Fiona Shackleton

Fiona Shackleton, LVO (born Fiona S. Charkham May 26, 1956 in London), is an English solicitor, famous for representing members of the British Royal Family and celebrities, including Paul McCartney, in their high-profile divorce cases.

Shackleton's charm and resoluteness, together with her blonde looks, have earned her the nickname Steel Magnolia [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6483785.stm BBC NEWS | Magazine | Faces of the week ] ] .

Biography

She is the daughter of Jonathan Charkham, a businessman and Sheriff of London, and Moira Elizabeth Frances Salmon, daughter of Barnett Alfred and Molly Salmon. ["Deaths", "The Times", May 31, 1965, p. 1] The Salmon family were the co-owners of the J. Lyons & Co. cornerhouse empire. ["The Guardian Profile", "The Guardian", February 15, 2008, p. 21] Through the Salmons Shackleton is a cousin to Nigella and Dominic Lawson and George Monbiot. [ [http://www.kevinbean.plus.com/family_history/paf/pafg351.htm#9044 Salmon & Gluckstein genealogy] ] 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 before training to be a solicitor.

Legal career

Shackleton qualified as a solicitor in 1980 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. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6483785.stm BBC NEWS | Magazine | Faces of the week ] ]

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. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060810/ai_n16657652 TEAM MACCA vs TEAM MILLS | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]

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 Diana: where Shackleton represented the Prince. Diana was able to negotiate a £17m settlement 1996 and observers saw the outcome as a creditable draw in her battle with Julius. On the same date when Buckingham Palace announced to the public that the Prince and Princess had reached a settlement, Queen Elizabeth II issued Letters Patent to regulate the styles and titles of former members of the Royal Family after divorce. Information about those Letters Patent was included by the Palace in the same press release that contained the announcement of the divorce agreement. In accordance with those Letters Patent, Diana lost her style of Royal Highness when the decree absolute of divorce was issued. The forfeiture of the title of Royal Highness is often attributed to the diligence of Shackleton, but styles of members of the Royal Family are governed by the prerogative of the Sovereign.

*Paul McCartney and Heather Mills: in which Shackleton represents the former Beatle. [ [http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=371&id=1158612006 Reality bites for the McCartneys - Scotsman.com News ] ] 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.”" [ [http://www.express.co.uk/news/view/2523 Daily Express: The World's Greatest Newspaper :: News / Showbiz :: Heather: Paul sent me flowers ] ] At the final settlement hearing, Mills poured a jug of water over Shackleton's head. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7303266.stm Mills soaked McCartney's lawyer] ]

*Claire and Thierry Henry: in which Shackleton represents wife Claire, whose marriage broken down after the Arsenal striker left for Barcelona. [ [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007351067,00.html Mrs Henry's '£10m divorce' | The Sun |HomePage|News ] ]

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 that she did so in the Charles and Diana case.

Personal life

Shackleton is married to Ian. The couple have two teenage daughters, and the family lives in Belgravia. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/article606298.ece The face - Times Online ] ]

Quotations

*"“A courtroom is a barbaric venue in which to pick over the carcass of a failed marriage.”"

References

External links

* [http://www.paynehicksbeach.co.uk/our_team/partners/fiona_shackleton.asp Bio at Payne Hicks Beach]
* [http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/celebrity/article3602895.ece Profile: Fiona Shackleton] "Sunday Times" (London), 23 March 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.