Ruben is a Partner and specialist family lawyer. He also leads JMW Signature – the firm’s cross practice offering for ultra-high net worth (UHNW) families, family offices and family businesses domestically and internationally. Prior to joining JMW in Manchester, he spent most of his career in top ranked family teams at leading City and international law firms in both London and Hong Kong.
Experience
He advises on all issues following divorce and asset protection in that context. He focuses on financial matters in complex cases often involving corporate structures, trusts and substantial family wealth. He has particular experience advising high-net worth (HNW) and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) clients in family and divorce proceedings having acted in many cases with assets between £100m and £1bn+. He works with a range of clients from successful entrepreneurs and business owners to family offices and professional trustees. His clients are based across Manchester and the North, London and internationally.
He has advised numerous high-profile clients and prominent families. During 2021/2022, he acted for Sir Frederick Barclay in his successful defence of committal proceedings following his widely publicised divorce from Lady Barclay in one of the largest and most complex cases to have come before the English courts. He has also acted in a number of other reported cases, some of which have shaped the law in this area (detailed below).
He has particular expertise in:
- International - Having spent five years practising in Hong Kong and acting for families across the world, he has a wealth of experience advising clients in international cases where there are assets in and connections to a number of different jurisdictions.
- Trusts in Divorce - He has significant experience advising on trusts (both on and offshore) in the context of divorce. He regularly acts for divorcing beneficiaries (or their spouses) who may be attacking or defending trusts. He is also one of the few family lawyers who routinely advises professional trustees and family offices within divorce proceedings.
- Asset Protection - He works with clients alongside their family offices, professional trustees and private bankers in relation to asset protection including pre and postnuptial agreements and structuring to ensure wealth is preserved in the event of a divorce or family dispute.
He regularly writes and speaks on family law issues and has contributed to leading journals, spoken at industry conferences and commented in the national press.
Recognition
Ruben has been recognised in the leading legal directories for a number of years and most recently:
- Legal 500 2025 - 'Ruben Sinha is probably the brightest shining star of matrimonial finance in the North West. In just a few years after returning from Hong Kong, he has raced ahead of the competition. He is a superb matrimonial solicitor.'
- Chambers High Net Worth 2024 - 'Ruben is a leading matrimonial lawyer in the North West. He is getting fantastic cases.'
- Spears Wealth Family Lawyers Index 2024
- Chambers High Net Worth 2023
- Chambers High Net Worth 2022 - 'extremely good; very bright, very thorough and easy to deal with' and 'absolutely top notch'
- Chambers High Net Worth 2021 - ‘excels in complex and international cross-border situations, from broader family situations to more specific divorce matters. He provides a depth of knowledge and expertise in how to set up structures and trusts, in the context of these often very complex and delicate situations’.
Accreditations
Reported cases
Ruben has acted in a number of reported cases, many of which have shaped the law in this field:
England
- Lady Hiroko Barclay and Sir Frederick Hugh Barclay [2021] EWFC 40 (Publicity and Reporting) and Lady Hiroko Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay [2022] EWHC 2026 (Fam) Acted for Sir Frederick Barclay in his widely publicised divorce from Lady Barclay. The case was one of the largest and most complex to have come before the English courts and involved a series of international trust structures. The case culminated in committal proceedings brought by Lady Barclay in respect of an unpaid £100m court order. In the first judgment, Sir Frederick’s team successfully opposed publication of the main financial remedy judgment. In the second judgment, his team successfully defended the committal proceedings brought by Lady Barclay in respect of the unpaid court order and her application was dismissed.
- D v D [2015] EWHC 1393 (Fam) Acted for the husband in a case which involved Jersey trusts, issues of non-disclosure and inherited wealth.
- Quan v Bray [2014] EWHC 3340 (Fam) Acted for the wife in this widely reported litigation which became known as the ‘Tiger Trust Case’. The case involved a preliminary issue as to whether an offshore trust was a post-nuptial settlement capable of variation by the court.
- AM v SS [2014] EWHC 2887 (Fam), AM v SS [2014] EWHC 865 (Fam) and AM v SS [2013] EWHC 4380 (Fam) Acted for the wife in a case which involved complex structures including a Lichtenstein foundation and BVI companies. The central issue was the extent to which the court should have regard to wider family wealth when dividing assets.
- Young v Young [2013] EWHC 3637 (Fam) Acted for the wife in a long running and widely publicised case which involved a number of high profile witnesses. This was a complex case involving issues of non-disclosure and a web of offshore trust and corporate structures.
- Hashem v Shayif & Anor [2008] EWHC 2380 (Fam) Acted for the respondent company in a case which involved both family and chancery proceedings including complex trust related issues. The beneficial ownership of properties owned by the husband’s company and his shares in that company were disputed. The court provided guidance on piercing the corporate veil, much of which was subsequently approved by the Supreme Court in Prest v Petrodel.
Hong Kong
- LCYP v JEK & CTC [2019] HKCFI 1588 Acted for the successful US based husband in a long running case which involved a jurisdiction dispute, a New Jersey prenuptial agreement and a Delaware discretionary trust. This was a ground-breaking case which set new law and is now regarded as the leading Hong Kong authority on these issues.
- RKL v WL & BKT [2014] FCMC 14906 Acted for the wife in a case involving substantial inherited wealth and a forum dispute between Hong Kong and California.