David Allison
Director
David specialises in financial claims on divorce, especially cases with an international element. He has extensive experience in the legal issues relating to cohabitants, same sex couples, and civil partners.
“My priority is to listen to clients, to understand their concerns and what they want to achieve. I recognise that every client is an individual with their own objectives. Understanding those objectives helps me guide clients through selection of the best process and to devise a strategy to help them to achieve their goals.”
Expertise →
David is a director at Family Law in Partnership. He acts for a wide range of individuals including business owners, entrepreneurs, bankers, other lawyers and their partners. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those with an international element, but he is also well known for his expertise in the legal issues affecting cohabitants, same sex couples and civil partners.
David settles his cases outside the Court process wherever that is possible, and the client’s goals can be met without court intervention. However, where cases have to go to court he is a determined and effective litigator. He has a strategic approach to litigation that achieves results.
The key legal directories Chambers UK, Chambers HNW and Legal 500 have all ranked David as a leading family lawyer for many years.
David is ranked in the Hall of Fame by The Legal 500 2024, having been ranked as a leading individual for both family law and family mediation in The Legal 500 UK for many years. Legal 500 UK 2022 comments that he is a is a “stellar individual” and “stands out as one of the best negotiators in the business. He is trusted by his peers and respected. David is the antidote to the toxic world of family breakdown. He is always completely on top of his brief, calm and collected; the most difficult cases appear simple and straightforward in his capable hands.”
Ranking David as a leading family lawyer for HNW and UHNW individuals, Chambers HNW 2023 comments: “Allison is fair and honest, and understands that when you do difficult, complex work and clients; emotions are running high, it doesn’t help to try and pour oil on the fire.” Chambers HNW 2022 comments of David: “He’s a very smart lawyer, very solution-driven and totally dedicated to the best interests of the client.” …. “David Allison is head and shoulders above many lawyers in this market. He’s straightforward, knowledgeable and easy to deal with.”
David has also been ranked as a Top Recommended Family Lawyer by The Spear’s 500 Guide of leading family lawyers, 2023 and was named lawyer of the year (family law) at the Spears Awards 2023. David was also named Family Law Partner of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2019.
David is a trained mediator and has FMA senior mediator status. He trained as a collaborative lawyer in 2003 with the first group of lawyers to be trained in the UK and is a Resolution collaborative specialist.
David is a member of both the International Academy of Family Lawyers, where he is chair of the Gender Identity and Sexuality Committee, and the UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute. He is a former chair of the International Family Law Committee of the American Bar Association, International Section and is a past chair of Resolution, the family lawyers association.
Representative Matters →
- David acted collaboratively for the wife of an entrepreneur who had established a household name company. The family wealth was structured through a Jersey trust, which held property in the UK and the USA. David successfully negotiated a deal which gave his client 50% of the assets.
- David acted for a banker on the dissolution of his civil partnership where a significant financial claim was made by a non-working civil partner. David secured a clean break for his client after a two year term without giving an increased share of the capital.
Reported Cases →
David’s reported cases include:
- Xanthopoulos v Rakshina [2023] EWFC 158 – Represented the wife in the Court of Appeal on an application by her former husband for a Legal Services Payment Order in connection with ongoing proceedings.
- Tsvetkov v Khayrova [2023] EWFC 130 – Represented the wife in a long running case concerning financial provision following divorce. During the proceedings, the British/Russian couple found themselves the subject of significant press interest which required careful management. FLiP successfully defended against the Husband’s attempt to argue for a departure from 50/50 in his favour.
- Xanthopoulos v Rakshina [2023] EWFC 50 –a case representing a Russian national in a long-running dispute concerning financial provision following a divorce in Russia (Part III MFPA 1984, the “Part III Application”).
- HA v WA v BV [2022] EWFC 110. This was a preliminary issue hearing to determine whether a flat in London was owned beneficially by David’s client. His client successfully argued that a Knightsbridge flat belonged to her brother despite being registered in her name thereby taking it out of the ‘pot’ for division.
- Re X (Children) [2022] EWCA Civ 1167. This was an appeal from the High Court to the Court of Appeal against a judge’s refusal to set aside an order that David had secured for his client in which a foreign order concerning children was recognised and enforced in England. David represented the mother on this appeal and was successful in getting the father’s appeal dismissed.
- Xanthopoulos v Rakshina [2022] EWFC 30. This is an important decision and a leading authority concerning privacy in family proceedings. The decision was made as part of a claim for financial relief after an overseas divorce. The decision was widely reported in the mainstream press.
