Harry took silk in 2020 having been the leading finance junior for many years. In 2018 he was awarded Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year, by Chambers & Partners. He previously won it in 2013 and was shortlisted in 2012. No other barrister has ever been nominated three times and won the award twice.

Harry specializes in complex divorce, financial remedies and claims for provision for unmarried parents under Children Act 1989 Schedule 1. His cases usually involve high and ultra-high net worth individuals (including up to £3bn). He has particular experience with complex corporate, trust, tax and business valuation issues, in the UK and overseas. He represents individuals, trusts, trustees and companies and has advised on overseas divorces including in Jersey, Guernsey, Cayman, Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Isle of Man. He also advises commercial funders of litigation.

He is instructed to advise on pre-nuptial agreements including with international dimensions. He is qualified and experienced arbitrator and regularly is called upon to preside over private FDRs. Harry has been instructed as an expert witness on English law in foreign proceedings.

Harry Oliver is

  • The only two times winner of the Chambers and Partners Family Junior Barrister of the Year (2013 and 2018)
  • Prior to taking silk was (since 2013) ranked one of only three ‘star individuals’ in Family Law at the junior bar in Chambers and Partners Bar Directory
  • Was 1 of only 3 specialist divorce and matrimonial finance practitioners ranked in the ‘Chambers 100’ Bar list of the top 100 junior barristers working in any area of the law in England and Wales. That commendation reads:

‘No stranger to big money matrimonial finance cases, Harry Oliver regularly handles matters generally involving assets between £10 million and £100 million. He was junior counsel in one of the largest cases ever when he acted for Del Monte Chief Vivian Imerman in his divorce from the sister of Robbie and Vincent Tchenguiz. Total assets in the case amounted to more than £300 million. Just as well then that Oliver is ‘a master of paperwork and figures,’ who has ‘a keen tactical brain.’ When he is instructed ‘clients feel that they are being represented by the very best counsel.’

Harry has particular experience with complex corporate, trust, tax and business valuation issues arising on divorce, whether relating to the UK or overseas jurisdictions. Allied to his specialism in financial matters, Harry undertakes cases where related trust, jurisdictional and/or complex enforcement issues arise.

He has appeared in many of the leading reported cases in matrimonial finance matters (see below).

In addition, Harry is a qualified Arbitrator, and accepts instructions in that capacity, as well as to conduct Private FDRs.

Harry is the co-author of “Trusts in Matrimonial Finance Proceedings” Bloomsbury 2019.

Reported Cases

  • BR v BR [2024] EWFC 11 (Peel J)– authority on the role of Single Joint Expert business valuers in UHNW cases and generally (£183m+ case)
  • ES v SS [2023] EWFC 177 (Cohen J) – decision following two week trial of UHNW (c.£50m+) financial remedies claim. Issues of departure from equality , Wells sharing, valuations of private equity interests and tax risks.
  • AA v AHM [2020] EWFC 105 (Moor J )– re applications to set side granting of leave to make MCPA 1984 Part III applications Bloom v Bloom & Kontiplaylova (publication and anonymity) [2018] 2 FCR 333; [2018] EWFC B10
  • Bloom v Bloom & Kontiplaylova (fraud, non-disclosure, inferences) [2018] 2 FCR 359; [2017] EWFC B109
  • WW v HW (Pre-Nuptial Agreement: Needs: Conduct) [2015] Fam Law 1060; [2015] EWHC 1844 (Fam)
  • Thiry v Thiry [2015] 2 FLR 743 – Substantive proceedings.
  • Thiry v Thiry [2014] EWHC 2884 (Fam) – Committal & Sentence (non-disclosure)
  • H v H (Financial Remedies) [2015] 2 FLR 447 (Court of Appeal)
  • H v H (Periodical Payments: Variation: Clean Break) [2014] 2 FLR 1338
  • Tchenguiz v Imerman (Trust Disclosure) [2014] 2 FLR 939
  • Tchenguiz v Imerman (Joinder of Beneficiaries) [2014] 1 FLR 865
  • Tchenguiz v Imerman (Common Interest Privilege) [2014] 1 FLR 232
  • Whaley v Whaley (Court of Appeal & 1st Instance) [2012] 1 FLR 735
  • Grubb v Grubb [2009] EWCA Civ 976 sub nom
  • G v G (Occupation Order) (Court of Appeal & 1st Instance) [2011] 1 FLR 687
  • H v H (Financial Relief) [2010] 1 FLR 1864
  • Ahmed v Khan [2010] EWCA Civ 290 (Court of Appeal & 1st instance)
  • Hvorostovsky v Hvorostovsky (Court of Appeal & 1st Instance) [2009] 2 FLR 1574
  • Corbett v Corbett (Court of Appeal) [2003] 2 FLR 385
  • B (A child) [2001] EWCA Civ 1968

Harry is experienced in arbitrations as an advocate, and he is a qualified Arbitrator himself and available to be instructed in that capacity.

Harry has, as an advocate, appeared in a great many private FDRs. He is also sought after to conduct them as the ‘quasi-Judge’

Reputation & Awards

“Harry is completely on top of unbelievably complicated financial positions. He is an outstanding advocate at court and provides stellar strategic advice.”

Chambers & Partners, 2024

Chambers & Partners Directory
Which have ranked him since 2002 and since 2013 as one of three ‘star individuals’.

