Professional Practice

Lee Arnot is a senior junior barrister, with particular expertise in matrimonial finance and private law children work, often representing clients in respect of both aspects of their case. In matrimonial finance, he is instructed in cases dealing with complex financial disputes, including high net worth assets, trusts and company assets, as well as high conflict children cases involving allegations of alienation, serious allegations of abuse, and permanent relocation abroad. He is regularly instructed in public law cases, and private law cases with a background of social services involvement. He has been rated in the main directories for many years and appears in numerous reported cases. 

Lee is a Recorder sitting in Family and Crime on the Northern Circuit.

He also sits as Deputy District Judge in the Financial Remedies Court, as well as in private law children’s work, in London, including the Central Family Court. 

He undertakes private FDRs and Early Neutral Evaluation and is a qualified arbitrator (Children) through the Institute of Family Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme.

• Recommendations

  "Lee Arnot is superb and a brilliant tactician. He knows the law inside out and he knows how to work the court." "He is forensic, great with clients and generally a pleasure to work with. You know you'll get the best possible outcome when he's involved."

  Chambers and Partners 2023

  "Lee has excellent advocacy skills, highly intelligent, excellent with clients, and reliable."

  Legal 500 2023

  "Calm, focused and persuasive with judges. He manages clients well and gives honest, sound advice." "He provides clear direction for clients and instructing solicitors alike."

  Chambers and Partners 2022

  "Absolutely brilliant on children law and so calm and astute. He can make anyone feel so re-assured. A brilliant tactician and great to work with. An amazing advocate reads the court so well."

  Legal 500 2022

  ‘Works harder than others and achieves excellent outcomes as a result.’

  Legal 500 2018/2019

  "He's absolutely formidable, an immensely good strategist, and hugely thorough." "He is superb; he's intelligent, quick to grasp the important issues and personable with it."

  Chambers and Partyners 2019

  "He's absolutely formidable, an immensely good strategist, and hugely thorough." "He is superb; he's intelligent, quick to grasp the important issues and personable with it."

  Chambers & Partners 2019

  ‘Works harder than others and achieves excellent outcomes as a result.’

  Legal 500 2018/2019

  Very measured and persuasive, and cool when under pressure

  The Legal 500

  Manages a diverse practice relating to matrimonial finance as well as complex private and public law children proceedings. Some of his cases concern difficult circumstances of physical and emotional abuse and the examination of medical and police evidence. Expertise: "His breadth of knowledge is incredibly helpful, and he has an understanding of how conflict can affect clients."

  Chambers & Partners 2015

  "He really understands children work. He really gets to the heart of what the case is all about."

  Chambers & Partners 2014

  "An intelligent practitioner, with great judgement and attuned forensic skills"

  Legal 500 2015

• Notable Cases

  • B-T (A Child: Threshold Conditions)
    [2020] EWCA Civ / 697 [2020] 1 WLR 4469
    
  • Re V (A Child)
    [2013] EWCA Civ. 1649
    
  • MA v RS (Contact: Parenting Roles)
    [2012] 1 FLR 1056
    
  • Re M (Contact: Long-Term Best Interests)
    [2006] 1 FLR 627
    
  • A v A (Shared Residence)
    [2004] 1 FLR 1195
    
  • Re W (Minors) (Care Order: Adequacy of Care Plan)
    [2002] 1 FLR 815.
    

• Personal Information

  Married. Lives in London.