- AA and BB [2021] EWFC 17. A case concerning competing children proceedings in England and in Russia. The High Court determined, as David’s client had argued that Article 13 Hague Convention 1996 applied in respect of first in time rules (as the UK and Russia are signatories). The father had argued that the European regulation (BIIa) applied as this was a mandatory provision during the UK transition period from the EU.
- Dobson v Griffey [2018] EWHC 1117 (Ch). David represented the defendant in his successful defence against a claim by his former partner for a share of the proceeds of sale of the property in which they had previously lived together.
- Divall v Divall [2014] EWHC 95 FAM. This was a jurisdiction dispute in which David’s client successfully argued that she was domiciled in England and the English court therefore had jurisdiction to deal with her divorce and financial claim.
- Golubovich v Golubovich [2010] 2 FLR 1614 CA. An important case regarding the recognition of foreign divorce decrees by the English Courts. David’s client successfully argued that his Russian divorce should be recognised in England thereby preventing his client’s former spouse from securing a divorce here.
David’s Clients Say…
“I am forever grateful for the wonderful work you did in order to help me through a very difficult time. You showed great care and compassion along with the expert legal advice that I received”
Former client
“From beginning to end you impressed me with your compassion, flexibility, integrity, professionalism and resilience”
Former client
“Wonderful – highly recommend ! David Allison is an excellent lawyer, and just the person you want to use in a crisis.”
Barrister
“David Allison acted for me throughout my divorce and I cannot recommend him highly enough. We all know that divorce is a time of immense emotional pressure and David was always sensitive to the situation yet firm when required”
Former client
“I would like to take this opportunity to recommend David Allison to anyone seeking help with divorce or similar. David is calm and collected and has the ability to handle the most difficult of opposing solicitors and barristers with an assuredness that can only put you at your ease”
Former client
“David Allison has a beguiling gentle manner which shields a steely and focused determination to get the best possible outcome for his clients. He is clever and astute. He immediately sees the right result and gets there without any fuss. He makes the biggest problem seem manageable and his clients feel reassured. They should do. They are in capable hands”
Legal 500 UK 2020
“I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it has been to have someone on my side and to receive calm guidance through the maelstrom”
Former client
“He understands the gravity and complexity of complicated financial arrangements which he is able to unravel without fuss or fanfare”
Legal 500 UK 2021
“Thank you David for your wise and balanced guidance at a time of need in my life”
Former client
“David Allison has an exceptional knowledge and ability to see the wood for the trees. He always has his client’s interests at heart”
Legal 500 UK 2021
“He makes the most difficult cases seem simple. He gives straightforward advice and guides his clients seamlessly to the result they want.”
Chambers UK 2022
“He is unflappable, incredibly constructive and takes a calm, conciliatory approach towards matters.”
Chambers UK 2022
“David Allison is experienced, calm in a crisis and knows how to run big cases properly.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Working with David Allison….. is a masterclass in how family law should be done… forward thinking, highly creative and committed to fixing family problems in a pragmatic and empathic way”
Legal 500 UK 2023
“David Allison is exceptional. He is hugely respected, and liked, by his peers. He is kind and empathetic and is able to undermine the most aggressive of opponents with a totally different approach to family law”
Legal 500 UK 2023
“We (former partner and client) have a lovely relationship now and the arrangement that you forged for us works SO well; I will forever be grateful”
“He is a consummate professional. He makes the most difficult cases seem simple. He gives straightforward advice and guides his clients seamlessly to the result they want.”
Chambers HNW 2021
“He’s a very smart lawyer, very solution-driven and totally dedicated to the best interests of the client.” …. “David Allison is head and shoulders above many lawyers in this market. He’s straightforward, knowledgeable and easy to deal with.”
Chambers HNW 2022
“David Allison is fair and honest, and understands that when you do difficult, complex work and clients; emotions are running high, it doesn’t help to try and pour oil on the fire”.
Chambers HNW 2023
“A “stellar individual” who “stands out as one of the best negotiators in the business. He is trusted by his peers and respected. David is the antidote to the toxic world of family breakdown. He is always completely on top of his brief, calm and collected; the most difficult cases appear simple and straight forward in his capable hands.”
Legal 500 UK 2022

6th November 2023
The Importance of doing Pre-Nups Properly
David Allison
FLiP Director David Allison identifies some key factors to be aware of in order for a Pre-Nuptial Agreement…
7th November 2023
Should I Divorce in England or Ireland?
In this blog, Family Law in Partnership Director David Allison and our guest lawyer and co-author Charlotte Finnegan…
11th April 2023
FLiP Advise on Leading Case of Xanthopoulos v Rakshina
David Allison
FLiP have advised the wife on the leading case of Xanthopoulos v Rakshina [2023] EWFC 50.
Get Started Online
Find Out Where You Stand