Fiona Shackleton

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Fiona Shackleton LVO (born 1956 in London), is an English solicitor, famous for representing members of the British Royal Family and celebrities in their high-profile/high value divorce cases.

Shackleton has become something of a doyen among British divorce lawyers. Her charm and resoluteness, together with her blonde looks, have earned her the nickname Steel Magnolia^[1].

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Legal career 1.2 Famous cases 1.3 Personal life 2 Quotations 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

The daughter of a Sheriff of London, Shackleton was educated at Benenden School in Kent. She had ambitions to be a doctor, but was discouraged because she was thought not to be clever enough. Shackleton went to Exeter University and gained a modest third in law, making up for this on the partying scene. Shackleton then trained as a cordon bleu chef, and became an executive caterer for boardrooms.

[edit] Legal career

Shackleton took up practising law full time in 1980's, and by 1986, she had become a partner at Farrer and Co, the royal solicitors. Her first high profile case was that of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Her handling of the case for the Duke so impressed Lord Goodman, he recommended her to Prince Charles to handle his divorce.

Shackleton joined Payne Hicks Beach in 2001 as a partner. Shackleton is reputed to have fallen out of royal favour in the aftermath of the Paul Burrell affair and the suggestions of a cover up over allegations of a homosexual rape within the royal household, put Shackleton in her own words: "Under pressure for a solution to be reached more speedily than I was able to achieve;" and she was criticised in the Peat Report on the proceedings^[2].

However, in the 2005 New Year Honours List she was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order and remains solicitor for Prince William and Prince Harry^[3].

[edit] Famous cases

Her most high profile cases so far include:

*Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson: Her handling of the case for the Duke so impressed Lord Goodman, he recommended her to Prince Charles to handle his divorce.

*Prince Charles and Princess Diana: where Shackleton represented the Prince. Diana was able to negotiate a £17m, but due to the diligence of Shackleton unable to retain the title of Her Royal Highness. In her negotiations with Anthony Julius, representing the Diana, Shackleton knew that in such cases, the real battle was likely to be about something other than mere money^[4] 1996 observers saw the outcome as a creditable draw in her battle with Julius.

*Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: in which Shackleton represents the former Beetle^[5]. Mills described Shackleton in interview with Larry King thus: "There’s this nasty woman – Fiona Shackleton. She wants to drag it out as long as possible to fill her pockets and she’s said some pretty mean things when I was in a wheelchair.”^[6]

Shackleton is said to pride herself on refusing to indulge in smear tactics and negative publicity campaigns. In 2006 she won an apology and damages from Associated Newspapers over suggestions she did that in the Charles and Diana case.

[edit] Personal life

Shackleton is married to Ian, a financial consultant, who is descended from Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. The couple have two teenage daughters, and the family live in Kensington^[7].

Unlike many divorce lawyers in America who become media celebrities in their own right, Shackleton largely shuns publicity. In 2000, in Vogue magazine, she disclosed the secrets of her wardrobe as consisting of: 36 suits, 24 dresses, 85 scarves and a pair of shooting shoes.

[edit] Quotations

• “A courtroom is a barbaric venue in which to pick over the carcass of a failed marriage.”^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Bio at Payne Hicks Beach