"The case was not in fact about the principles of civil partnership, which are the same as on divorce, but about how to divide assets which were largely brought into the relationship by one party," Sarah Higgins, Lawrence's lawyer with Charles Russell LLP in London, said in a statement.
The ruling "demonstrates the broad discretionary approach of the family courts," said Michael Gouriet, a lawyer with Withers LLP who isn't involved in the case. "One person's view of fairness is different from another. If you want to mitigate against that uncertainty then have a pre-nup."