Profile
Elizabeth Wark – Ranked: Rising Star- FAMILY: CHILDREN AND DOMESTIC ABUSE - 'Elizabeth is a real asset. She is kind, caring, and goes above and beyond for her clients. Her advocacy is extremely strong, and she is able to get to the real root of the issue.’ Legal 500 2026
Elizabeth practises across all areas of family law:
Financial Remedies
Nuptial Agreements
Private Children
Public Children
Schedule 1 Children Act 1989
Family Law Act 1996
Elizabeth is frequently instructed to appear in contentious Fact-Finding Hearings and Final Hearings, in both private and public children proceedings, with a focus on those which involve serious allegations of domestic abuse and neglect.
In public law cases, Elizabeth acts both for parents and for Local Authorities.
Elizabeth practises in civil law and chancery:
Cohabitation / Trusts of Land & Appointment of Trustees Act 1996
Cases involving claims about Undue Influence & Duress
Seminars
2020: 'Forgery: General Principles, Practice and Procedure'
2021: Setting Aside a Financial Remedy Order -Where Are We Now? A Look at Current Law and Practice in Light of BT v. CU (2021) EWFC 87
2022: Where are we now? The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 & Case Update. Delivered alongside Anushka Kangesu
2024: Current Issues in Modest Asset Cases: Part 1. Delivered alongside Laurence Cooper. Considered two issues (i) What’s in the Pot? ‘matrimonialisation’ after Standish v Standish [2024] EWCA 567 and (ii) The ‘Chimera’ Problem - Family Loans & Resources
2024: in house seminar to a firm of solicitors on ‘relocation’
2024: Speaker - Introduction to Mooting Workshop – City Women in Law Society – City Uni
2024 – Judge - Student Mooting Competition - City Women in Law Society – City Uni
2025: in house seminar to a firm of solicitors on Nuptial Agreements.
2025 - Current Issues in Modest Asset Cases: Part 2. Delivered alongside Laurence Cooper. Consideration of (i) Conduct (ii) Costs and (iii) Non-Court Dispute Resolution.
2025: forthcoming – in house seminar to a firm of solicitors to provide a public law update
Elizabeth is available to deliver tailored seminars to solicitors to assist with individual training needs. These may be arranged either in person or via remote (video) link. Please contact the clerks to arrange.
Articles
‘Setting Aside a Financial Remedy Consent Order in Covid Pandemic Times’ on the Transparency Project Blog, August 2021 -‘https://transparencyproject.org.uk/setting-aside-a-financial-remedy-consent-order-in-covid-pandemic-times-hw-ww2021-ewfc-b20/
Setting Aside a Financial Remedy Order – Where Are We Now? A Look at Current Law and Practice in Light of BT v. CU (2021) EWFC 87. This was a two-part article, published in the March and April 2022 edition of Lexis Family Law.
Final Divorce Orders – a ‘Particular Category’, Transparency Project Blog August 2024 - https://transparencyproject.org.uk/final-divorce-orders-a-particular-category/
‘The Latest on Nuptial Agreements: Three Recent Cases, Part 1’ – December 2024 – Lexis Family Law - https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/the-latest-on-nuptial-agreements--three-recent-cases--part-1
‘The Latest on Nuptial Agreement: Three Recent Cases - Part 2’ – January 2025 - Lexis Family Law -https://www.familylaw.co.uk/news_and_comment/the-latest-on-nuptial-agreements--three-recent-cases-part-2--key-practice-points
‘Final Curtains at the Intermission? Final Orders at Interim Hearings – When and Why – Part 1’ - May 2025 - Lexis Family Law - You can access the full article here.
Forthcoming – ‘Final Curtains at the Intermission? Final Orders at Interim Hearings – When and Why – Part 1’ - June 2025 - Lexis Family Law
Advocacy
January 2022 – Vulnerable Witness Training – Family Law Bar Association, London
March 2022 - Advocacy Skills Workshop - Australian Advocacy Institute, Sydney
September 2022 - Advanced International Advocacy Course, Keble College, Oxford
January 2024 - Advanced Trial Advocacy, Australian Bar Association, Sydney
Forthcoming – May 2025 – Advanced Trial Advocacy, Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, Levin College of Law, University of Florida.
Other Roles
London Resolution Committee
3DJB Marketing Committee
3DJB Pupillage Committee
3DJB Mini-Pupillage Coordinator
Previous Professional & Advocacy Experience
Prior to coming to the Bar, Elizabeth practised as a Registered Nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in her hometown of Sydney, Australia. She completed a two-year post-graduate training programme in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
This experience gives Elizabeth a unique insight into complex family problems and the difficulties individuals have in navigating the system when dealing with extreme stress, trauma and mental or physical ill health.
Elizabeth represented Middle Temple Inn at the European Universities Debating Championship in 2017, University College London at the World Universities Debating Championship in 2018, and was secretary of the Middle Temple mooting team at the 2017 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition.
In 2015-16 whilst undertaking the BPTC Elizabeth volunteered on the Vocalise pro-bono scheme which involved teaching debating in schools and prisons.
Her broad interests are reflected by various summer internships, including at the Bar Pro Bono Unit (now 'Advocate'), Médecins Sans Frontières in Madrid and ACI (The Financial Markets Association).
Elizabeth takes on pro-bono work for Advocate as and when she is able.