Call: 2012
Instructing Maria Henty
If you require help or advice please contact our clerking team.
Call +44 (0)20 7353 0711 or email clerks@pumpcourtchambers.com.
Maria Henty is building a practice in all areas of family law, with a particular interest in family finance.
Maria read social and political sciences at Girton College, Cambridge before converting to law. Prior to coming to the bar, Maria worked for two years as a solicitors’ agent, attending the County Court on a daily basis on a variety of civil matters.
She is a founding donor and assisting barrister for the legal charity Not Beyond Redemption, assisting mothers in prison or recently released from prison with re-establishing and regenerating the fundamental relationship between mother and child.
Maria is direct access qualified.
In January 2024, Maria was reported in the following judgment: K v Y [2023] EWFC 262 (B) following complex private children proceedings. Maria was praised in the judgment for the clear and careful way in which she put her client’s case.
“Maria is fantastic – I never have any hesitation in briefing her. She’s always well prepared and a robust advocate. She has excellent client care and communication skills. I have instructed her on some cases with unusual circumstances and she gets to grips quickly with the salient facts and her advice is spot on.” – Partner, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 ranked firm
“Maria is absolutely brilliant with clients. She is so friendly and approachable yet straight-talking and tough when she needs to be. Maria is always so well prepared which together with her eye for detail really instils confidence in the client. It is a pleasure to instruct Maria as she just makes it so easy.” – Solicitor
“I regularly brief Maria as I know that her prep is impeccable and she is always prepared to go above and beyond for the client. She is a joy to brief.” – Deputy Head of Family Law, Regional Firm
“Maria is a pleasure to work with. She has excellent client care skills and goes above and beyond for her clients and instructing solicitor.” – Partner, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 ranked firm
“Maria gets to the heart of the issue straight away and will always find a sympathetic but pragmatic way forward.” – Chambers & Partners, 2024
Maria has a growing family finance practice and has experience in dealing with cases involving pensions, foreign assets, companies, multiple properties, intervenors, trusts, enforcement, freezing injunctions, and pre-nuptial & post-nuptial agreements.
Maria welcomes the use of ADR and has experience in representing clients at private FDRs and in final hearings conducted by way of arbitration.
In the summer of 2019, Maria assisted in house at a boutique firm of family solicitors in London. Maria worked on cases concerning high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals.
Maria acts in family finance cases from first appointment to final hearing.
Maria has also acted in Schedule 1 Act claims.
Multi-day preliminary issues hearing concerning assets outside of this jurisdiction, with intervenors.
Represented an applicant at a three day final hearing. Respondent was represented by a silk. Argument concerning whether the child was a child of the family. Successful in arguing that the child was a child of the family, that this was a needs case, and securing a 90:10 split in favour of the applicant as a result. Outcome upheld on appeal. Successful in obtaining a costs order against the respondent in respect of unreasonable conduct and failure to comply with the Family Procedure Rules.
Enforcement and order for sale application in a case where the financial remedies order was over 20 year’s old. Involving property out of the jurisdiction and advice from foreign lawyers.
Represented a respondent at a four day final hearing. Extensive assets outside the jurisdiction and a dispute over whether the decision of the court (and appeal court) in that jurisdiction should be binding. Successful in obtaining a substantial costs order against the applicant in respect of unreasonable arguments run at trial and non-compliance with the Family Procedure Rules in respect of offers.
Represented a respondent in a one day final hearing. Successful in obtaining a lump sum order for the respondent who had elevated needs in light of a long standing injury, despite the parties having a young child and limited resources.
Represented an applicant who retained approximately 90% of the matrimonial assets by way of final court order following the respondent’s non-compliance. Cross-examination of respondent following an ‘oral Form E’ at court. Decision upheld on appeal.
Successful Schedule One Children Act 1989 claim, resulting in the applicant and children remaining in the family home and the respondent leaving, a one day contested final hearing.
Following continued non-compliance with a final order, successful in obtaining an order that the respondent vacate the FMH and afford the applicant vacant possession, by way of possession order. Also secured a costs order against the respondent.
Maria has represented parents at all stages of private children proceedings: her experience at trial in the criminal and civil courts means that she is well practised in cross-examination, including of experts.
Recently Maria has been involved in cases involving: international relocation; internal relocation; leave to remove temporarily from the jurisdiction for a holiday; consent as to medical treatment; revocation of parental responsibility; special guardianship orders for family members; change of a child’s name; witchcraft; parental alienation; appointment of guardian; and sexual abuse of a child.
She also has experience in respect of enforcement applications and appeals.
Maria has been praised for her thorough preparation and presentational skills.
Following two years of litigation, successful reunification of applicant and child including a change of who the child lives with. Complex factual background, including the involvement of social services with another child, domestic abuse, corporal punishment, and allegations of witchcraft.
Success at one day final hearing in respect of a prohibited steps order remaining in place so as to prevent a medical procedure.
Successful defence in enforcement proceedings, avoiding any form of punishment or fine, following repeated breaches of a final order. One day contested hearing.
Secured a SGO in favour of aunt and uncle.
Application for leave to remove from the jurisdiction to a Non-Hague convention country. One day contested hearing.
Successful revocation of father’s parental responsibility and order that father have no contact or association with the child, in light of his very serious sexual abuse of the mother.
Application for leave to remove permanently from the jurisdiction, one day contested hearing.
Instructing Maria Henty
If you require help or advice please contact our clerking team.
Call +44 (0)20 7353 0711 or email clerks@pumpcourtchambers.com.