Cordelia Williams

Call: 2014

"She is able to get to grips with papers very quickly having a strong knowledge of the issues at hand. She provides clear strong advice to the client and always fully explains what is taking place in a way that is easily digestible."

The Legal 500, 2021

"She is meticulous in her preparation and thinks through issues with great skill and care. Very tenacious in court and very user friendly from the solicitors point of view. She builds good rapport with clients."

The Legal 500 2022

"She exudes confidence and always makes clients feel she is fighting their corner."

The Legal 500 2023

"Cordelia is very approachable and clear in her advice and approach. She quickly builds trust with the client and solicitor and is meticulous in her preparation."

The Legal 500 2025

“Cordelia has been utterly amazing in her work on this case. We had a lovely but highly anxious client and it was proving a difficult case to settle. Throughout, Cordelia has gone “above and beyond“ in her willingness to assist and has been an invaluable “sounding board” for me. Her position statement was exceptional in terms of the detail and her advocacy was fierce!”

Instructing solicitor

Cordelia is a leading family barrister who specialises in financial remedies, private law children matters and inheritance litigation. She is consistently ranked as a leading junior in The Legal 500 (including The Legal 500 2026).

Cordelia believes strong and genuine team work with instructing solicitors adds real value for clients. She positively engages with alternative dispute resolution at every stage of proceedings.

Cordelia often represents the same client for both their finance and children disputes. This perspective ensures tailored and creative legal advice to assist separating parties.

Expertise

Family Finance

Cordelia is regularly instructed in complex financial disputes, including those involving business assets, pensions, inherited wealth, intervenors and nuptial agreements. Cordelia has successful experience of variation, set-aside, enforcement and appeals.

In 2024, Cordelia’s first book on Remarriage was published.

Cordelia’s practice includes cases with international assets and jurisdictional issues, including the recognition of foreign divorces. International work has included assets and/or parties in UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore, Iraq, Lebanon, India, Pakistan and the USA, in addition to European countries.

Cordelia always works constructively to achieve an agreed settlement, and prioritises negotiated outcomes. She offers pragmatic and clear advice to achieve this wherever favourable.

Children Law (Private)

Cordelia is regularly instructed in complex children disputes. She has achieved successful outcomes in difficult long-running cases with allegations of serious sexual/physical abuse, alienating behaviours, parties with complicated mental health issues and international relocation.

Cordelia has successfully acted in many child relocation applications (both proposing relocation and resisting). Her particular experience of UK and international relocation work has informed published articles, talks and case updates to leading law firms on this topic. She represented the respondent in G v H (Relocation to Australia: Immigration Issues) [2024] EWFC 230 (B).

Cordelia frequently acts for parents in fact-finding hearings and appeals. She has successfully represented parents in ‘implacable hostility’/alienation cases, and those seeking a change to the status quo child arrangements.

Cordelia has been praised for her sensitive negotiations outside court to assist parents reach the best outcomes by agreement where possible.

She accepts instructions from third parties (including grandparents) and to represent the child via a 16.4 Guardian. She has experience of representing clients without litigation capacity through the Official Solicitor.

Child Abduction

Cordelia represents parents in 1980 Hague Convention applications in the High Court. She also represents overseas clients in domestic children proceedings after abduction issues have been resolved.

Inheritance, Wills & Probate

Cordelia has a growing inheritance practice, and is particularly suited to giving advice to former cohabitees or widow/widowers given her expertise in financial remedy work. She has advised on the prospects of success of claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.