The
Private
FDR
Group

Divorce is stressful. Resolving finances shouldn’t be.

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Financial remedy proceedings can be slow, emotionally draining and expensive. Waiting months for a court-listed FDR hearing can increase cost and pressure for everyone involved.

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The Private FDR Group provides high-quality private Financial Dispute Resolution (pFDR) hearings at a proportionate price.

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Our standard full-day hybrid pFDR is £1,200 + VAT.

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We offer prompt availability, clear expert evaluation, and a structured environment designed to help parties reach settlement sooner.

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What is a private FDR?

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A private FDR is a form of early neutral evaluation.

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An experienced evaluator considers the papers, hears submissions from each side, and provides a clear indication of the likely outcome if the matter were to proceed to trial. That indication is not binding, but it often provides the realistic framework needed to unlock settlement.

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Unlike mediation, the evaluator gives a reasoned view on likely court outcomes.

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Unlike a court-listed FDR, a private FDR can be arranged quickly and conducted over a full dedicated day.

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Our hybrid model

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In most cases:

• The parties and their lawyers attend in person (usually at a solicitor’s office or chambers).

• The evaluator joins remotely via secure video link.

 

This model preserves the effectiveness of face-to-face negotiation while keeping costs proportionate.

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Where required, in-person attendance by the evaluator can be arranged.

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Who is it for?

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Our service is particularly suited to 'mid-value' financial remedy cases, typically involving matrimonial assets in the region of £500,000 to £3 million, where traditional private FDR fees may be disproportionate.

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We are equally able to assist in higher-value matters where parties seek a cost-effective, focused and timely indication.

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Private FDRs are especially helpful where:

• A court-listed FDR is many months away

• Parties are motivated to settle but need a realistic steer

• A full-day format is likely to assist negotiations

 

Experience and approach

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The Private FDR Group is led by Gary Howell, who has specialist financial remedy experience and currently holds a fee-paid judicial appointment in the Financial Remedies Court.

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All work through this service is carried out strictly in a private capacity.

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Our evaluations are grounded in established legal principles and reflect how courts in England and Wales approach financial remedy cases.

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We aim to provide:

• Clear, legally grounded indications

• A calm and structured settlement environment

• Efficient, proportionate hearings

• Practical support for meaningful negotiation

 

A faster, more accessible route to settlement

 

Private FDRs remove the stress of waiting for a court date and provide clarity at a stage when it is most useful.

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By combining judicial insight, focused preparation and proportionate pricing, we aim to make private FDRs accessible to a far wider range of families.