Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
“A popular choice for London break-ups. ”
- Tatler Magazine
“An experienced and smart woman. Effective, kind and on the ball. ”
- Client review the from independent Citywealth survey
Susan is a highly regarded family law specialist representing clients in divorce proceedings where there are substantial assets and cross-border disputes. Further, she has particular expertise and interest in complex cases involving children, such as international relocation and provision for children with complex medical needs from married and unmarried families.
Susan regularly advises on complex financial remedy proceedings, Inheritance Act cases, pre-and post-nuptial arrangements and jurisdictional disputes. She also has keen interest in and experience in protecting vulnerable clients, particularly those who have experienced coercive control and other forms of domestic violence in their relationships and/or who need additional protection to ensure their safety and well-being during the course of proceedings.
When situations cannot be resolved amicably or in a commercial manner, Susan has extensive experience and a record of successfully litigating at the highest levels including the Court of Appeal.
Susan’s clients are generally wealthy individuals and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and their partners/spouses from a range of different professions and backgrounds, often with international financial interests and keen to avoid media exposure and/or reputational damage.
Expertise
Susan advises on urgent reviews and appeals of Family Court decisions, often involving financial provision, jurisdictional issues, or protective orders in complex or high-conflict family law cases.
Experience
- Represented the wife on a leading pre-nuptial agreements and international divorce case, in which it was confirmed that a spouse may receive a sharing award on divorce despite the existence of a valid pre-nuptial agreement which excluded the sharing of assets (Brack v Brack [2018] ECWA Civ 2862).
- Advised on a complex case concerning domicile and international divorce, representing the successful respondent to the appeal, Ms Sekhri (Sekhri v Ray [2014] EWCA Civ 119).
- Successfully resisted an appeal by the husband to vary capital provision in an order and against committal orders (Bezeliansky v Bezellianskaya [2017] EWCA Civ 76.rtf).
Susan advises on cross-border divorce, financial provision, and jurisdictional disputes, including relocation of children and international aspects of pre- and post-nuptial agreements.
Experience
- Advised on a multi-national enforcement, acting for the successful wife (Nightingale v Nightingale [2014] EWHC 77).
- Successfully defended the husband in an international enforcement jurisdiction relating to child maintenance payments (B v B [2017] EWCH 1029 (Fam)).
- Represented a wife in a relatively short marriage, successfully defending an appeal by the husband as to the quantum of the award to the wife (FF v KF [2017] EWCA 1093 (Fam)).
Susan handles residence, relocation and contact disputes, including arrangements for children of unmarried families and those with disabilities, with experience in protective orders for coercive control or domestic abuse.
Experience
- Acted for a mother of two children with severe learning difficulties and secured substantial maintenance.
- Obtained an emergency order that a father and his girlfriend could not share information with his children relating to their unusual genetic background.
- Secured the return of children from this jurisdiction for a celebrity father to California following his wife’s decision to divorce him shortly following an agreed move to the UK on a trial basis (High Court Order following contested trial).
Susan represents clients in Inheritance Act claims involving high-value estates, including claims for provision by spouses, cohabitants and children, with particular sensitivity to complex family dynamics.
Experience
- Successfully acted for a wife seeking to assert her right to the divorce settlement following her husband’s death during the course of divorce proceedings. Executors claimed the value of the family business had substantially diminished following the husband’s death and were refusing to honour the pre-death agreement reached.
- Represented an adult son against his father (owner of worldwide assets including an international entertainment business) following his mother’s death, successfully gaining financial provision six years after their separation.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers High Net Worth for Family: Matrimonial Finance 2023 – 2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Family: divorce 2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 2026 for Family: children 2026
Top Recommended Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Family Law Index 2021 – 2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Family 2020–2025
Recognised by Chambers UK for Family 2016- 2022
“Susan was exceptional. She went above and beyond, and worked around the clock. She helped me in a situation where I was nervous and apprehensive.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2025
“Susan is very experienced, and gives sound practical and wise advice. She is assiduous in advocating for the interests of her client and is capable of relating realistic advice while minimising costs.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“Susan is highly knowledgeable and great with clients.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“Susan is a seasoned practitioner who combines a searing intelligence and a robust litigation style with warm and supportive relationships with her clients.”
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
“There is no case that Susan has not seen; she has seen absolutely everything. She is resilient, diligent and hard-working.”
Chambers UK 2023
“She is absolutely terrific to work with. She never leaves a stone unturned and determines to get the best for her clients.”
Chambers UK 2023
“Susan is a very bright, experienced and formidable lawyer.”
Chambers UK 2023
“She provides incredibly good service and is good at really complicated matters. She makes the complex digestible.”
Chambers UK 2022
“She is hugely hard-working and strategically very sound.”
Chambers UK 2022
“She's very inclusive and commercial in her approach.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Strong across the board team. Working with other disciplines makes them strong. Susan Apthorp is focused and determined. Ruth Abrams is very experienced.”
The Legal 500 2022
“Susan Apthorp can be a ferocious litigator when she needs to be but can also work in a collaborative way to assist her clients.”
The Legal 500 2020
“Susan Apthorp is a ‘direct, strong negotiator who is sensible and fair’.”
Chambers UK 2020
“A popular choice for London break-ups.”
Tatler Magazine 2020
“Excellent and very clever.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Susan is massively experienced and calm under fire.”
Chambers UK 2017
“There's nothing in this business Susan hasn't seen and done a dozen times.”
Chambers UK 2017
“Susan is tireless and determined in the pursuit of her case objectives.”
Chambers UK 2017
“A real fighter who never misses a trick. You have to be really on your game when you work with her.”
Chambers UK 2016
Susan qualified as a solicitor in 1994. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, she worked at the following firms:
- Sears Tooth
- Davis Arnold Cooper