High-flying City worker and his solicitor wife fought ‘destructive and emotionally bruising’ legal battle over children and money costing £500,000 after their 12-year marriage broke down, appeal court judge says
- Melanie Panzone and Jonathan Read have spent more than £500k on lawyers
- Their divorce battle is currently being heard by the Court of Appeal in London
- Solicitor and city worker married in 2002 but their marriage broke down in 2014
Solicitor Melanie Panzone (pictured outside court at an earlier hearing in London) and City worker Jonathan Read have been fighting each other through the courts since their 12-year marriage broke down in 2014
Two ‘highly-educated’ professionals have found themselves in a ‘destructive and disproportionate’ divorce battle that has seen them spend £500,000 on lawyers, a court heard.
Solicitor Melanie Panzone, 48, and banker Jonathan Read, 45, have been fighting each other through the courts since their 12-year marriage broke down in 2014.
Their most recent hearing at the Court of Appeal in London was told they had been fighting over their children and joint wealth for around five years, finally divorcing in 2016.
Lady Justice King, Lord Justice Moylan and Lord Justice Leggatt said the battle had been ’emotional bruising’ for all those involved.
Lady Justice King said both were highly educated and had high-earning careers when they married in 2002 with Mr Read working in the City.
But she said evidence showed their comfortable lifestyle could not be maintained, largely because of the ‘intolerable burden’ of legal costs.
Mr Read had complained about decisions made by a lower-ranking judge and appeal judges considered a number of legal issues.
Appeal judges ruled in Mr Read’s favour in some aspects.
But he lost a fight over a £150,000 lump sum he had been ordered to pay.
Their most recent hearing at the Court of Appeal in London (pictured) was told they had been fighting over their children and joint wealth for around five years
Previous hearings saw Mr Read’s mother Anne Read battle Ms Panzone over a £300,000 family beachside apartment in Panama.
Ms Panzone’s mother-in-law claimed the Rio Mar flat belonged to her after her son, who a judge previously said earns £1million a year, bought it for her.
Mrs Read went to the Court of Appeal after the apartment was put in the marital assets pot to be divided between the couple after their divorce.
But appeal judges found the Panama property did belong to Mr Read and could therefore be divided with Ms Panzone following their separation.
Previous hearings saw Mr Read’s mother Anne Read (pictured outside court in London) battle Ms Panzone over a £300,000 family beachside apartment in Panama