Christian Butler is an experienced family law specialist who has recently become the Head of the Family Law Team at Hay & Kilner.
Christian specialises in managing disputes arising from divorce and separation which involve complex assets, companies, pensions and property portfolios.
We spoke to him about different aspects of his professional and personal lives, and how they fit together.
How is business at the moment?
Busy. In family law, this is bittersweet, knowing that more people are experiencing difficulties, but at the same time, I’m grateful they are trusting me and my team to help them.
Has it always been ‘Law’ as a chosen career?
Growing up, I dreamt of being an actor or a doctor. I enjoyed acting, but never followed the dream beyond some am-dram, while a realisation in my late teens that I’m not a huge fan of blood quickly ruled out a future in medicine!
My love of the ocean and diving saw me undertake a degree in Marine Biology at Newcastle University, but I soon realised, unfortunately, that spending all my time on boats was not ideal as I get seasick.
I worked in hospitality while I was a student and flourished in customer service and people management roles, finding I was particularly adept at dealing with more difficult customers.
This ultimately led me to return to university to study law. I envisaged I’d work in corporate law, and that area still interests me, but through my Hay & Kilner training contract, I gravitated towards family law.
Looking back, I believe this was due in part to my own experience as the child of divorced parents. I saw first-hand the difficulties faced by my parents, and myself and my sister as children, going through the process.
Clients’ problems resonated with me, and I found I was genuinely able to assist them in times of great turmoil. In retrospect, given my life experiences, forging a career in family law was perhaps an inevitability.
What is the greatest career accomplishment so far?
My greatest personal accomplishment is returning as a partner to Hay & Kilner, after completing my training contract at the firm. I relish leading a team of brilliant lawyers and I am so excited for the continued growth of both my team and the wider firm.
Who would you say is your biggest inspiration?
My mother. She has endured more than most in her life but through hard work, determination and courage, she led a successful career and was always there for me and my sister. I wouldn’t be in the position I am today without her sacrifices and commitment to me, and I aspire to be more like her every day.
What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to the start of your career in the legal sector?
Just be yourself – be open-minded, keep growing, keep reading, keep trying to understand who you are and doors will open that you never knew existed.
How has the legal sector changed in recent years?
In family law, the biggest change has been the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020, which brought about so called “no fault divorce.”
This, coupled with the reduction in Legal Aid and the services available to parties going through separation and divorce, has meant a large increase in litigants in person and DIY divorce jobs.
There are very real reasons why expert advice is needed in a lot of these cases and I am concerned as to the repercussions of not taking or having access to this advice.
Outside work, what makes you tick?
My family. Despite a busy and forever growing workload, I try to spend as much time with my children as possible, whether walking them to school, attending sporting events or being a monster ridden around the living room.
When we have the time, I love watching a good film with my wife which takes me away from the thousands of thoughts running through my head!
For further information on all aspects of family law, please contact Christian Butler at Hay & Kilner on 0191 232 8345 or via christian.butler@hay-kilner.co.uk