Andrew Williams, a multimillionaire shipping port executive, has been ordered by the High Court to pay his ex-wife, Abigail Williams, over £12.5 million following a lengthy divorce marred by his attempts to conceal significant assets. The case, which has drawn considerable public attention, revealed the elaborate measures taken by Mr. Williams to shamelessly mislead both the court and his ex-wife about the true extent of his wealth.
Mr. Williams, 57, who runs a shipping business in Neath, South Wales, was found to have been “completely dishonest” with the court about his finances during divorce proceedings. Despite making grandiose displays of wealth by flaunting his luxury cars online and claiming close connections with Monaco royalty, presenting himself as “Sir Andrew” – a title he does not hold, he attempted to downplay his financial position during proceedings by claiming he had suffered significant financial losses due to poor investments and allegedly falling victim to fraud.
However, the court discovered abundant evidence exposing Mr. Williams’ claims as being deceptive. For example, Mr. Williams had intentionally transferred £6 million to a Monaco account only a year prior to his wife’s filing for divorce when their relationship began to significantly deteriorate. Other findings also showed that he had been secretly diverting funds to multiple third parties and had been concealing a variety of assets from his then-wife. Mr. Justice Moor, who presided over the case, described his testimony as a “farrago of lies” and concluded that he had deliberately hidden assets to reduce the financial settlement owed to his ex-wife.
During their 28-year marriage, Andrew and Abigail Williams enjoyed an opulent lifestyle, living on a 120-acre estate near Cardiff and owning a beachfront property in Marbella, Spain. The couple frequently travelled to Monaco via private helicopter, and Mr. Williams maintained a collection of designer watches valued at £2 million, alongside luxury cars and a 47ft yacht. Despite the apparent wealth and an allowance from Mr Williams of £10,000 a month during the marriage, Mrs. Williams, 59, testified that she was financially dependent on her husband, having left her career to raise their two children. After filing for divorce, she was forced to rely on loans to fund her legal battle, while her husband lived abroad as a tax exile.
Mr. Justice Moor ultimately ruled that Mr. Williams was worth approximately £50 million, with £25 million of his wealth being classified as matrimonial assets, entitling Mrs. Williams to half of this sum. The judge also firmly rejected Mr. Williams’ claims of financial hardship and fraud, stating, “I have found the Husband to be entirely dishonest and there is no doubt that he has done his best to pull the wool over the court’s eyes.” He further condemned Williams’ behaviour, which also included violating multiple court orders and failing to appear at several hearings, as “disgraceful”, calling his attempts to mislead the court an affront to justice. The court’s final judgment ensured that Mrs. Williams would receive £12.5 million, which the judge stated would “more than cover her reasonable needs.”
Mr. Williams serves as classic example of someone who will try to evade as many of their obligations as possible during divorce proceedings in an effort to hoard wealth and protract the entire process for their ex-partner. At Grayfords, our team of expert family law solicitors are well-equipped to deal with such cases given their experience in contentious divorces that involve significant assets held in the UK and also abroad where it can be easier to conceal them. If you are facing a similar divorce or separation, we can work closely with you to fight for a settlement that is truly equitable and to protect you and your children’s interests so that you can start afresh with greater ease. We also recognise that divorce is a highly stressful and emotionally draining process, which is why our solicitors will always aim to provide you with the personal support you need alongside our consultants who specialise in mediation, private client law, and therapy. Call us today on 020 7100 6100 to book in your free consultation and find out more about how we can help.
