Rupert Chapman
Joint head of Chambers
Call: 2000 – Inner Temple
Email Address: clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk
Telephone: 01392285200
Overview
Joint Head of Chambers – Call 2000 – Inner Temple
Rupert moved to Devon in 2011, having been a pupil and tenant at 1GC Family Law, and was a founding member of Magdalen Chambers. He specialises in family law, focusing on financial remedy claims between divorcing couples and cohabitees, claims in relation to financial provision for children, and private children matters, particularly those involving allegations of significant harm or international issues.
Rupert has considerable experience acting in cases involving complex financial arrangements including businesses, farms and pensions. He regularly acts for clients with significant assets both within the jurisdiction and offshore, as well as for those of more limited means.
Although he is based in Devon, Rupert’s practice regularly takes him further afield, recently appearing in London, Southampton, Slough, Guildford and North Wales.
Rupert is available to sit as a Private FDR Judge and to provide advice by way of Early Neutral Evaluation.
Rupert also appears in Court of Protection matters regularly, dealing with both financial and health and welfare issues.
Rupert has been recognised as a leading junior in the field of Family and Children Law by the Legal 500 repeatedly since 2014, as well as UK Chambers & Partners.
Rupert acts for people from all walks of life and can accept instructions on a direct access basis as well as from solicitors.
Expertise
Rupert specialises in financial remedy proceedings and appears in all levels of the family court, the High Court and in the Court of Appeal.
Rupert’s family finance practice covers applications for financial remedies on divorce, including following foreign divorces, and for financial support for children under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Rupert also acts in cases involving domestic and international enforcement of orders. Rupert is regularly instructed in cases involving complex business assets or farms, and for clients who live overseas or have offshore assets.
He provides advocacy as well as written and oral advice for a range of clients in such cases and regularly provides training and seminars on the subject.
Rupert is regularly involved in complex private law children cases including issues of international relocation, child abduction and domestic or sexual abuse. Rupert’s cases often involve multiple parties, including rule 16(4) guardians, and international issues.
Rupert has extensive experience in claims between cohabitees under TOLATA 1996. His cases include farming assets and offshore assets both at County Court level and in the Chancery Division.
Rupert also acts in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and proceedings in the Chancery Division in relation to family trusts, for instance seeking remedies from trusts in support of children.
Rupert undertakes work across the range of Court of Protection practice, including financial disputes and health and welfare matters. Rupert represents the vulnerable adults who are the subject of these often complex proceedings, frequently through the Official Solicitor, as well as Local Authorities, Healthcare Trusts and family members.
Dubarry v Dubarry (2002) All ER (D) 207.
H v O (Contempt of Court: Sentencing) (2005) 2 FLR 329.
K v W (2007) All ER (D) 145
Re D (2010) EWCA 50 (appeared at first instance only, relocation application).
Re K (Children) (2012) EWCA Civ 1549.
Williams v Minnock and another (2015) All ER (D) 162, (2015) All ER (D)174, (2015) All ER (D)176
Re G (A Child) (2015) EWHC 2941 (Fam) (International abduction)
Re L and B (Children) (Specific Issue: Temporary Leave to Remove from the Jurisdiction; Circumcision) (2016) EWHC 849 (Fam)
X v Y [2025] EWFC 144 (B) (application for relief under the Thwaite jurisdiction).
TR v ST (Letters of Request) [2026] EWHC 1785 (Fam)
A keen gardener, Rupert lives in Devon with his family and enjoys walking on Dartmoor, Formula 1 and Cricket.
Testimonials
‘Rupert Chapman is incredibly good’
Academic & Qualifications
- LLB (Exeter) BVC (Inns of Court School of Law)
- Fee-paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal assigned to the Social Entitlement Chamber.
- Deputy District Judge.
Professional Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
- Court of Protection Practitioners Association.
- Western Circuit
- Qualified to accept public access instructions
Clerks Details
- Jess Bertorelli
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Get in Touch
You can call us on 01392 285 200 or email clerks@magdalenchambers.co.uk.
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