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Gill O'Connor, Associate at Penningtons Manches
Areas of expertise: Family law, Private wealth

Profile

Gill is a senior associate in the family team in London. She advises on all areas of divorce and private family law, including complex financial matters, arrangements for children (including relocation disputes), and injunctive proceedings. Gill specialises in high-net-worth matters, often involving complex international issues such as jurisdiction disputes. 

She also has a particular specialism in negotiating and drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements, often complex and with an international element. Gill is experienced in resolving issues between unmarried couples and in negotiating cohabitation agreements. As a member of Resolution, she is committed to assisting clients in reaching sensible and fair outcomes without the need for court proceedings where possible, and adopts a pragmatic, child-centred and empathetic approach. 

Gill joined the firm as a trainee in 2010. She studied law at the University of Warwick and completed the Legal Practice Course at Kaplan Law School in London, gaining a distinction. Prior to this, she spent time working within the legal sector, including at the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). Gill is also a member of the firm’s socioeconomic committee, which focuses on improving awareness of, and access to, the legal profession for individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Recent work highlights

  • Successfully acting for a Middle Eastern family office in the widely reported case of NN v AS and Others (Part III MFPA: financial remedies: family wealth: joinder of third parties) [2018] EWHC 2973, where family property worth in excess of £8 million was recovered.
  • Advising a high-net-worth individual in a forum dispute where there were competing proceedings in Europe, and successfully negotiating a settlement.
  • Advising on a cross-jurisdictional Schedule 1 claim, including obtaining a Hemain injunction to prevent litigation being pursued in further jurisdictions.
  • Advising on a number of complex multi-jurisdictional pre-nuptial agreements involving significant assets and dynastic wealth.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP