A prominent female City trader has lost her appeal against a divorce settlement that awarded her ex-husband a significant portion of her multi-million-pound fortune. The Court of Appeal dismissed her claims of gender bias in the original ruling, upholding the decision that her former spouse was entitled to a fair share of the wealth accumulated during their marriage.
The Case Background
The trader, whose identity remains protected, argued that the initial settlement was unfairly weighted in favour of her ex-husband, suggesting that the courts had displayed gender bias. However, the appellate judges rejected this claim, stating that the division of assets was based on financial contributions and needs, rather than gender.
Court's Rationale
In their judgment, the Court of Appeal emphasised that divorce settlements must consider the financial and non-financial contributions of both parties. The ruling highlighted that the husband had supported her career, enabling her to amass her fortune, and was therefore entitled to a substantial share.
Public Reaction
The case has sparked debate over fairness in high-net-worth divorce proceedings, with some arguing that the ruling sets a precedent for equitable asset division, while others claim it may deter financially successful women from marrying.
The trader’s legal team has yet to confirm whether they will pursue further appeals, but the decision stands as a landmark in UK divorce law.
