HC v SW

Facts

The applicant husband and respondent wife, both nationals of European Country X, met in England and cohabited from November 1999, became engaged in 2002 and married in European Country X in 2004. They separated on 4 January 2024, the date they returned to separate homes after agreeing over Christmas 2023 to divorce — a relationship of some 24 years. They have three children: one aged 20 at university in England and 18-year-old twins living with the wife in European City Y. The husband, a banker, worked for Bank A and from 2007 for a US company, Company B, becoming head of development in Asia in 2018 and co-head of the Asian business in 2020; the family moved to Asian Country Z, though the wife and daughters returned to London in 2022. He left Company B under a transition agreement concluded in July 2025, with a termination date of December 2025, which accelerated the vesting of restricted stock units and of his carried interests in 17 funds. The assets total some £86.5 million. The parties agreed an equal division of matrimonial assets and a pension share, but disputed what part of the wealth represented post-separation contribution — a question worth over £25 million. The husband issued financial remedy proceedings on 11 June 2025; a private FDR before Simon Webster KC in March 2026 did not resolve matters.