Chris Burns
Partner – Head of Family and Head of Charities and Social Enterprises
About Chris
Christopher Burns, Partner and Head of the Family Team, has over 27 year’s experience of dealing with complex financial and children’s cases. Chris also heads up our Charities and Social Enterprises team.
Contact Chris
Partner in family and charities and social enterprises
These often include jurisdictional or relocation issues. Additionally, he regularly advises on pre and post nuptial agreements and cohabitee disputes. With his wealth of experience, together with a reputation for his empathetic approach, Chris represents a variety of professional and private clients during emotive times when sensible legal advice is at a premium His experience and reputation makes him a ‘go to’ practitioner for clients seeking premium and incisive advice.
Testimonials reference his “to-the-point, direct and no-nonsense approach”; he tells it like it is and he is very good at what he does.” “Chris is a truly trusted advisor who gives clam and measured legal advice, clearly presenting the options and the various risks and possible results”.
The latest edition of the Legal 500 reports:- The ‘extremely capable‘ Christopher Burns leads the family offering at Lupton Fawcett. Offering clients traditional legal approaches or collaborative alternatives, the team handles matters arising from pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation and financial provision disputes. The firm has a strong reputation for its work in personal futures and has expertise in relation to security, tax and pensions issues.
Chris is also a valued member of our Education and Family Business teams.
“As a family lawyer, it is very important to develop a strong and trusted relationship with my clients who are often contemplating or having to respond to life changing events in a highly emotive environment. It is important that clients feel that they can ask any questions and are able to put their trust in me. I aim to be personable and provide options and clear, measured advice to my clients and seek to find and achieve the very best solutions for them.”
Chris Burns Family
“I instructed Chris Burns to advise me in relation to my divorce and financial issues following the breakdown of my marriage. One of the key issues in the case was whether a long period of cohabitation would be factored in when considering the length of the marriage and the financial settlement I would be entitled to. During the course of the case, Chris provided me with clear and consistent advice and was able to deal robustly with the other party. I achieved an outcome I was very happy with and was very pleased with the advice and service levels which Chris and his team provided me with.”
“I instructed Chris Burns to advise me in relation to various financial issues which arose following the breakdown of my marriage. My case involved a dispute with my former husband over the ownership and occupation of a significant property with adjacent land. Chris steered me through the process of resolving this. Despite resistance from my former husband, Chris advised me with a determined focus and provided me with clear and pragmatic advice throughout the process and achieved my objective within the proceedings.”
“It’s rare to come across someone like Chris (Burns), absolutely clued up in his area, pragmatic and direct, yet supportive and respectful. As clients, he guided us through the process, quickly picking out what was important, remaining focused on the end game and delivering more than we could have expected. We would not hesitate to recommend Chris.”
“Chris Burns – experienced, capable, easy to talk to, provides an all round specialised knowledge of family work.”
Legal 500 2021
“Chris Burns and Alice Evans guided me through my separation and were able to provide extensive legal knowledge surrounding my financial entitlement to our joint assets. Alice was able to efficiently agree terms with my former partner and diligently meet my objectives. Alice then drafted a highly comprehensive separation deed to reflect this.
Both were very attentive to me during the process and remained professional yet sympathetic throughout.”
“Chris Burns is an experienced dedicated family lawyer who practices a range of family and children work. He is an excellent practitioner and fights hard for his clients.”
Legal 500, 2019
“Chris (Burns), I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done. Your firm is amazing. You and Sophie have been fantastic in dealing with my divorce and complex financial issues, as well as resolving the long term arrangements for my son. Your staff do what they are supposed to do. They do it with respect, professionalism, kindness and care at some of the most difficult times I have had to face. No words can tell you what this has meant to me. I will never be able to thank you enough.”
“I instructed Chris Burns to advise on an appeal against my child’s permanent exclusion from 6th form college. Chris identified a number of procedural irregularities in the college’s disciplinary procedure. He drafted extensive grounds of appeal which highlighted various deficiencies in the process and obtained additional evidence to support our case. The appeal was successful. Chris was very attentive to me during the process and without his input, I do not feel that I would have been successful in appealing the college’s decision on behalf of my child.”
“Not only do I think Chris Burns is a good solicitor, he was able to calm me down and reassure me when things got tough.”
Chambers and Partners 2019
“Chris Burns was recommended to me by a business contact. He guided me through my divorce and helped me reach a financial settlement which I was satisfied with as well as the other party. Chris also provided a high level of service and always offered sensible and clear advice throughout the process.”
“I instructed Chris Burns to draw up a post nuptial agreement as I was undertaking a management buy out of my business. Chris provided clear, practical and pragmatic advice. He was assisted by Richard Buckley and together they were able to advise me about and draw up the Agreement and helped me reach my objective diligently and efficiently.”
“Lupton Fawcett’s Family team is recognised as a ‘solid family practice’ headed by Chris Burns who is described as a ‘top-class advocate’.”
Legal 500, November 2018
“To the point, direct and no-nonsense approach: he tells it like it is and he is very good at what he does.”
Chambers and Partners UK
“Chris Burns heads the practice and is ‘a top-class advocate’; he handles a range of family and financial remedy matters and has a specialism for children’s work.”
The Legal 500 2018 Legal Directory
“The Legal 500 2017 legal directory ranks Chris as a leading individual and commends his team. Clients single out Lupton Fawcett LLP’s family law practice for its ‘professional, pragmatic and client-focused service, great attention to detail and specialist expertise’. Headed by Christopher Burns (‘particularly good at cohabitation disputes’), the practice provides region-wide coverage to high-net-worth and privately funded clients from its offices in Leeds, York and Sheffield, with particular emphasis on financial provision issues arising from family breakdown.”
The Legal 500 UK 2017
“Thank you, Chris, for all you have done to help me.”
“I was heartened by the detailed responses both in the meeting and via email that Chris was able to give – he seems to have a very clear handle on the situation and is doing his best to keep you appraised of your rights.”
Financial Adviser to Lady G
“Excellent service was offered.”
“What a great job Chris did to finalise the court orders and hearing for us.”
“Very pleased with the service.”
“From start to finish I found Chris and Emma very professional, fully supportive and they always returned my emails and calls promptly. I can’t thank Chris and Emma enough for what they have done for mine and my daughter’s future. They made me feel safe and secure throughout the whole process with constant reassurance, and I trust them implicitly, which is why I would definitely recommend them to anyone that finds themselves in an upsetting and heart-breaking situation”
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