Lucy is a highly experienced family lawyer with over two decades of practice in leading family law firms in Central London. She specialises in financial matters arising from divorce, including high-value and complex asset cases, as well as private children law disputes, such as relocation applications.
Lucy provides comprehensive advice across the full spectrum of family law including prenuptial agreements. As an accredited specialist member of Resolution, Lucy is committed to resolving disputes in a non-confrontational way wherever possible.
Her clients include individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, including professionals, business owners, and international clients requiring specialist knowledge of cross-border family law issues. She has been involved in various reported cases, and is a Resolution-accredited specialist in advanced financial remedy and international law.
Lucy speaks Spanish and French.
Lucy Marks is efficient, approachable, understanding and has worked tirelessly moving our case forward. She translates the legal jargon into plain English and has made a hugely unpleasant situation doable. I feel she is modestly priced for a solicitor with this amount of experience and that she cares. I would not have been able to have survived that latest round of court without her and cannot recommend her more. She is exceptional.
V.A., Client
Lucy was a force of unwavering support to me. She is the dream lawyer that every client wishes to have – diligent, calm and incredibly knowledgeable in the family law field. I knew from the start to the finish I was in very safe and capable hands.
J.S., Client
Lucy’s sage advice and mastery of the minutiae were invaluable. She respected my priorities, resolved potential conflicts, and delivered on her promises by avoiding protracted and costly litigation. I recommend Lucy without reservation.
J.S., Client
I am truly grateful to Lucy for her amazing work, guidance and emotional support throughout this difficult process which, at the end of the day, turned out very well for me. She was a tower of strength to me throughout – both legally and emotionally. I will always be grateful to her.
G.F., Client
Expertise
- Divorce
- The Dissolution and Separation Act 2020
- Cohabitation Disputes
- Financial Proceedings Upon Divorce
- International Relocation
- Internal Relocation
- Leave to Remove Applications
- The Children Act 1989
- Schedule 1 Children Act/ maintenance
Experience
Cohabitation Disputes
- Acted for a client following a 20-year relationship, involving a property dispute regarding their jointly held property without an express declaration of trust. Advised on issuing proceedings under TOLATA. Settlement was reached at a private FDR.
- Advised a cohabitant in relation to their position in advance of cohabiting, and in respect of their rights under a cohabitation agreement, drafted by their partner. Subsequent amendments to that agreement protected the client’s position.
- Advised and represented a client in a case involving the beneficial interest of two jointly owned properties in this jurisdiction, following a lengthy period of cohabitation. Considered with the client all contentious matters including constructive and resulting trust claims and advised behind the scenes during mediation.
Financial Proceedings upon Divorce
- Acted for the wife in financial remedy proceedings involving various properties in different jurisdictions. The trial of a preliminary issue took place concerning the beneficial ownership of a property abroad (under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, which the husband asserted was held exclusively by a third party, who was joined to proceedings as intervenor. The wife successfully defended such claims.
- Acted for the husband at first instance and on appeal in the reported cases of H v W [2013] EWHC 4105 (Fam) and H v W [2014} EWHC 2846, which remains one of the leading cases dealing with the treatment of bonuses on divorce. On appeal, the husband was successful in having a cap placed on the maintenance. In a subsequent hearing, the court ordered that the wife’s position in relation to mediation had been unreasonable and ordered her to pay the husband’s costs.
- Acted for a wife in a case involving allegations that the husband had refused to provide full and frank disclosure leading to increased costs. The husband’s conduct throughout the case led to the court making costs orders against him, and the wife receiving a larger share of the assets to meet her needs.
International relocation/ internal relocation – Leave to remove application
- Acted for a mother, in her application to relocate to Spain, with her two young children, both in relation to the substantive application (at a final hearing) and subsequently on appeal.
- Acted for the father, opposing the mother’s application to relocate with the child to China, which succeeded at final hearing.
- Acted for the mother in the reported case of S v T (permission to relocate to Russia) [2012] EWHC 4023 (Fam), one of the first successful applications to Russia.
Children Act 1989
- Acted for the mother in proceedings for a child arrangements involving a six-year-old child, where there were allegations of coercive control and abuse, with considerable focus and attention given to protecting the mother during handovers.
- Acted for the mother in connection with child arrangements involving a six-month-old baby, where the father was seeking a shared care arrangement.
- Acted for the mother of two young children, where the father had an alcohol addiction. The arrangements therefore had to provide for comprehensive alcohol testing prior to each arrangement.
Schedule 1 Children Act/ maintenance
- Represented the mother in a Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 application against a high-profile father, seeking financial provision including claims for housing, maintenance and educational costs for the benefit of the child. Successfully negotiated a housing fund for the mother and child along with a lump sum and maintenance.
- Acted for a father in proceedings instituted by the mother in respect of registration/ enforcement of a French child maintenance order, which was subsequently dismissed by the court.
- Acted for the father defending a Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 application brought by the mother seeking a substantial lump sum and provision for housing. The case involved significant scrutiny of the mother’s budget in order to challenge the extent of her financial claims. The matter resolved at the dispute resolution hearing.
Recognition
Resolution-accredited specialist in Advanced Financial Provision and International Family law.
Listed in Citywealth Directory of Lawyers, 2016, 2017, 2024 and 2025
Recommended in Thomson Reuters directory of Super lawyers 2015
“Praised for her proactive and pragmatic approach to both children cases and matrimonial finance disputes” Chambers UK 2015
“She doesn’t get bogged down in the detail but is happy to look at the bigger picture” Chambers UK 2016
“She is very rational, but she completely understands the emotional and psychological angles.” Chambers UK 2014
“Sources are impressed with her thoroughness” Chambers UK 2013
“Hardworking and extremely honest” The Legal 500, 2011
Member of Resolution
Fellow of the Association of Spanish Speaking family lawyers (AIJUDEFA)
Member of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
Career
Lucy qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, she worked at the following firms:
- Marks Law
- Dawson Cornwell
- Mishcon de Reya