Kate Barber - Trethowans

Kate is a Partner in the Family team, based in Southampton, and is a highly regarded accredited lawyer in Hampshire. She is a Resolution Accredited Specialist in both marital finances and child arrangements, a collaboratively trained lawyer, and is also One Couple One Lawyer trained.

Kate primarily works with clients who are facing relationship breakdown. Her practice includes negotiating financial settlements on divorce and finalising arrangements for children post‑separation. Her clear and pragmatic support can help steer you through what can be a deeply emotional process, ensuring matters are approached constructively and with sensitivity.

In addition to divorce settlements, Kate has a substantial practice advising individuals who wish to protect their wealth when starting a new relationship. Clients can expect sound, practical guidance delivered with care, helping ensure that any agreement is reached fairly and smoothly.

Notable work highlights

Acting for a wife whose Husband had amassed £25m gross in hotel and premium property in Sandbanks. Hoping to rely on a historical prenup signed under duress when the Wife was 8 months pregnant. Kate was able to secure the client 45% of the assets by proving the original prenup defective.
Acting for a Father in a non-married case where the mother of his child was attempting to frustrate contact at all costs – including several allegations of serious domestic abuse. The mother tried to relocate to Liverpool with the child without the father’s knowledge. Kate was able to successfully put the father’s case to the point where the child was ordered to live with the father full time with restricted contact to the mother.
Acting for a wife of a GP with his own practice. There were four teenage children involved. Aside from a 65/35 split of the limited capital assets in favour of the wife, Kate was able to secure her client significant maintenance per month and a roofing allowance for the older children when they go to university. A roofing allowance is a novel development designed to assist the primary carer with providing a roof/ room when children return from university in the holidays.
Kate acted for the partner in a non-married separation case who had been together for 18 years with two boys. The property was worth £1m and the Claimant was asserting the client had no interest in the home at all. Kate was able to secure her client 50% of the property and all of her legal costs. It received national recognition in the broadsheets and tabloids.