Julia Townend

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution

Direct Access

Direct Access

Awards

Shortlisted, Young Family Law Barrister of the Year, Jordan’s Family Law Awards 2016
Pupillage Advocacy Prize 2012, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Advocacy Scholarship 2010, Kaplan Law School

“Julia is a force to be reckoned with. Her ability and commitment in terms of preparation, technical legal knowledge, client care and advocacy are nothing short of phenomenal. Skilful and creative, she can navigate even the most torrid of situations effectively and she always displays acute commercial awareness. She’s fiercely intelligent, insightful and somewhat fearless.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024

Experience

Year of Call: 2011

Education

MA (Cantab), Law, Girton College, University of Cambridge
BPTC, Kaplan Law School, London

Languages

Conversational French

Profile

Julia is described in the directories as “an absolute superstar” who “thinks outside the box and can win the trickiest points whilst making it look easy”. Her busy practice has a focus on both the financial consequences of relationship breakdown and private law children matters. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 in both fields.

Julia has a wealth of experience advising clients domestically and internationally, primarily as an advocate in her own right but also as part of legal teams. Alongside her busy court practice, Julia represents clients in private FDRs/early neutral evaluations and arbitrations frequently.

Julia is a contributing author to Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children. She has written articles for various family law publications, national newspapers and has featured on Sky News and BBC Radio addressing both private law children and divorce/family finance issues.


Family Finance

Described for her finance work in Legal 500 as “a superb advocate with a great eye for detail, meticulous in her preparation and quick on her feet” Julia is calm, reassuring and pragmatic with clients.

Julia advises clients prior to and during marriage as well as post-separation (including on issues of nuptial agreements) and represents clients in court, private FDRs/early neutral evaluations and arbitrations on wide ranging issues. Experienced in claims pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, many of Julia’s cases have an international dimension, including jurisdiction disputes and worldwide assets and issues emanating from overseas divorces. Julia is well-versed in cases involving a raft of different asset categories, as well as discrete issues such as capacity, conduct, adverse inferences, third party issues such as family loans and beneficial interests and notice to show cause applications – see for example KVK v DQD [2024] EWFC 78 (B). Julia is routinely instructed in relation to the enforcement of financial orders, including committals (for example, in O’Connell v Lovell (divorce: property) [2017] EWFC B99).

Private Children Law

Julia is said by the directories to be “extremely smart, tactically very astute and always knows the papers inside out” in her private children law practice.

Representing a diverse client base, Julia’s experience within the field is significant. This includes all section 8 Children Act 1989 disputes (involving issues such as domestic abuse – for example in SM v PM [2023] EWHC 3446 (Fam), alienating behaviours, agency of children, substance misuse, mental health as well as cases without safeguarding issues), relocation (international and domestic), enforcement and thorny parental responsibility issues – for example in B v C [2023] EWHC 291 (Fam) and B v C (No. 2) (1996 Hague Convention Art 22) [2023] EWHC 2524 (Fam). Some years of public children law practice means Julia is also adept when private law children matters include local authority involvement and allegations of abuse (for example, Julia appeared in Re AD & AM (Fact-Finding hearing) (Application for re-hearing) [2016] EWHC 326 (Fam), Re AD & AM (Children) (Fact Finding: Re-Hearing) [2016] EWHC 2912 (Fam)).

Julia co-authors the section 8 Children Act 1989 chapter of Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children. She assists Piers Pressdee KC in coordinating the 4PB Private Children Law Group and is an author of the routine 4PB Private Law Children Update newsletters.

International Children Law

Julia’s private children law practice routinely involves issues transcending into the international law field, such as applications for leave to remove children overseas on a permanent and temporary basis and jurisdiction disputes.

Julia was instructed on behalf of the mother and led by Michael Gration KC in B v C [2023] EWHC 291(Fam) and B v C [2023] EWHC 291 (Fam) and B v C (No. 2) (1996 Hague Convention Art 22) [2023] EWHC 2524 (Fam) concerning the question of whether parental responsibility conferred fraudulently on a person by operation of Spanish law should subsist by operation of Article 16 of the Hague Convention 1996. The Secretary of State for Justice intervened.

