children proceedings, where the father was represented by a London city firm and claimed to have no income. Secured a property for the mother and her three children in excess of £1.2 million, together with a furniture fund, costs and a car for the nanny.
  • Acted for a wife when the husband refused to provide supporting documentation as to his income when the consent order was made. Detailed analysis of the husband’s intermittent disclosure of bank statements revealed undisclosed bank accounts - when ordered to produce the full set, he settled on terms offered to him by the wife.
  • Acted for the father in contentious Schedule 1 and children proceedings. Achieved an order that provides for half of all school holidays and generous term time contact, despite the mother’s reluctance, as well as limiting the mother’s capital claims to legal costs and a furniture fund, with no further ability to claim for housing.
  • Acted for a husband after a long marriage, involving assets of approximately £8 million with properties overseas and pensions to share. Reached an agreement with the minimum of fuss and acrimony ensuring that the process was as smooth as it could be for both the husband and the wife.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP