Julia Townend

Family Law Bar Association
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Julia is 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”.

As well as providing advice and representation to both married and unmarried couples upon relationship breakdown, Julia advises prior to and during marriage including drafting nuptial agreements.

Many of Julia’s cases have an international dimension, including jurisdiction disputes, 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 – see for example KVK v DQD [2024] EWFC 78 (B) – and notice to show cause applications.

Julia is routinely instructed in relation to the enforcement of financial orders, including committals – see for example O’Connell v Lovell (divorce: property) [2017] EWFC B99).

Representing a diverse client base, Julia is experienced in the full range of private law children disputes. For example:

•  All section 8 Children Act 1989 disputes (involving issues such as significant 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).
• The relocation of children (international and domestic).
• Enforcement of child arrangements orders.
• 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 well-equipped 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.

Julia offers adjudication and representation for non-court dispute resolution, namely:

• Adjudication through private FDRs/early neutral evaluations.
• Acting as an advising barrister (since 2020) to many couples through The Divorce Surgery, the innovative ‘one couple one lawyer’ service founded by Samantha Woodham and Harry Gates of 4PB.
• Representing parties at private FDRs/early neutral evaluations, arbitrations and at round table meetings.

“Brilliant with clients and super on her feet, she effectively charms judges.”

“Outstanding on her feet and consistently achieves fantastic results. She has impeccable judgment and displays great forensic skill.”

“Julia is a star in the making – she’s confident, considered, focussed and clever.”

Chambers and Partners 2025

“Julia is a formidable advocate who commands the attention of the courtroom. She has sound commercial and practical awareness.”

Legal 500 2025, Family (Divorce and Financial Remedy)

“Julia is a firm and exceptionally well-prepared advocate. She combines empathy and understanding with the ability to deliver a hard message when needed. She is tenacious and eloquent when fighting her client’s corner.”

Legal 500 2025, Family (Children and Domestic Abuse)

“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 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 (Divorce and Financial Remedy)

“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 (Children and Domestic Abuse)

“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 (Divorce and Financial Remedy)

“Julia combines excellent client care with immaculate drafting and sensible advice. Her advocacy is focused and persuasive.”

Legal 500 2023, Family (Children and Domestic Abuse)

“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 Family (Divorce and Financial Remedy)

Legal 500 2022 Children Law (Public and Private Law)

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”

Legal 500 2021 Family (Divorce and Financial Remedy)

“Scrupulously well-prepared. An articulate, persuasive and determined advocate”

Legal 500 2021 Children Law (Public and Private Law)

• KFK v DQD [2024] EWFC 78 (B)
• SM v PM [2023] EWHC 3446 (Fam)
• B v C (No. 2) (1996 Hague Convention Art 22) [2023] EWHC 2524 (Fam)
• B v C [2023] EWHC 291 (Fam)
• O’Connell v Lovell (divorce : property) (2017) EWFC B99 [21 December 2017]