‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
Legal 500, 2024
Top Tier

Experience

Year of Call: 2007

Education

University of Oxford (Modern History)
BPP law school (BVC)

Profile

Henry’s practice focuses on the financial consequences of divorce and the breakdown of cohabiting relationships, as well as financial disputes relating to children or incapacitated adults involving the Court of Protection.  He is a tenacious advocate with a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of business and finance.


Henry is known for his technical understanding of corporate financial structures, and is in demand from clients seeking a barrister with a good understanding of the commercial world.  Before being called to the bar, Henry worked for a commercial law firm.  He regularly represents clients in cases with international dimensions and has a comprehensive understanding of multi-jurisdictional disputes (including Part III of the MFPA 1984). He was junior counsel in the reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union on the operation of the lis pendens provisions in the Brussels IIA regulation, reported as A v B C-489/14.

In AAZ v BBZ [2016] EWHC 3234 (Fam) he was junior counsel for the Wife who was awarded over £450million. At time of writing, this is the largest ever reported matrimonial finance award.

In addition to matrimonial and civil partnership financial cases, Henry advises and represents unmarried couples and parents in relation to financial disputes.  He also has considerable experience in more unusual financial matters such as child maintenance appeals, insolvency, varying foreign court orders and costs cases.

Away from work Henry is a keen tennis player and footballer.

Professional Memberships

FLBA
Middle Temple

Directories

“He genuinely seeks a negotiated settlement on behalf of his clients if one can be reasonably reached, but he knows where the line is. If settlement can’t be reached he’s willing to fight for a better outcome.”

“He’s just brilliant on his feet.”

“His attention to detail is second to none.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
Legal 500, 2024

Top Tier

“Henry Clayton has an astonishing eye for detail and a fantastic memory. He has an innate ability to digest the most complicated cases into easy to understand concepts.”
“Nothing fazes Henry. He has a terrific brain and is a silk in the making.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023

‘Henry is a details person and is able to get to grips very quickly with the most complex of cases. He knows the law inside out and deploys it to his client’s advantage with real skill. His advocate is measured, reassuring and highly persuasive. He is a class act.’
Legal 500, 2023
Top Tier

Family finance junior who handles a range of matters including maintenance orders and Schedule 1 cases. He routinely services high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings and is commended for his grasp of complex issues.

Strengths: “He is outcome-focused and will give the client the most sensible and pragmatic advice, being able to distil what can be complex legal principles and factual backgrounds into understandable summaries.” “He is thorough, well prepared, approachable and sensitive with anxious clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022

‘ A consistently brilliant junior. ’
Legal 500, 2022
Top Tier

Family finance junior who handles a range of matters including maintenance orders and Schedule 1 cases. He routinely services high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings and is commended for his grasp of complex issues.

Strengths: “Henry is exceptional and always in high demand.” “He is sharp-witted, thorough and diligent.” “He is like a ferret with regard to the detail in a case. You always come away learning something new from him.”

Recent work: Represented the wife in Akhmedova v Akhmedov & Others regarding the enforcement of her £453 million award.
Chambers & Partners, 2021

‘One of the the brightest, sharpest minds at the family law Bar. He regularly goes head to head with silks and does so with ease. He is a match for anyone and is simply superb.’
Legal 500, 2021
Top Tier


Family finance junior who handles a range of matters including maintenance orders and Schedule 1 cases. He routinely services high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings and is commended for his grasp of complex issues.

Strengths: “He never stops fighting for his clients and is always able to see the bigger picture. His preparation of cases is faultless.” “You can tell his clients have been well advised. He doesn’t take silly points, but puts forward a sensible case.”
Chambers & Partners 2020

‘Meticulous preparation, penetrating and focused advocacy, a sharp legal mind and clever lateral thinking when unusual situations present themselves.’
Legal 500, 2020
Top Tier

Family finance junior who handles a range of matters including maintenance orders and Schedule 1 cases. He routinely services high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings and is commended for his grasp of complex issues.

Strengths: “He is a go-to junior with a wise head, who gives strategic advice and has excellent attention to detail. He is immensely bright and hard-working, and is someone who punches above his weight.”
Chambers & Partners 2019

‘Has an unbelievable eye for detail.’
Legal 500, 2019
Top Tier

Up-and-coming family finance junior who handles matters including maintenance orders, Schedule 1 and CSA appeals. He routinely services high net worth clients and is commended for his grasp of complex issues despite his junior level of call. He has experience of handling matters involving incapacitated adults.
Strengths: “He is very keen, very hard-working and already has experience of some very big and complex cases. His advocacy is very clear, measured and persuasive.”
Chambers & Partners 2018

‘A first-class junior.’
Legal 500, 2017

Up-and-coming family finance junior who handles matters including maintenance orders, Schedule 1 and CSA appeals. He routinely services high net worth clients and is commended for his grasp of complex issues despite his junior level of call.
Strengths: “He’s impressive for his years. He’s meticulous in his approach, produces incredible paperwork, is super bright and knows how to deal with senior silks. He shines in financial cases where his judgement stands out.”
Recent work: Featured in a case in the ECJ concerning the meaning of the word ‘established’ in the Brussels IIA regulation.
Chambers & Partner 2017

‘The king of detail and astonishingly intelligent.’
The Legal 500, 2016

20/12/16
[2016] EWHC 3349 (Fam)
20/12/16
[2016] EWHC 3361 (Fam)
15/12/16
[2016] EWHC 3234 (Fam)
06/10/15
A v B C-489/14
04/11/14
2014 EWHC 4210
17/08/11
[2011] EWHC 3521 (Fam)
09/05/11
[2011] EWHC 913 (Fam)