A judge oversees another stage in divorce court litigation that involves Sir Frederick Barclay, a businessman, and his ex-wife.
Sir Jonathan Cohen had ruled in May that Lady Hiroko Barclay should receive lump sums totalling £100 million following the breakdown of a 34-year marriage.
Lady Barclay returned to court Friday to file a request for enforcement of the award.
The London-based judge oversaw the latest stage in the litigation at a private online hearing in Family Division of High Court.
He set limits on the information that could be reported on the case.
He said that the parties could be identified and it could be reported Lady Barclay was applying for enforcement of the award.
Another stage of divorce court litigation is being overseen by a judge. This time, Sir Frederick Barclay, a businessman, and his ex-wife are involved. Sir Jonathan Cohen had ruled in May that Lady Hiroko Barclay (pictured leaving the High Court in London this week) should receive lump sums totalling £100 million following the breakdown of a 34-year marriage
Sir Jonathan was critical of Sir Frederick, who was 87, in his May ruling regarding the fight over money.
He claimed that Sir Frederick behaved in a “reprehensible” manner during the dispute.
The judge ruled that Sir Frederick had sold a luxury yacht, and ‘applied equity for his own use’, in violation of orders.
Sir Frederick and Lady Barclay had fought in a private trial at the Family Division of The High Court earlier this year.
The judge ruled Lady Barclay should get £100 million.
He said she had wanted £120 million and Sir Frederick had made an offer which might have led to getting nothing.
After the private trial, Sir Frederick, Lady Barclay’s and their lawyers had received a detailed ruling from the judge.
Sir Frederick Barclay and Lady Barclay disagreed on whether that ruling should go public. He believed it should remain private, while she felt it should be published.
Justice Cohen, who allowed journalists to attend his trial but set strict limits on the reporting of it, stated that he had decided not to publish a longer version, but that it would contain some details.
“The main criticism I had of Sir Frederick was his treatment of orders for the production documents and answers to questions,” he had stated in the shorter version of the ruling.
Sir Jonathan criticised Sir Frederick, 87, in a ruling on their fight over money in May. He said that Sir Frederick had behaved in a “reprehensible” manner during the dispute.
“Those orders were specifically made in the context of (him), seeking to argue that the loan notes to which they were entitled and which constituted the vast majority of his wealth were not likely be honoured due to an alleged lack of liquidity in the underlying family business.
The judge said that Sir Frederick repeatedly ignored orders to produce documents or answer queries.
He said: “Part of Sir Frederick’s” available assets included a luxury yacht that was up for sale.
‘I made the orders in order to control the sale of the proceeds.
‘He totally ignored those orders, sold yacht and used equity for his own purposes.
“I considered that behavior as reprobable.”
Sir Frederick had made a statement after the May ruling, saying: “I am sad that after 34 years, my marriage has come an end.”
Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David (left) were among the UK’s most high-profile businessmen. Sir David, who was 86 years old, died in January. Their interests included The Ritz hotel in London and The Telegraph Newspaper Group.
“This was not what I wanted.”
He said that he hoped Lady Barclay would find happiness, and wished her well.
Sir Frederick Barclay and Lady Barclay were separated but still married when the trial took place.
A divorce decree was issued by the judge earlier this year, signaling an end to the Barclays’ marriage.
Lady Barclay had filed for divorce on grounds of unreasonable behavior, he was told.
Sir Frederick and his twin brother Sir David were some of the UK’s most prominent businessmen.
Sir David died in January at the age of 86.
Their interests included The Ritz Hotel in London and The Telegraph Newspaper Group.
The family also has connections to Monaco and the Channel Islands.