Catherine Lowther Head of Family
Family Law
Catherine Lowther is Head of Family and a Senior Managing Associate at Swinburne Maddison. She joined the firm as a Trainee Solicitor in 2014, qualified in 2016, and progressed to Associate in 2020 and Managing Associate in 2022. In 2025, she became Head of Family and received a further promotion to Senior Managing Associate in May 2026.
Catherine specialises in complex family law matters, including divorce, financial disputes and child arrangement issues, often acting for high-net-worth clients with diverse and complex asset portfolios. Her approach is client-focused, combining empathetic support with clear and honest advice during challenging times. She works closely with clients to achieve tailored outcomes, often collaborating with financial advisors and other professionals to deliver a holistic service.
Catherine is particularly experienced in high-value financial remedy proceedings, cross-jurisdictional disputes and bespoke agreements such as pre- and post-nuptial arrangements. She is passionate about supporting clients through significant life transitions, building trusted relationships to ensure they feel understood and supported throughout the process.
In 2024, Catherine achieved an additional qualification in Collaborative Law, reflecting her commitment to alternative dispute resolution. As a collaborative lawyer, she focuses on helping clients reach constructive, amicable solutions wherever possible, minimising conflict and prioritising long-term wellbeing.
- Divorce and Separation
- Children’s Matters
- International Relocation
- Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements
- Cohabitation Agreements
- Collaborative Family Law
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.
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 has been named as a Leading Associate in both the 2027 and 2026 editions of The Legal 500 for Family. She has been 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. Prior to this she was named as a Recommended Lawyer within this field.
"Catherine Lowther - I can't think of anyone better to represent us during our case. Catherine's care, attention to detail and understanding of the situation made us feel at ease throughout. Her kindness both professionally and personally is something we will never forget."
"Catherine Lowther is an excellent lawyer who works quickly and smartly to benefit not only her client, but has the whole family in mind."
"Catherine Lowther is an absolute pleasure to deal with. She is very experienced and competent and works very well with counter-part lawyers to try and achieve a mutually acceptable outcome for all involved. Would highly recommend Catherine."
Articles & Insights by Catherine Lowther
Insight
Surrogacy in England and Wales. Why Legal Advice Matters More Than Ever
For many individuals and couples, surrogacy provides a life-changing route to parenthood. However, while medical advances and changing societal attitudes have made surrogacy more common, the legal framework surrounding surrogacy in England and Wales remains complex. As Surrogacy Week draws to a close, our Family Law team considers the implications of recent Family Court decisions […]
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Cohabitation Reform to bring a Measured Step Towards Greater Fairness
The Government’s June 2026 consultation, A Fairer End to Relationships, marks a significant and long-overdue shift in the direction of family law in England and Wales. For some time, lawyers have recognised the growing gap between the current legal framework and the reality of modern relationships. This consultation represents a considered attempt to address that […]
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The Pension Gap on Divorce: Why Women Are Still Being Left Behind
As growing research continues to shine a light on financial inequality between men and women, one issue remains particularly stark yet frequently overlooked during divorce – the pension gap. Despite pensions often being one of the largest assets accumulated during a marriage, second only to property, they are routinely forgotten, misunderstood, or undervalued in financial […]
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Insight
Could your pension increase your Inheritance Tax bill? How the 2027 legislation change affects you
For many years, pensions have played an important role in estate planning. Unlike many other assets, unused pension funds could generally be passed to beneficiaries outside the scope of Inheritance Tax, making pensions an attractive way of preserving wealth for the next generation. From 6th April 2027 this is set to change, most unused pension […]
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Swinburne Maddison Expands Private Client Team Following Major Investment
Swinburne Maddison, one of the North East’s leading full-service law firms, has significantly expanded its Private Client team increasing the firm’s capacity to take on complex private client instructions across the North East and beyond. Following major investment in people, expertise and resources, the firm has brought together its strongest Private Client team to date. […]
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Martyn Tennant named Corporate Lawyer of the Year following landmark year
Partner and Head of the Corporate team at Swinburne Maddison, Martyn Tennant, has been named Corporate Lawyer of the Year at the 2026 North East Dealmakers Awards, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth of the firm’s Corporate team. The award recognises Martyn Tennant’s leadership on some of the most technically demanding and strategically […]
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