Catherine Lowther Head of Family and Managing Associate

Catherine Lowther is a Managing Associate in the Family Department at Swinburne Maddison. She joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in 2014, qualified in 2016, progressing to Associate in 2020 and later Managing Associate in 2022. In 2025 she was promoted to Head of Family highlighting her strong expertise as a family lawyer.

Catherine specialises in complex family law matters, including divorce, financial disputes, and child arrangement issues, often involving high-net-worth clients with diverse asset portfolios. Her approach is client-focused, blending empathetic advice and honest guidance during challenging times. Catherine works closely with clients to achieve tailored solutions, often collaborating with external professionals such as financial advisors to deliver a holistic service.

Catherine is passionate about supporting individuals navigating stressful life transitions, striving to build trusting relationships that ensure her clients feel supported and understood. She is particularly skilled in advising on high-value financial remedy proceedings, cross-jurisdictional disputes, and bespoke agreements such as pre-and post-nuptial arrangements.

In 2024, Catherine achieved an additional qualification in Collaborative Law, reflecting her dedication to providing clients with alternative dispute resolution methods. As a collaborative lawyer, she focuses on fostering amicable solutions that prioritise her clients’ well-being, helping them navigate family law matters with minimal conflict and stress.

• Divorce and Separation
• Children’s Matters
• International Relocation
• Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
• Cohabitation Agreements
• Collaborative Family Law

With a decade of experience at Swinburne Maddison, Catherine has handled a broad spectrum of family law cases, earning a reputation for her innovative problem-solving and unwavering dedication.

Key highlights include:

• Achieved a positive outcome for a high-net-worth client by securing a final order that ringfenced £15 million in pre-marital wealth.
• Secured the UK residence of a child relocated from Australia under the Hague Convention, successfully navigating complex cross-border legal issues.
• Defended a claim to amend the maintenance terms of an international post-nuptial agreement, achieving a substantial reduction in payments and transitioning from lifetime maintenance to a fixed term.
• Leading the development of the firm’s Private Wealth Team, a multidisciplinary service providing seamless client care across family, corporate, and property matters.

Catherine’s ability to manage intricate cases with precision and compassion makes her a trusted advisor to clients with complex needs, including business owners, property investors, and individuals with significant pension and asset portfolios.

Professional Memberships:

• A member of Resolution and is committed to constructive, non-confrontational resolutions in family law.

Extracurricular Activities:

• An active member of Swinburne Maddison’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, supporting social mobility, youth development, and charitable initiatives within the region.
• Member of Swinburne Maddison’s Social Committee organising events throughout the year that bring the team together.

Catherine’s approachable yet results-driven style, coupled with her technical expertise and dedication to achieving fair outcomes, has made her a standout lawyer in the region. Whether dealing with sensitive family issues or navigating complex financial arrangements, Catherine ensures every client receives tailored, high-quality service they can trust.

In the 2026 edition of The Legal 500, Catherine was named a Leading Associate in Family Law, described as a ‘collaborative practitioner’ who has proven experience across the full suite of family mandates, with instructions from high-net-worth clients on financial remedy and pre-nuptial agreements being a common feature of her recent caseload.