Catherine Thomas speaks to Mumsnet ================================== ![Catherine Thomas speaks to Mumsnet](https://vardags.com/images/pictures/_360/96b317780b4be83e257d082940f4e6cf.jpeg)Following her success representing Michelle Young in the latter's long running divorce case, Catherine Thomas wrote about the experience in a guest post for Mumsnet. She explained how diligent forensic work led to building a case against a man who claimed that all his assets had been lost in a failed property deal. "*The documents she found provided support for applications for search and seizure orders at homes and offices which further built her case. When the husband failed properly to engage in the case, we obtained an order seizing his passport, and pursued an application which led to him serving three months in prison - a power which is rarely used in the family courts. After a painstaking review of the evidence, which included Sir Philip Green and Richard Caring in the witness box, the judge concluded that the husband was not £28 million in debt as he had claimed, but rather that he had assets of £45 million and debts of just £5 million. A 17-year marriage and two children entitled Michelle to half the net assets - £20 million*." Catherine wrote that, though the sums were very large, the case of Young v Young can be a lesson to anyone involved in a divorce. "*Always get quality legal advice early on. You don't need to incur huge legal bills, but you do need to know from the start what your rights are so you can make informed decisions. However painful the separation, it will be all the more difficult if you are operating in a fog of confusion while trying to decide what to do next*," she added. "Ayesha Vardag - Britain's top divorce lawyer." ![The Huffington Post](https://vardags.com/images/logo/huffpost.png) "Ayesha Vardag - Woman of the Year"![GG2](https://vardags.com/images/logo/gg2-3.png) "Leading, Magic Circle law firm."Mr Justice Coleridge "A handful of firms dominate the so-called 'glamour' end of the market ... Vardags"The Times "One of the best divorce lawyers in the country"Marie Claire "Ayesha Vardag - 'diva of divorce' for the world's super rich" ![BBC](https://vardags.com/images/logo/bbc.png) "Dr Stephen Bence is a financial genius."Lewis Marks KC "Ayesha Vardag - the Queen of divorce"Daily Mail "Vardags brilliantly argued my case to a resounding victory"Pauline Chai (client) "Britain's top divorce lawyer" ![The Telegraph](https://vardags.com/images/logo/telegraph.png) Articles by John Oxley ---------------------- [Vardags Achieve Victory for Michelle Young](https://vardags.com/posts/vardags-achieve-victory-michelle-young "Vardags Achieve Victory for Michelle Young") [Asset tracing: A cat and mouse game](https://vardags.com/posts/asset-tracing-cat-mouse-game "Asset tracing: A cat and mouse game") [Catherine Thomas speaks to Mumsnet](https://vardags.com/posts/catherine-thomas-speaks-mumsnet "Catherine Thomas speaks to Mumsnet") [Christmas Divorces: Sprouts, turkey and furtive texting](https://vardags.com/posts/christmas-divorces-sprouts-turkey "Christmas Divorces: Sprouts, turkey and furtive texting") [The most scandalous celebrity divorces in history](https://vardags.com/family-law/celebrity-divorces-history "The most scandalous celebrity divorces in history")