The curious case of the vanishing fraud

This case review critiques Cohen J’s judgment in Goddard-Watts v [2022] EWHC 711 (Fam), a second rehearing of the wife’s application for financial remedies on divorce. The foundational critique is minimisation husband’s fraudulent non-disclosure massive increase value some shares, which had necessitated rehearing. I argue that judge failed to consider whether undermined basis original consent order been made: husband received more than half capital based largely risk associated with clearly paid off. also decision first shares was attributable post-separation endeavour by his failure disclose size increase. making needs-based award wife, arguing this switches focus further obscuring deceit. Switching needs allows retreat safe ground where he can avoid difficult questions about impact fraud ability resist sharing wealth wife.