‘He has a very commanding presence in the courtroom and is possessed of very sound judgement.’ – 2025

‘Harry Oliver is one of the foremost financial silks.” – 2025

‘Harry’s commercial and economic understanding of cases and extremely complicated financial affairs is unrivalled.’ – 2025

‘He is able to command the numbers with dexterity and he has a deep knowledge of the relevant law.’ – 2025

‘Harry is an absolute wizard on complex finance cases.’ – 2025

‘He is frighteningly good with numbers and a force to be reckoned with.’ – 2025

‘Harry is perhaps the most numerate counsel there is.’ – 2025

‘He has a brilliant mind and a confidence about him which people love.’ – 2025

‘Harry Oliver is like a champion on a white horse.’ – 2025

‘He outworks everybody which means he is terrifyingly all over the detail – if you try to argue with him on figures, he’s always going to win. He’s astonishingly able on the figures and presents them in a really clear way to tribunals.’ 2024

‘He is hugely in demand because of his technical skill, strength as an advocate, and his ability to get on top of even the most complex case and be fully in command of the detail.’ 2024

‘Harry Oliver continues to be an excellent choice for finance work. He’s very clever and has an ability to condense complex issues into easy bite-size pieces for clients to understand when necessary.’ 2023

‘Harry’s commercial acumen, financial sense and overall wisdom are second to none. He’s a true leader in his field and someone whom every business leader and entrepreneur needs on their team.’ – 2023

‘His ability to understand the most complex of problems is second to none. He gets to grips with numbers in a way that you don’t see very often, and he is ferociously good as an advocate.’ – 2020 – Star Individual

‘Sources see him as having one of the most technical brains at the Family Bar and applaud him for demonstrating the utmost attention to detail and having a charismatic court manner.Strengths: ‘He’s a forensic monster and nothing gets past him.’ ‘He’s a future High Court judge and has just got it all.’ 2018 – Star Individual

‘The leading junior in the field of divorce law who routinely handles significant financial remedy proceedings for extremely high-profile individuals. His work is mainly international and often involves complex issues relating to businesses and offshore trusts…A real fighter who thrives on complex cases.’ 2017 – Star individual

‘A go-to senior junior for high net worth financial relief matters with complicated assets. His peers are quick to praise both his incredible numeracy and tenacity. Harry has become one of the leading juniors in financial cases. He knows the law backwards, and gets all the details in no time at all. A real fighter, who thrives on complex cases, he’s the very best and most hard-working of the new generation, who will not be long out of silk.’ 2016– Star individual

‘Exceptionally numerate. A man with a big personality, and someone with a bright future ahead of him. Simultaneously charming and forthright, he makes complex situations and scenarios more simple to understand’ 2015 – Star individual

‘Man of the moment Harry Oliver is one of the most capable juniors at the Bar when it comes to matrimonial finance. His expertise encompasses a range of ancillary relief cases, and he regularly handles high-asset cases. ‘He is brilliantly incisive and meticulous, and has a phenomenal head for numbers.’ ‘He’s full of energy and willing to fight hard for the clients.’ 2014 – Star individual

‘…an absolute superstar in his preparation of cases’. According to those that instruct him, ‘he can read the outcome of cases superbly well and advise accordingly in a straightforward, down-to-earth manner’. Sources are quick to commend his ‘winning manner with clients and firm grasp of financial complexities.’ 2013 – Star individual

‘…lauded by sources for his tenacious advocacy style. … Sources comment that he is ‘a real star with an exceptionally bright future who is excellent with clients.’ 2012 – Tier 1

‘…impresses his clients and appreciated by his opponents. He brings character to his cases without being overbearing…widely backed’ 2010 – Tier 1

‘…a punchy advocate with excellent client skills and an assured and forceful manner’ 2009 – Tier 1

‘… an ancillary relief man familiar with offshore trusts and corporate assets . . . Harry Oliver is liked and respected for putting his case forcefully and properly – fighting the case not the opponent. He has spent large parts of the year in potentially high-profile cases kept deliberately quiet.’ 2008 – Tier 1

Legal 500

‘Harry has a remarkable presence. He is immensely knowledgeable and exudes confidence, and his preparation and advocacy are second to none.’ – 2025

‘Harry is extraordinarily numerate and can handle complex financial cases with expertise beyond his peers. He is a fantastic and hard-hitting advocate who also brings strategy and sense to the negotiating table. He is simply brilliant with analysing disclosure.’ – 2024

‘Harry is absolutely exceptional. He is ferociously clever and as financially astute as any accountant. He is the go-to barrister for any case involving financially complicated business structures.’ – 2023

‘Technically brilliant, charismatic, the utmost attention to detail, has the ear of the court, fantastic judgment and always thinking steps ahead of everybody else. ’ – 2020

Was ranked as a Leading Junior  since 2003.

Awards

Legal 500 Family & Children Junior of the Year shortlist (1 of 3) 2020
Chambers & Partners Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year: Winner – 2013; Winner – 2018, Shortlisted (1 of 3) – 2012.
Chambers & Partners ‘Top 100’ junior barristers in the UK in all specialisms (1 of only 3 family barristers)
CityWealth Leaders List – Prominent Barrister (family) 2016 to date.

Education

Tonbridge School
University of Oxford (St Edmund Hall)
City University
Inns of Court School of Law

Professional Memberships

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Family Law Bar Association (Elected committee member 2003 to 2009)
DCA Information Technology & Courts Working Group – 2005 to 2009
South Eastern Circuit
The Honourable Society of Grays Inn

Languages

French – conversational, rusty

Publications

Co-author of 1KBW on Trusts in Matrimonial Finance Proceedings

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