Practice Areas
Dispute Resolution
Awards
Shortlisted for Legal 500 Junior of the Year (2020)
‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
Legal 500, 2024
Experience
Year of Call: 2007
Education
University of Oxford (Modern History)
BPP law school (BVC)
Profile
Henry is a specialist matrimonial finance barrister recognised in leading legal directories, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, for his work with high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings (often in the context of private FDRs or arbitrations) and ‘commended for his grasp of complex issues’.
His practice focuses on the financial consequences of divorce and the breakdown of cohabiting relationships, as well as financial disputes relating to children or incapacitated adults involving the Court of Protection. He is a tenacious advocate with a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of business and finance.
His cases often have an international element and/or accountancy issues. He has appeared in a number of reported cases and is regularly led by silks (leading counsel).
Family Finance
Henry is known for his technical understanding of corporate financial structures, and is in demand from clients seeking a barrister with a good understanding of the commercial world. Before being called to the bar, Henry worked for a commercial law firm. He regularly represents clients in cases with international dimensions and has a comprehensive understanding of multi-jurisdictional disputes (including Part III of the MFPA 1984). He was junior counsel in the reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union on the operation of the lis pendens provisions in the Brussels IIA regulation, reported as A v B C-489/14.
In AAZ v BBZ [2016] EWHC 3234 (Fam) he was junior counsel for the Wife who was awarded over £450million. At time of writing, this is the largest ever reported matrimonial finance award.
In addition to matrimonial and civil partnership financial cases, Henry advises and represents unmarried couples and parents in relation to financial disputes. He also has considerable experience in more unusual financial matters such as child maintenance appeals, insolvency, varying foreign court orders and costs cases.
Court of Protection
Henry has experience of Court of Protection work, particularly property & affairs cases concerning the financial consequences of a loss of capacity.
Non-court dispute resolution
Henry accepts instructions to act as a private FDR judge or early neutral evaluator in Family Finance cases.
Professional Memberships
FLBA
Middle Temple
Directories
‘Henry is a real powerhouse.’
Legal 500, 2025
“Henry is the king of detail, who has a phenomenal ability to home in on the pertinent facts in large, complex cases.”
“Henry is an excellent advocate with great client-handling skills. He is always thoroughly prepared, and takes a pragmatic and commercial approach.”
“His attention to detail is off the scale.”
Chambers and Partners, 2025
“He genuinely seeks a negotiated settlement on behalf of his clients if one can be reasonably reached, but he knows where the line is. If settlement can’t be reached he’s willing to fight for a better outcome.”
“He’s just brilliant on his feet.”
“His attention to detail is second to none.”
Chambers and Partners, 2024
‘Henry is the most detailed, intelligent and forensic mind. He is exceptionally hard-working and utterly commercial in his outlook. There is no case too complex for him, and he is a match for any Silk in terms of his preparation, understanding and advocacy.’
Legal 500, 2024
Top Tier
“Henry Clayton has an astonishing eye for detail and a fantastic memory. He has an innate ability to digest the most complicated cases into easy to understand concepts.”
“Nothing fazes Henry. He has a terrific brain and is a silk in the making.”
Chambers and Partners, 2023
‘Henry is a details person and is able to get to grips very quickly with the most complex of cases. He knows the law inside out and deploys it to his client’s advantage with real skill. His advocate is measured, reassuring and highly persuasive. He is a class act.’
Legal 500, 2023
Top Tier
Family finance junior who handles a range of matters including maintenance orders and Schedule 1 cases. He routinely services high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings and is commended for his grasp of complex issues.
Strengths: “He is outcome-focused and will give the client the most sensible and pragmatic advice, being able to distil what can be complex legal principles and factual backgrounds into understandable summaries.” “He is thorough, well prepared, approachable and sensitive with anxious clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
‘ A consistently brilliant junior. ’
Legal 500, 2022
Top Tier