Baroness Fiona Shackleton of Belgravia LVO

Spear’s Family Lawyers Index 2025: Fiona is ranked as  “Top Flight” with a focus on very high profile cases. Spear’s writes:

“Her client book is unlike any other in the profession and has included Paul McCartney, Stephen Hawking, the Aga Khan, Liam Gallagher, Norman Foster and Princess Haya bint Hussein of Jordan. She was famously chosen by now-King Charles to represent him in his divorce from Diana. In an unusual turn of events, Diana even sent Shackleton a bouquet of flowers as a token of gratitude for conducting the proceedings without acrimony. More recently, she was involved in the landmark case of Potanin v Potanina [2024], where she represented one of Russia’s richest men, Vladimir Potanin, and successfully blocked a multi-billion-pound case being brought against him by his ex-wife into English courts. Shackleton has also been hired to represent Earl Spencer in his third divorce. It’s not just her winning combination of inner grit and exterior polish that has earned her the nickname of ‘the Steel Magnolia’, but also her wardrobe of structured power suits, brightly coloured dresses and designer accessories. Shackleton almost never speaks to the media, but her cases – and outfits – are pored over by the press. Despite the glamour, Shackleton is driven by a greater purpose. ‘I like sticking up for people, making sure they’re not taken advantage of,’ she once said. ‘It helps to have a rod of steel in your back and lots of charm.’ Another family lawyer, when asked about Baroness Shackleton’s role in the industry, remarks: ‘The famous tennis player Peter Fleming once said of John McEnroe: “The best doubles pair is John McEnroe and anyone.” I think about that quote in relation to Fiona Shackleton often, because the magnitude of her practice and the plaudits that she gets would instantly make any firm she is with a success.’”

The Spear’s 500 2025: Fiona is listed as a “Top Flight Family Lawyer” with a focus on “very high-profile cases”.

Doyle’s Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers – London 2025: Fiona is listed as “Preeminent”. She is recognised as a leading London Family & Divorce Lawyer practising within the areas of family, divorce and matrimonial law matters in the London legal market and is identified by her peers for her expertise and abilities in these areas.

Doyle’s Leading High Net Worth Family Lawyers – London 2025: Fiona is listed as “Preeminent” and recognised as a top ranked London High Net Worth Family Lawyer practising within the areas of family, divorce and matrimonial law matters in the London legal market who has been identified by their peers for their expertise and abilities in matters relating to high net worth families/individuals and the financial aspects of the marriage breakdown.

Chambers UK 2025: Fiona is listed as a “Star Individual” for Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth client (UK).

The Legal 500 UK 2025: The Legal 500 UK 2025 ranks Fiona in the “Hall of Fame” for the Family category.  The directory comments that “Fiona Shackleton is a standout figure in the team; ‘brilliant with clients and brilliant with the case’, she is sought after by high-profile individuals for complex divorce proceedings.” It says that “There is no one like Baroness Fiona Shackleton. She is brilliant with clients and brilliant with the case. Her instincts are spot on.”

Chambers HNW 2024: Fiona is ranked as a “Star Individual” for Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth. The directory writes that she is “lauded as a leading practitioner for sophisticated family matters and has represented clients in some of the most high-profile divorce cases in the country.”  Testimonials include: “Fiona’s reputation precedes her; she gets the absolute best work. She has a fantastic team around her, is very well respected and is at the top of her game.” “Fiona is an iconic figure in family law. She has an incredible instinct for what the right answer is. She’s very pragmatic and ultimately tries to find the right solution for the client.” “Fiona deserves the reputation that she has. Her instincts are incredible and so is the way she holds together her pretty large team. The way she inspires client confidence is great.”

Chambers UK 2024: Fiona is listed as a “Star Individual” for Family/Matrimonial Finance: Ultra High Net Worth client (UK).

The Legal 500 UK 2024: Fiona is ranked in the “Hall of Fame” category for Family Law solicitors, she is described as “an exceptional practitioner” and it is said that “there is nothing Fiona does not know about
family work. She has extraordinary judgment and tactical acumen. She is extremely personable, astute and totally dedicated to her cases; she knows the case inside out.”

Chambers HNW 2023: Fiona is listed as a “Star Individual” – “Fiona Shackleton is lauded as a leading practitioner for sophisticated family matters. Baroness Shackleton has represented clients in some of the most high-profile divorce cases in the country.” “Quite simply the best family lawyer for high net worth cases in England and Wales. She’s represented every big case and her judgement is second to none.” “Completely brilliant. She is hugely experienced and delivers a bespoke and intelligent service for her client. She puts the client at the heart of everything she does.”

Chambers UK 2023: Fiona Shackleton is listed as a “Star Individual” – “Fiona Shackleton is renowned for her top-level practice handling contentious divorce proceedings for high-profile clients. She has a wealth of expertise across a range of matters, from cohabitation disputes to nuptial agreements. She is particularly recognised for her expert handling of matters with international elements.” “Fiona is the leading divorce solicitor in town. Her client care skills are second to none and there are few pieces of major litigation where she isn’t involved. She is calm under pressure and superb with clients.” “There aren’t enough superlatives to describe Fiona. She is an exemplary lawyer. She is a very tactical and strategic litigator with a very holistic approach.”

The Legal 500 UK 2023: Fiona is listed in the Hall of Fame – Baroness Fiona Shackleton receives many plaudits and “has earned the reputation that she has obtained: shrewd, strategic and an inspiration, nothing fazes her.”

The Spear’s 500 2024: Fiona is listed as a “Top Flight Family Lawyer”.

Spear’s Family Lawyers Index 2024: Fiona is listed as a “Top Flight Family Lawyer” with a focus on ‘very high profile cases’ and described as “Britain’s most feared and revered divorce lawyer… the greatest family lawyer of all time.”

Doyle’s Leading Family & Divorce Lawyers – London 2024: Fiona is listed as “Preeminent” and recognised as a leading London Family & Divorce Lawyer practising within the areas of family, divorce and matrimonial law matters in the London legal market who has been identified by their peers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.

Doyle’s Leading High Net Worth Family Lawyers – London 2024: Fiona is listed as “Leading” and recognised as a top ranked London High Net Worth Family Lawyer practising within the areas of family, divorce and matrimonial law matters in the London legal market who has been identified by their peers for their expertise and abilities in matters relating to high net worth families/individuals and the financial aspects of the marriage breakdown.