MARIA SCOTLAND

I am the Joint Head of the Family Team at 5 St. Andrew’s Hill, Chambers of David Josse QC in London. I practice exclusively in family law. I am and have been ranked in the Legal 500 in family law (both in children and divorce & financial remedy) and Chambers & Partners.
I joined the Bar as my second career after spending 3 years as a research scientist. I was called to the Bar in October 1995 and have been a practising barrister in family law for the last 26 years. I undertake all areas associated with the breakdown of a family, whether the parties were married or cohabiting, including disputes over children (private children work). I have experience in big-money, complex cases including issues relating to trusts, foreign assets, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, co-habitation agreements and extended family interests.
During my 26 years practise I have represented clients from all walks of life, from Premier League football players, high net worth foreign entrepreneurs, Doctors and Consultant medical practitioners, bankers, accountants, other lawyers (including members of the Bar and Solicitors) to the “man on the street”, all of whom receive the same empathetic advice and guidance in a clear, plain English. I have a keen interest in assisting my clients to reach an agreeable outcome in their threatened or actual court proceedings by the swiftest and cheapest means possible. In those cases where the other side are overly difficult, aggressive and/or unreasonable swift resolution is not always possible but I am well versed in dealing with difficult opponents and can prove a tenacious advocate and will endeavour to protect my client from the emotional and financial stress of the case and steer the case to a resolution as quickly and as cheaply as possible.