Stephanie Coker

Stephanie has a busy private family practice, with a particular interest in financial remedies matters involving nuptial agreements and reciprocal enforcement of orders (incoming and outgoing). She accepts Direct Public Access instructions.

She prides herself in her personability and ability to give clear and commercially minded advice to clients. She is a robust advocate who is frequently commended for her attention to detail and understanding of the issues.

In addition to her practice, Stephanie has acted as an Associate Lecturer at Kent Law School where her teaching responsibilities spanned across Land Law, Family Law, and Foundations of Property.

Outside of practice, she regularly prepares case summarises for the Financial Remedies Journal. She enjoys providing seminars on areas of interest and offering training to solicitors.

Specialist in:

Stephanie represents parents and children through their Guardians in complex Children Act proceedings from the FHDRA to final hearings. Many of these applications involve parallel Family Law Act applications. She is confident in dealing with matters involving issues of parental alienation, intractable disputes, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and mental health. She also has experience in representing clients in multi-day fact-finding hearings. Stephanie is able to represent clients in matters involving child abduction, international relocation and leave to remove, and other international family work.

 

Stephanie has a busy financial remedies practice dealing with applications under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. She regularly accepts instructions in matters involving businesses, intervenors, nuptial agreements, pensions, non-matrimonial property, disclosure issues, enforcement, and variation applications. She possesses detailed knowledge of the various jurisdictional routes available for enforcement and prides herself in offering pragmatic advice at the outset and during proceedings to ensure the best outcomes for her clients. Her specialist LLM puts her in good stead when dealing with matters involving cross-border matters. Stephanie is available to conduct private FDRs.

Cohabitee Disputes (TOLATA): Prior to joining the Bar, Stephanie worked at leading law firms in which she gained a wealth of experience in contentious and non-contentious property matters. Stephanie’s background in property and understanding of the CPR makes her well suited to advising and attending on claims concerning the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Proprietary Estoppel. She has a busy paper practice which involves drafting pleadings in contested TOLATA claims, points of claim for intervenors/third parties in matrimonial proceedings, witness statements and opinions. She has successfully represented clients at all stages from initial advice to final hearings.

Financial Remedies Journal: Stephanie writes regularly for the FRJ, summarising key cases. Some recent cases of interest include:

 

Scholarships & Awards

In 2022, Stephanie completed the Advocate “25 for 25” challenge providing over 25 hours of pro bono advice and representation in the last year.

Professional Qualifications

DPhil (Law), University of Leicester (2023)
Bar Professional Training Course, The University of Law (2015)
LLM International Commercial Law, University College London (2014)
LLB Law, University of Leicester (2013)

Publications

  • ‘Thoroughly Modern Will Disputes’ New Law Journal (June 2023)
  • ‘Is the tide turning on Nuptial Agreements?’ Solicitors Journal (June 2023)
  • ‘Freewill vs Fairness’ in Nuptial Agreements: Where are we now?' Family Law Journal (16 March 2023)
  • ‘Letting Sunlight into the Family Court’: Gallagher and Transparency in Financial Remedy Proceedings’ Barrister Magazine (October 2022)
  • 'McCloud Remedy – A Ground to Set Aside Financial Orders?' Financial Remedies Journal (30 June 2022)
  • ‘A Practical Guide to Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders in Family Proceedings" Law Brief Publishing (March 2024)

    • Professional Memberships

    The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple
    Family Law Bar Association
    Advocate (panel member)
    Women in Family Law
    Resolution
    Property Bar Association (Associate Member)
    Bar Council Pro Bono and Social Responsibility Committee (Committee Member)

    Languages

    French (Basic)

    Data Protection

    Stephanie Coker’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) registration number is ZA501350.
    Please see here for her Data Privacy Notice.