Carolyn Bottomley

Spear’s Review

A partner in Keystone Law’s family team, Carolyn Bottomley tells Spear's she strives to achieve the most advantageous results for her clients without creating unnecessary combat between the parties. ‘I guide my clients as to which battles are worth engaging, avoiding those that only serve to increase costs,’ she says.

She adds that she finds ‘advocating for clients and observing their own personal development throughout a matter’ incredibly rewarding. ‘For me, empowering each client can be as important as the outcome of each case. I aim to make family transitions as smooth as possible for the client, and in the process I ensure that they have the confidence to walk happily into their new lives.’

Adviser Profile

Bottomley has a loyal client base of ultra-high-net-worth clients across the globe who sing her praises. One client commented, ‘It was a privilege to have you by my side throughout and I found it incredibly inspiring to be with such a strong and capable team’. Another has said, ‘you gave me a great deal of confidence’. 

Alleviating clients of the emotional turmoil resulting from their relationship breakdown is Bottomley’s primary goal. When clients come to her, they are often in a state of distress, and it is a priority to ‘achieve the best possible outcome as quickly and painlessly as possible’. ‘The first thing I tell them is to hand their stress over to me, to focus on themselves and their children, and that I will take care of everything else, I will be their support,’ explains Bottomley. She then formulates a bespoke strategy to get each of her clients through the challenging period ahead. 

Whether it is negotiating a delicate prenup, dealing with an acrimonious divorce case or standing up for an alienated parent, Bottomley employs a creative and pragmatic approach. Bottomley is also a master of discretion, amicability and keeping things low-key. The work she does for her high-profile clients means that she must be discreet to protect their public reputation. 

Yet she is also mindful that, where children are involved, clients will have ongoing relationships with each other long after the lawyers have closed their files, and for this reason, she ‘always strives to reduce tensions and not further inflame matters’ in her dealings with the other side, irrespective of the emotional intensity of the situation at the time. 

Bottomley is also enthusiastic about reducing gender inequality in family proceedings for both sexes. Despite UK legislation being gender-neutral, gender stereotypes based on a client’s identity sometimes shine through, and this needs to be dismantled. Whether representing a father seeking equal shared care of his children, or a wife who has been subject to coercive and controlling behaviour during a marriage, ‘I am always advocating for my client to receive the most advantageous outcome, regardless of their gender,’ she says.