HNW Divorce Litigation - 4th Annual Flagship Conference

The flagship event for the HNW Divorce community bringing you unique perspectives unobtainable elsewhere.

21st November 2024 | In-person | One Whitehall Place, London

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Co-Chairs:

Jane Keir
Partner
Kingsley Napley

Jane Keir is a partner in the family and divorce team. Described as a "class act" by her peers and colleagues alike, she is  "absolutely dedicated to getting the job done for her clients many of whom are high profile or international".

Jane acts for equal numbers of men and women and many of her clients come from across the country and abroad, as well as London.  Much of her work involves an international element and she enjoys working with other lawyers, accountants, actuaries, financial advisers, wealth managers and investigators in order to provide a thorough and comprehensive service to her clients. In addition, she has immediate recourse to all the other leading teams at Kingsley Napley LLP, including Private Client, Immigration and Real Estate.


Jane Keir
Jane Keir Partner
Kingsley Napley
Jonathan Hilliard KC
Barrister
Wilberforce Chambers

Jonathan has a broad trusts and commercial practice. Much of his time is spent on private, pension and other commercial trust disputes and fraud disputes, both on and offshore. His litigation often takes him into other areas of law, and he has significant experience of cases with family, regulatory, insolvency and public law elements. He also has a significant advisory practice across this spectrum of work.

He very much enjoys the challenge of breaking down complex issues into simple, clear points and the advocacy involved in litigation, both oral and written.

Jonathan was shortlisted for ‘Chancery Silk of the Year’ at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2021 and at the Legal 500 Awards 2023.

He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2021.

He is consistently ranked in the directories for trusts (private and pension), matrimonial: trusts, offshore, civil fraud, traditional chancery and high-net-worth work (Chambers and Partners) and offshore, pensions and private client (The Legal 500).


Jonathan Hilliard KC
Jonathan Hilliard KC Barrister
Wilberforce Chambers

Speakers:

Suzanne Todd
Partner
Withers

Suzanne Todd is co-head of international private client firm Withers' Dispute Resolution team in Europe. Suzanne is recognised as one of the most skilled and experienced family lawyers of her generation in London. She is in the top tier lawyer of Spear's Top 50 Family lawyers, Spears 500, Tatler Address Book, Chambers, Legal 500 and Citywealth. Her clients come from all walks of life and from all nationalities from the entertainment to motorsport worlds, to senior City CEOs or their wives as well as being the 'go to' for Counsel for many of the firm's big family office clients to deal with their family law issues. Suzanne has an extremely strong reputation as one of the 'go to' family lawyers in London for Italian family law matters. She has lectured in the Supreme Court in Italy (in Italian).

Suzanne's practice ranges from dealing with complex international financial cases (involving family businesses, inherited wealth and tax and trusts) to handling private law children disputes including international relocation cases. She is also adept at negotiating pre/post nuptial agreements. Suzanne is a trained and practising mediator and collaborative lawyer.


Suzanne Todd
Suzanne Todd Partner
Withers
Amanda Trigg
Partner
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf

Amanda S. Trigg is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (“IAFL”) and Counsel to the President of the US Chapter of the IAFL.

As a certified Matrimonial Law Attorney and partner in the Matrimonial Law Department at Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP, Amanda exclusively practices family law, including divorce and all related international family law issues, including complex litigations. Amanda holds leadership positions in both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the Family Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Amanda has earned a stellar reputation for her meticulous approach to legal strategy and her commitment to achieving favorable outcomes for her clients. Her proficiency in navigating intricate financial landscapes and her adept negotiation skills make her a sought-after advisor in high-stakes divorce cases, and as an advisor on the application of local laws in international venues.


Amanda Trigg
Amanda Trigg Partner
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf
Richard Kershaw
Partner
Hunters Law

Richard is a talented family law litigator who advises on the full range of issues which arise on relationship breakdown, with a focus on complex financial claims on divorce.

Richard is regularly instructed in HNW and UHNW divorces and is known for his expertise in the financial sector, overseas assets, trusts and complex ownership structures. Richard has a particular specialism in cases involving private equity interests.

Richard is experienced in obtaining emergency injunctions, both to prevent the dissipation of assets and to protect the welfare of a client or their children. Richard also represents clients in challenging child arrangements cases.

Richard is known for his focused and strategic approach to cases, and his determination to achieve a good result for his clients.

In addition to his Family work, Richard has a complementary litigation practice focused on trust and Inheritance Act disputes arising on the breakdown of a relationship.


Richard Kershaw
Richard Kershaw Partner
Hunters Law
Sam Longworth
Partner
Stewarts

Sam is a leading lawyer in international, complex and high-value divorce and family law cases. He is recognised across the private wealth industries as a leader in his field.

Sam is instructed by individuals, families, and trustees across the world to address issues arising from divorce, and to assist in the preparation of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. He also has extensive expertise in complex parental disputes, with a particular emphasis on international relocation.

His clients range from the sports and entertainment industries to the City and international community, with a particular emphasis on the US, South America, Russia and the Middle East.

