Edward Benson

Call
2019

Practice

Ed practises in all areas of private family law. His practice has a focus on financial remedy work (including claims under Part III MFPA 1984 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act), nuptial agreements, jurisdiction disputes, cohabitee claims under TLATA 1996, and private children work. He will undertake pro bono instructions in suitable cases.

Since joining Chambers in 2021, Ed has appeared frequently with leading counsel in the High Court in complex financial remedy cases, including a six day trial (HA v WA & Anor [2022] EWFC 110), and has represented clients as sole counsel up to High Court level. He is regularly instructed to undertake advisory and drafting work, including drafting and advising on nuptial agreements, and particularly enjoys work with an international element.

Ed spent the summer of 2022 on secondment at Payne Hicks Beach, where he worked with the family team on numerous complex, high-value, and high-profile cases.

Prior to joining 1 Hare Court, Ed undertook a twelve-month pupillage at a leading commercial Chambers. He is experienced in producing written opinions and pleadings, and comfortable with the complex commercial and legal issues that often arise in financial remedy cases such as trust structures, company valuations, issues of ownership, and the offshoring of assets.

Before undertaking pupillage, Ed was the Fox Scholar at Canada’s leading litigation firm, where he worked on a variety of complex commercial and public law matters. He was a judicial assistant at the Ontario Court of Appeal, and a trainee in the Cabinet of Bernd Hammerman at the EFTA Court in Luxembourg.

LS v PS [2021] EWFC 108 (led by Richard Todd KC)

Acting for the successful husband resisting the disclosure of without prejudice and FDR material to an intervenor in financial remedy proceedings. A leading case on the privilege which accords to FDRs, the applicability of FPR PD9A para 6.2 to private FDRs, and the circumstances in which the ‘absolute bar’ for disclosure of FDR material may be lifted.

Simon v Simon & Level (Joinder) [2022] EWFC 29 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A leading case concerning if, and if so in what circumstances, a litigation lender could be joined to financial remedy proceedings when the husband and wife had reached an agreement as to their financial remedy claims.

Simon v Simon [2022] EWFC 35 (led by Richard Todd KC)

Acting for the husband in an intervenor’s application for civil proceedings to be heard concurrently with the husband and wife’s financial remedy proceedings.

HA v WA & Anor [2022] EWFC 110 (led by Richard Todd KC)

A six-day preliminary issue hearing acting for the successful intervenor where it was established that two properties in the wife’s name were in fact held on trust by her for the intervenor.

Ed lectures on topics of interest in family law to both large conferences and firms of solicitors.

  • FLBA
  • Resolution
  • Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit)
  • Lincoln’s Inn

Qualifications

  • St Edmund Hall, Oxford University: BA Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (First-Class Honours).
  • BPP Law School:  Graduate Diploma in Law.
  • City, University of London: Bar Professional Training Course.

Scholarships, Awards and Prizes

  • St Paul’s School: Lord Pearson Prize (2007), Senior Scholarship (2010).
  • St Edmund Hall, Oxford University: Open Scholarship (2015), Final Honour School Prize (2016).
  • Oxford University: Ranked 1st in Year: British Politics and Government (2016).
  • City, University of London: Academic Scholarship (2017).
  • Inns of Court: Hardwicke Award (2017), Lord Denning Scholarship (2017), EFTA Court Scholarship (2018), Harold G. Fox Scholarship (2018).
  • Other: 2nd Prize: UK Law Society Association International Mooting and Advocacy Competition (2018).

Ed is a cricket obsessive and occasional cricket broadcaster. He was part the official commentary team for the inaugural test match between Ireland v Pakistan in 2018.