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William Massey family lawyer

William has 30 years' experience in leading clients through the many issues arising on the breakdown of their relationships, however difficult and however personal. He does so with dignity, wisdom and common sense. He steers clients through what is often a very troubling time with firm support and realistic advice in a way that maximises early resolution and minimises collateral damage.

William is a Partner at Farrer & Co and heads the Family team. He has specialised in family law and relationship breakdown since 1991. He has huge experience in resolving both financial issues and disputes relating to children. He is particularly well known for his ability to resolve situations where the family's financial situation is complex and where there are difficult issues that might, for instance, involve trusts, private companies, tax, overseas assets, pensions and assets that cannot be realised. Many of his cases involve international considerations.  

William qualified as a corporate lawyer with Freshfields before moving to specialise in family law. This background has undoubtedly helped in building his high reputation in difficult financial cases.

He is also a leading figure in the International Academy of Family Lawyers, a worldwide organisation whose members are elected on the strength of the work they do and the breadth of their international work. William was President of the European Chapter from 2018-2020.

William is a trained collaborative lawyer.

William qualified as a solicitor in 1990.

Memberships & Accolades

William is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

William’s Directory rankings:

Spear’s Family Law Index 2021 – Top Flight

Chambers & Partners Family Law Guide 2021 – Leading Lawyer Band 1

Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Family Law Guide 2021 – Leading Lawyer Band 1

Legal 500 Family/Matrimonial Lawyers 2022 – Hall of Fame

Top 100 Super Lawyers

Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom (2nd Edition)

Testimonials

"William Massey is one of the best lawyers out there on the senior end." (Legal 500 2024)

"William is unflappable. He is able to negotiate and doesn't litigate for the sake of litigating. He really applies himself on a case by case basis." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"He has universal respect from the profession. Totally the calmest man in the world and nothing gets by him. He gets really good settlements quietly, which is important for high net worth clients." (Chambers HNW 2023)

"Will Massey combines his huge experience with a soothing bedside manner that gives clients total confidence." (Legal 500 2023)

"William Massey is an amazing head of department. He is one of the very finest divorce lawyers in London." (Legal 500 2023)

"William is a lovely lawyer. He is full of gravitas and good sense. He never argues a bad point and he fights hard for his clients" (Chambers UK 2023)

"He has a phenomenal calmness, is very holistic in his approach and his opinions really carry weight." (Chambers UK 2023)

Several sources praise William's calm demeanour, with one noting: "You couldn't find a lawyer much calmer than William; he's very thoughtful, considerate and measured in his approach." (Chambers HNW 2022)

"He is experienced in the field and is very focused on delivering a good service to his clients. He is detailed, focused and thorough in his analysis." "He has a top-flight intellect and isn't fazed by anything." "He is calm, thoughtful and very effective." Chambers UK 2022

"William Massey leads consummately from the front. Softly spoken, and urbane, he is one of the most charming doing the work. Behind this sits a formidable litigation talent and fine black letter lawyer. Clients love him and opponents know they have to be on their mettle." Legal 500 2022

"Tower of strength" William Massey heads the team that has an "exceptional range of lawyers from the most senior down to the most junior members of the team."

"William Massey and Alex Woolley are stand out. Calm, exceptionally bright as well as measured. I would recommend them to any client." Legal 500 2022

"He is outstanding, he is incredibly good, he is understated and exceptional. He has got gravitas and is a top-flight intellect." Family/ Matrimonial Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021

"He's very good with clients and extremely personable. Anyone working with him is going to get sensible, extremely sound and detailed advice. He's an absolute pleasure to deal with.’’  Family/Matrimonial Chambers UK 2021 Guide

"William Massey is a top family law practitioner." Legal 500 2021

William Massey, head of the family and disputes team, is adept at advising high net worth clients on matrimonial finance matters. A source enthuses: "I rate William Massey very highly, and I would send conflict work to him. He's very good with clients, extremely personable, and you know that anyone is going to get sensible but extremely sound and detailed advice." Another interviewee says: "He is a pleasure to deal with; he is very commercially minded and a sensible litigator." Chambers High Net Worth 2020

William Massey "has become the monarch of the team," say peers. He is highly esteemed for advising high net worth individuals on the finance element of their matrimonial cases, and sources recognise that "he's just extremely polished and clients love him." Speaking of their experience working with Massey, one appreciative client reports: "He was very professional, very warm and very factual. At an extremely emotional time he was reassuring by giving the facts of what was going to happen. No question was insignificant for him." Chambers High Net Worth 2019

"A complete star: astute, incisive, creative and all-round excellent." Spear's

"Polished and accomplished.” Legal 500

"Faultless knowledge and expertise." Legal 500

"A highly effective litigator... incredibly reassuring, unflappable and calm under fire."  Chambers UK

"Yet another class act at the practice.” Chambers UK

"William is an excellent lawyer: he is technically strong and has great client skills. He is a good negotiator and is pragmatic and sensible.” Citywealth

"Widely admired and very accomplished.” Chambers UK

"Calm and lovely with clients." Chambers UK

"Great to deal with, very approachable, knowledgeable and pragmatic." Chambers High Net Worth Guide

"Super lawyer. He is one of the nicest people in family law. He gets good clients as a result and he really knows what he is doing." Chambers High Net Worth Guide

"He also earns accolades for his ability to draw on expertise in tax, trusts and pensions when serving clients in family matters. William is described as ‘an able and urbane lawyer’ with whom ‘clients are in safe hands'." Chambers UK

Reported Cases

Goddard-Watts v Goddard Watts [2019] EWHC 3367 (Fam)
Acting for Mrs Goddard-Watts, in what is believed to be an unprecedented application to set aside a financial order on divorce for the second time within the same proceedings on the basis of fraudulent non-disclosure by the husband. Mr Justice Holman, the judge determining the application in the wife’s favour, described the scenario as “vanishingly rare and probably unique”.

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