Sam is known for his complete discretion, commercial advice and ability to achieve swift, best-outcome solutions for his clients. He also has extensive experience in ‘private court’ based arbitration for family disputes.


Sam Longworth
Sam Longworth Partner
Stewarts
Simon Blain
Partner
Forsters

Simon is highly regarded by both clients and his peers, he brings his considerable expertise to bear to help separating couples resolve issues in a constructive manner. He has a particular strength in complex financial cases, often involving trusts, family businesses and assets in more than one jurisdiction.

Working closely with colleagues in the private wealth sector to provide a seamless service to high net worth individuals and their families, Simon is able to advise on the family law aspects of wealth protection, including prenuptial and cohabitation agreements. He has a thriving children law practice and has assisted parents in all aspects of the law relating to children. He has a specialist interest in the cross-border movement of children and frequently provides guidance on international surrogacy and applications for parental orders.

Simon is an elected member of the national committee of Resolution, the leading membership organisation for specialist family lawyers, and is the organisation’s treasurer.

Simon is recognised as a 'Next Generation Partner' in The Legal 500 2023 edition and is ranked in the Chambers UK and HNW guides for his work on sophisticated financial cases, many with a trust-related, family business or multi-jurisdictional element. He is recognised as a 'Recommended Lawyer' in the Spear's 500 2022 directory.


Simon Blain
Simon Blain Partner
Forsters
Christopher Pocock KC
Barrister
1KBW

Chris Pocock specialises in divorce and matrimonial finance in disputes between high net worth parties. He has a wealth of experience dealing with complexities involving corporate and other businesses and/or complex remuneration packages, as well as with cases involving offshore and onshore trust and other asset-holding structures. Many, if not most, of his cases involve international and cross-border aspects, either substantively or in relation to enforcement.

Chris is ‘a skilled advocate (2020 Legal 500); ‘Very commercial, sensible and pragmatic in his advice”. “He’s excellent in cases where the detail is important.” (Chambers & Partners 2020)’


Christopher Pocock KC
Christopher Pocock KC Barrister
1KBW
Elizabeth Hicks
Director
Family Law in Partnership

Elizabeth is a director at Family Law in Partnership. She specialises in all areas of family law and has a particular focus in advising HNW and UHNW individuals on complex cross jurisdictional issues of family, matrimonial and trusts law.

Elizabeth’s work includes divorce, contested financial remedy cases and asset protection, often involving international aspects. Elizabeth also advises on complicated private Children Act cases and Pre and Post Marital Agreements with both domestic and international aspects. Elizabeth’s clients include husbands and wives, cohabitants and sometimes children. They come from a range of backgrounds and include entrepreneurs, City professionals and various high profile individuals and their spouses and partners. She often prepares Pre and Post Marital Agreements using the collaborative process including those agreements which have an international aspect.

Elizabeth is ranked as a leading expert in family/matrimonial law by all the leading legal directories with Legal 500 UK 2024 remarking that Elizabeth is “at the top of her game” and Chambers HNW 2023 noting: “Hicks is one of the great family lawyers of her generation”.

The Legal 500 UK has ranked Elizabeth in its Hall of Fame of Leading Individuals in family law for many years with recent comments including: “Elizabeth Hicks is at the top of her game. Fiercely loyal to, and protective of, her clients, they feel supported and extremely well represented as a result. She is not afraid to stand her ground and delivers results time after time”. Earlier editions note: “Elizabeth Hicks is a true star of her generation….a standout practitioner. She is the whole package, technically good, has warmth in abundance and is completely committed to her clients.” 

Elizabeth has been named as a Top Recommended Family Lawyer in The Spear’s 500 Guide for many years. The 2023 edition of UK Best Lawyers has also named Elizabeth as ‘Lawyer of the Year 2023′.

Elizabeth is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and has been actively involved in arranging a number of their Education programmes. She is a member of Resolution, the Creative Divorces Collaborative Pod and the London Welsh Lawyers Association.

Elizabeth is a native English and Welsh speaker, and is proficient in French. She is a trained Mental Health First Aider.


Elizabeth Hicks
Elizabeth Hicks Director
Family Law in Partnership
Tim Amos KC
Barrister
QEB

Tim is a mediator and barrister in international family law and Head of Chambers at Queen Elizabeth Building (“QEB”).  He has practised at QEB as a barrister since 1988 and as KC since 2008. His practice spans all aspects of family law (including pre-nups and nuptial trusts) but he is predominantly known as an expert in “big money” family finance, married or unmarried, and alive or dead (including claims under the Inheritance Act). Tim is ranked in Band One of The Legal 500 and of Chambers UK Bar Directory for Matrimonial Finance.


Tim Amos KC
Tim Amos KC Barrister
QEB
Michael Allum
Partner
iFLG

Michael Allum is a Partner at The International Family Law Group LLP.

