Full Breakdown
Maria-Christina Copinger-Symes Wins £14 Million Appeal Against Ex-Husband and Mother
3/18/2026, 1:00:35 PM
Divorce Settlement and Initial Court Ruling
Maria-Christina Copinger-Symes, a former manager of the Australian rock band INXS, has emerged victorious in a £14 million legal battle involving her ex-husband, British SAS major James Copinger-Symes, and her estranged mother, Felicite Perez de la Sala. The couple, who married in 1998 and have four children, divorced in 2022. Following the divorce, a court ordered Ms. Copinger-Symes to pay her ex-husband £1.2 million, leaving her with £5.25 million. However, the situation escalated when Ms. Copinger-Symes discovered that her mother had secretly gifted her ex-husband approximately £27.6 million in family money after their separation.
Court of Appeal Decision
In August 2024, a Family Court ruling determined that the divorce settlement should be overturned due to "material non-disclosure" by Major Copinger-Symes regarding the substantial gift from Ms. Perez de la Sala. The court found that the failure to disclose this information distorted the financial picture presented during the divorce proceedings. Lady Justice Andrews stated that the suppression of the expected gift led to a "seriously distorted picture" of the parties' financial circumstances.
Arguments from the Ex-Husband and Mother
During the Court of Appeal hearings, Major Copinger-Symes' barrister, Richard Todd KC, contended that the initial ruling was incorrect and that the gift should be considered non-matrimonial. He emphasized the strained relationship between Ms. Copinger-Symes and her family, arguing that they did not wish for her to benefit from the retained fortune. Similarly, Dakis Hagen KC, representing Ms. Perez de la Sala, argued that the payment to her son-in-law was made with the understanding that Ms. Copinger-Symes would have no claim to it.
Dismissal of Appeals
Despite these arguments, the Court of Appeal, comprising Lady Justice Andrews, Lord Justice Moylan, and Lord Justice Nugee, dismissed both appeals. The judges concluded that Major Copinger-Symes was aware of the impending gift at the time of the divorce settlement, thus constituting non-disclosure. Lady Justice Andrews affirmed that the gifts were outright and that once transferred, the money belonged to Major Copinger-Symes, who could use it as he wished, even if that included benefiting his former wife.
Implications of the Ruling
The dismissal of the appeals allows Ms. Copinger-Symes to pursue her claim to a share of the £27.6 million gift. The ruling underscores the importance of full financial disclosure in divorce proceedings and highlights the complexities of familial relationships in legal disputes. The case illustrates the potential for significant financial implications stemming from undisclosed assets during divorce settlements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The suppression of the information about the largesse that the husband knew the wife’s parents intended to bestow upon him meant that not only the wife and her representatives, but the court, were presented with a seriously distorted picture of the parties’ respective financial circumstances and needs,” — Lady Justice Andrews
- “It was manifest that they did not wish her to benefit from the fortune which had been retained.” — Richard Todd KC
- “There was more than enough evidence to support the judge’s finding that the gifts to the husband were outright gifts,” — Lady Justice Andrews
This ruling sets the stage for a reevaluation of the financial arrangements between Ms. Copinger-Symes and her ex-husband, potentially altering the financial landscape for both parties involved.
