Three of Britain’s most senior family law judges called for a review of the divorce laws on Thursday as they upheld a £48m award to the ex-wife of insurance magnate John Charman – the biggest contested divorce payout in English legal history.

Sir Mark Potter, president of the High Court’s family division, and two top family judges, said London was now seen as the “divorce capital of the world” because recent changes in the law meant wives were now favoured in big money break-ups.