42BR Barristers - Tom Gilchrist

Tom Gilchrist

Call 2018 (2016 - New Zealand)
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

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Tom Gilchrist

Call 2018 (2016 - New Zealand)
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

Profile Privacy Notice vCard

Tom has over a decade of experience in financial remedies upon divorce, inheritance disputes, wills, trusts and cohabitation. He frequently appears in the Family Court, County Court & High Court and has drafted written submissions in the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.

He also has wide experience in non-molestation orders and occupation orders, both for applicants and respondents. 

Tom was previously a barrister in New Zealand, practising mainly in divorce, wills, and trusts. He gathered experience quickly, appearing in the District Court, Family Court and the High Court and the Court of Appeal of New Zealand. 

Tom also volunteers for the Chancery Bar Litigant in Person Support Scheme ('CLIPS'), providing on the day pro bono advocacy representation to litigants in person in application courts. For two years, he was a committee member of the Inner Temple Junior Bar Association, representing barristers under 7 year's call. 

An avid writer, Tom often writes articles on recent and hot topics in the areas of divorce, inheritance, and cohabitation. His articles have even been republished by Today’s Family Lawyer and Today’s Wills & Probate 

Property Law

Tom acts for clients in a wide array of traditional chancery areas, including constructive & resulting trust claims, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 disputes (often in cohabitation settings), will & probate disputes, proprietary estoppel claims, and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

While a fearless advocate, Tom is also well versed in providing written opinions and advices as to likely liability, potential claims, risks, and potential solutions & settlement. 

Family Law

Tom specialises in financial remedies upon divorce, having acted in cases involving modest asset pools all the way to cases with high-net worth parties with assets in the tens of millions of Pounds.

He has particular experience with third-parties intervening in financial remedies matters, particularly with third-parties asserting beneficial interests in matrimonial assets under TOLATA.

Tom also significant recent experience in relation to pre-nuptial agreements, whether they were valid to begin with, and whether a party should be held to them.

Tom is also available to be instructed as a Private FDR judge.

Recent Cases

  • G v R [2026] EWFC 88 (B): In this case, a wife applied for an occupation order and non-molestation order. The wife alleged that they had only separated a few years before the application, whereas the husband contended that they had been separated for about 16 years. Tom successfully argued on behalf of the husband that the applications should be dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
  • Williams v Williams [2024] EWFC 275: A high-net-worth case, where the wife sought a finding that the husband had hidden assets worth tens of billions of Pounds. Tom acted for the husband and the court determined that there were ‘only’ assets of £50 million and that of them, only £25 million were matrimonial. The wife received an order for £12.5 million. 
  • NM v PM [2024] EWFC 199 (B): A complex case where a barrister drafted their own prenuptial agreement for their marriage to a solicitor, but then sought to resile from it years later. Neither party had independent legal advice at the time. Despite this, Tom successfully argued that the prenuptial agreement should be upheld. 
  • Da Silva v Pereira Jr (abduction: Article 13B and child's objections) [2022] EWHC 1193 (Fam): Tom represented the Father in a Hague Convention case, where the Mother sought return to Portugal. An important factor that Tom argued was whether or not the Cafcass officer had given sufficient weight to the child’s DAMP syndrome and possible autism when giving her analysis and opinion. 

Professional Contributions

Keen to give back to the next generation, Tom provides multiple pro bono annual workshops every year for law students for witness handling and mooting skills at King’s College London and University College London. 

 

Direct Access

Tom is authorised to accept instructions direct from members of the public. He encourages clients who are considering this route to contact Chambers and discuss their problem.

In suitable cases, Tom can provide client conferences, written advices and representation at court. 

Areas of Expertise

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Related News

G v R [2026] EWFC 88 (B)

G v R [2026] EWFC 88 (B)

Tom Gilchrist represented the successful respondent in G v R [2026] EWFC 88 (B).


Published: 22nd Jul 2026

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