Rebecca Cross

In financial remedy proceedings Rebecca deals with cases ranging from those dominated by need to those where the assets are substantial or difficult to trace. Rebecca regularly appears for applicants, respondents and interveners at all stages of proceedings, including multi-day final hearings and appeals, under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004. She also represents parties in applications pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and tribunal applications involving Child Maintenance disputes.

Rebecca is frequently instructed at pre-issue stage, where focus is primarily upon strategy, settlement and advice as to evidence.

Rebecca has a wide range of experience in family finance matters in cases involving:

• Dissipation of assets;
• Complex pension assets to include public sector pensions;
• Company valuation and complex company structures;
• Cases involving insolvency;
• Farming assets and agricultural issues;
• Assets abroad;
• Fraudulent non-disclosure;
• The enforcement of consent orders;
• The set aside of orders on the grounds of misrepresentation; 
• Appeals. 

Rebecca was shortlisted for the 2025 Financial Remedies Young Barrister of the Year award, a national award recognising outstanding achievements and contributions in the field of financial remedies.

Rebecca regularly advises clients in conference, both before and after the issue of proceedings and is able to provide prompt written advice within this specialism. Rebecca prides herself on providing realistic and pragmatic advice whist always being prepared to robustly pursue her client’s case. Rebecca is happy to represent clients in all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including at Mediations, private FDRs, Early Neutral Evaluations and Arbitrations.

Rebecca is the joint head of the private law children team. Rebecca is popular with solicitors and clients in difficult, complex and/or high-conflict private children cases. Rebecca receives instructions in private law proceedings acting for both parents, grandparents, connected carers and children (through their Rule 16.4 Guardian). 

Rebecca has wide experience in the representation of parties in private law proceedings. This includes experience of:

• Complex child arrangement proceedings such as those involving allegations of domestic abuse, allegations of alienating behaviours and challenge to section 7 reports;
• Transfer of living arrangements; 
• Cases involving Re W determinations and where appropriate, the cross-examination of children (and other vulnerable witnesses);
• Cases with an international element including international relocation;
• Applications relating to surrogacy and declarations of parentage;
• Female genital mutilation (FGM);
• Forced marriage;
• Allegations of factitious illness;
• Child and parental death;
• Cases involving the invocation of the inherent jurisdiction;
• Proceedings which have current or previous local authority involvement;
• Special guardianship;
• Adoption.

On a number of occasions, Rebecca has secured favourable costs orders, including against publicly funded parties.

Rebecca represented the children, instructed by the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), in a case spanning 27 months. The case concerned a finding of parental alienation by one expert of two, and the impact of domestic abuse on child arrangements. The proceedings were described by the expert psychiatrist as “about as acrimonious as they get”. To view this reported case, please click here.

Rebecca also receives instructions in applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996.

Rebecca is happy to represent clients in all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including Arbitrations and Early Neutral Evaluations.

Rebecca accepts instructions to sit as a Neutral Evaluator at private Financial Dispute Resolution appointments and draws on her 10 years of specialising in this field. Rebecca can help assist in securing relatively quick financial agreements in cases of all shapes and sizes. Rebecca is available for instruction in-person at Chambers’ Birmingham or Nottingham offices, remotely or at solicitors offices nationally.