News Essentials: 17th July 2021

A brief summary of the essential family law news and cases from the last week: 

NEWS

Russian billionaire settles with ex-wife five years after £450m payout ruling
Farkhad Akhmedov had contested 2017 decision but has now reached an agreement over divorce. Full story: The Guardian.

Lord Chief Justice officially opens Civil and Family Courts and Tribunal Centre in Newcastle
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, presided over the official opening of a new 25-court centre in Newcastle earlier today (Wednesday 14 July 2021). Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

Court of Appeal allows appeal by council as judgment in childcare proceedings did not contain required analysis of competing options
The Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by a council over a judge’s order that effectively rejected the local authority’s care plan for adoption for an 18-month-old child. Full story: Local Government Lawyer.

Message from Mr Justice Mostyn: update on standard orders
Order 6.5 - Arbitration: Initial Gatekeeper’s Order added to the compendium of standard orders. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

A View from The President’s Chambers: July 2021
The latest update from the President of the Family Division. Full story: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary.

CASES

D, Re (Care Proceedings: 1996 Hague Convention: Article 9 Request) [2021] EWHC 1970 (Fam) (15 July 2021)
Proceedings relating to a 2 year old child who has been living in Switzerland in a foster home since November 2019. Application for transfer to this jurisdiction of all matters relating to child's contact with his sibling. Full report: Bailii.

E v L [2021] EWFC 60 (13 July 2021) & E v L (No. 2: Costs) [2021] EWFC 63 (15 July 2021)
Final order on wife's application for financial remedies, and accompanying costs judgment. Full reports here and here. See also my short note, here.

AE & JE v M [2021] EWHC 1957 (Fam) (13 July 2021)
Application by children for child arrangements order reflecting the fact that they wish to remain living with their mother in England, and do not wish to spend time with their father in Spain. Full report: Bailii. See also my note, here.

Wigan BC v Y (Refusal to Authorise Deprivation of Liberty) [2021] EWHC 1982 (Fam) (14 July 2021)
Application by local authority for an order authorising the continued deprivation of 12 year old child's liberty on hospital ward. Order refused. Full report: Bailii.

H v An Adoption Agency (No.2)(Declaration of Parentage and Public Policy) [2021] EWHC 1943 (Fam) (13 July 2021)
Application by birth father for a declaration of parentage in respect of an adopted child. Full report: Bailii.

JO and JS (children)(dismissal of proceedings) [2021] EWFC B36 (28 June 2021)
Judgment dismissing care proceedings, following receipt of expert report indicating that child had not suffered bone fracture, as previously believed. Full report: Bailii.

NA v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and AA (CSM) (Child support - applications) [2021] UKUT 139 (AAC) (15 June 2021)
Appeal by NRP father against child support decision by FTT on various grounds, including that the mother had not made the application in writing. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii.

A v A (Arbitration: Guidance) [2021] EWHC 1889 (Fam) (09 July 2021)
Judgment on H's (dismissed) challenges to arbitral award, in which Mostyn J set out guidance, with the approval of the President, on challenging or implementing an arbitral award. Full report: Bailii.

Fixsler & Anor v Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 1018 (09 July 2021)
Appeal by parents from declaration that NHS Trust may withdraw life-sustaining treatment from brain damaged child. Appeal dismissed. Full report: Bailii.