Non-court dispute resolution

Julia offers adjudication through private FDRs/early neutral evaluations. In addition, since 2020, Julia has acted as the advising barrister to many couples through The Divorce Surgery, the innovative ‘one couple one lawyer’ service founded by Samantha Woodham and Harry Gates of 4PB.

Julia has significant experience appearing as counsel instructed on behalf of parties at private FDRs/early neutral evaluations, arbitrations and for round table meetings.

Court of Protection

Having previously authored the Court of Protection Update for Family Law Week, Julia has experience of Court of Protection issues flowing from other family law matters (including the Matrimonial Causes Act 1989 and previous Children Act 1989 proceedings) concerning vulnerable adults. This includes applications to revoke a lasting power of attorney and appoint an independent deputy. Julia’s experience in the Court of Protection extends to the involvement of experts and international issues.

Publications/Training

Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children – Children Act 1989: Private Law Orders: Section 8 orders (ongoing)

Professional Memberships

Family Law Bar Association
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Directories

“Julia is a force to be reckoned with. Her ability and commitment in terms of preparation, technical legal knowledge, client care and advocacy are nothing short of phenomenal. Skilful and creative, she can navigate even the most torrid of situations effectively and she always displays acute commercial awareness. She’s fiercely intelligent, insightful and somewhat fearless.”

“Responsive, approachable and to-the-point in her advice. She is a tough negotiator and a gifted communicator. Clients have complete confidence in her.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024

‘Julia is extremely smart, tactically very astute and always knows the papers inside out. She has an excellent eye for detail and is an excellent negotiator. Her client care is impeccable, and her advocacy is focused and laser-sharp, which judges appreciate.’
Legal 500 2024, Family (Including Children and Domestic Abuse)

‘Julia is a superb advocate with a great eye for detail, meticulous in her preparation and quick on her feet. She is calm, reassuring and pragmatic with clients.’
Legal 500 2024, Family (Including Divorce and Financial Remedy)

“Julia Townend is a total firecracker who is a joy to work with. She’s brilliant on her feet and has a great rapport with clients.”
“Impeccably well prepared, she thinks outside the box and can win the trickiest points whilst making it look easy. Judges agree with her and clients love her.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023

‘Julia is an absolute superstar. She is always meticulously prepared, extremely persuasive, and determined to do her utmost in the best interests of client. She has a calm and friendly demeanor which puts clients at ease whilst being a robust and assertive advocate.’
Legal 500 2023, Family (Including Divorce and Financial Remedy) 

‘Julia combines excellent client care with immaculate drafting and sensible advice. Her advocacy is focused and persuasive.’
Legal 500 2023, (Children Law) 

“She’s pragmatic, accessible and someone who tries to reach a settlement if necessary.” “Her meticulous preparation and clear advice, no matter how complex the issues, are a breath of fresh air.” “She is intelligent, personable and a lawyer who always makes the right calls.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022

‘ An excellent junior who inspires confidence in whomever she is representing. Julia’s knowledge and intellect set her apart from her contemporaries. ’
Legal 500, 2022

Children law and matrimonial finance practitioner who acts for a broad array of parents, ranging from high-profile celebrities to mentally vulnerable individuals. Her experience includes the handling of wardship applications, termination of parental responsibility, and habitation disputes. She frequently appears before the High Court and the Central Family Court.

Strengths: “Positive, smart, determined and compassionate. Clients love her.” “A real details person who explains things clearly to lay clients.” “Julia represents a large variety of clients, all of whom have very different personalities and communication styles.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
Up and Coming

“One of the most exciting legal talents at the Bar. She has a fierce legal intellect combined with incredibly effective advocacy skills that charm and persuade judges and clients alike. Julia sweeps aside opponents, and more often than not those who are many years her senior, with ease yet always with a calm and professional grace” “Scrupulously well-prepared. An articulate, persuasive and determined advocate”
Legal 500 2021

“Scrupulously well-prepared. An articulate, persuasive and determined advocate”
Legal 500 2021 Children Law (Including Public and Private Law)