[2025] EWHC 2647 (Fam)

The Husband seeks a direction that:

“1.

An order that paragraphs 29 and 30 of the order dated 3 April 2025 of Mr Richard Todd KC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) ('the Order') be varied to provide for one updated and consolidated without prejudice valuation report as recommended by the appointed expert, BDO LLP.

2.

In the alternative, confirmation that paragraph 29(b)(i) of the Order means that BDO shall comment and respond to any and all questions and feedback shared by the parties, without restriction.

3.

The applicant to pay the respondent's costs.”

I will summarise the dispute very shortly – the Husband would like to put new matters before the expert such as up-to-date accounts (which were only considered in draft in the draft report). The Wife would simply like the “draft” watermark removed from the pre-existing report and the parties proceed on the basis of that report. This short statement does not comprehensively summarise the skilful and lengthy arguments which have been put in writing by both sides.

This is a case management exercise. I shall therefore not deal with every point that is raised in this application.

The provision of the BDO report had one objective; to provide a basis upon which the parties may have a fully effective FDR. That requires the best evidence to be available and the best evidence is often the most recent evidence.