Michael works in the divorce, forum, and finance team. Much of Michael’s work involves complex international issues and/or high net worth cases. He has a particular interest in jurisdictional issues and forum disputes. Michael also undertakes cases involving financial provision in the English court following an overseas divorce (known as Part III) and obtaining English sharing orders when divorce and financial proceedings are taking place in another country.

Michael regularly writes articles for the main legal journals and subscriptions, including Jordans, LexisNexis and Family Law Week. His article writing is astute and hugely informative for all the legal profession.

Michael contributed towards the Jurisdiction and Part III chapters in the definitive international practitioners’ publication ‘International Family Law Practice’ (6th edition).

‘Michael Allum is proving to be very talented and in demand. He is an outstanding lawyer’ The Legal 500 2021


Michael Allum
Michael Allum Partner
iFLG
Tim Bishop KC
Barrister
1 Hare Court

Tim regularly handles the most substantial of matrimonial financial cases across multiple jurisdictions, and uses his wealth of experience in this area to assist high net worth clients including businesspeople.

He is routinely recognised by senior solicitors as one of the foremost matrimonial finance barristers. "One of the big beasts. He's an outstanding advocate and hugely knowledgeable in relation to complex offshore work." "He has got a vast amount of experience and encyclopaedic knowledge." "Tim operates in a fair and appropriate manner, and adopts a calm, measured and effective approach." "Encyclopaedic in his knowledge of the law, strategically brilliant and incredibly user-friendly, he's the perfect matrimonial silk." "Tim Bishop KC is a particularly impressive and persuasive advocate both in terms of his written work and oral presentation. He is able to marshal evidence and present the often complex factual matrix of a case in a concise manner. His knowledge of legal principles and case precedent is masterful." ‘His experience and analytical approach to matters are overwhelmingly good.’


Tim Bishop KC
Tim Bishop KC Barrister
1 Hare Court
Mark Harper
Partner
Hughes Fowler Carruthers

Mark focuses on divorce and family law, in particular international cases and those involving trusts. He also deals with pre-nuptial and pre-civil partnership agreements.

Mark also acts in international children’s cases, including relocation cases. His Court of Appeal case of K v K helped to shape the law on relocation. In S v S, Mark achieved relocation but also change of primary carer for the children.

Mark was ranked one of the top ten UK family lawyers in Spear’s Wealth Managements’ Family law index 2017, 2018, and 2019 and was described as “without doubt the best technician in London”.

He was also ranked in The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100 lawyers’ under Family and Private Client and is listed among the Top 10 Family & Matrimonial Lawyers in Citywealth’s Leaders List and Spear’s Family Law Index’s ‘Top Flight Family Lawyers’. Mark is also listed in Tatler Address Book’s Advisory as one of the leading family lawyers in their trusted network of influential and elite private client experts with “gilt-edged” expertise.

Mark is the co-author of three leading textbooks on family law: International Trust and Divorce Litigation (Third Edition), Same Sex Marriage and Civil Partnership – The New Law, and Model Letters for Family Lawyers, all published by Jordans. Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division, in a review of International Trust and Divorce Litigation said “This is a book which needs to be in the bookcase and in the briefcase of everyone involved on a divorce case with a trust element”.

Mark is a regular commentator on family law issues in the press and TV, having appeared on BBC News and Radio 4’s Today programme. He regularly lectures in England and in offshore jurisdictions on a broad range of family law issues, especially trusts on divorce and pre-nuptial agreements, and was the European Chapter President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers between 2014 and 2016.


Mark Harper
Mark Harper Partner
Hughes Fowler Carruthers
Sarah Higgins
Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys

Sarah handles all areas of family law with particular focus on financial applications, children, cohabitation and marital agreements. Sarah advises those involved in disputes concerning their financial arrangements following relationship breakdown, whether as spouses/cohabitants or third parties such as trustees. Many clients are international or have assets abroad. Sarah is experienced in advising civil partners. Children issues include acting for parents or other family members.

Sarah is experienced in dealing with cases with substantial and complex assets in various jurisdictions in particular where there are trusts, and where there are issues of non disclosure and disputed valuations. She drafts and advises on both marital and civil partnership agreements. Her children work includes acting in cases where one parent wishes to relocate to a different country with a child. Sarah is experienced in dealing with matters where there are allegations of drug or alcohol abuse. She is a trained mediator and a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Sarah is admitted to practise in England and Wales.


Sarah Higgins
Sarah Higgins Partner
Charles Russell Speechlys
Emma Hargreaves
Barrister
Serle Court

Emma has a broad commercial chancery practice, with a particular focus on domestic and offshore trust/probate litigation, civil fraud, and company disputes.  She also advises and appears as specialist Chancery counsel in financial remedy proceedings. Emma is often instructed to act as sole counsel in cases in the High Court and the County Court. She is also regularly instructed as junior counsel in large-scale commercial and chancery litigation, both onshore and offshore, and has previously appeared (ad hoc) as junior counsel in the Supreme Court of Bermuda. 


Emma Hargreaves
Emma Hargreaves Barrister
Serle Court
Sital Fontenelle
Partner and Head of Family
Kingsley Napley

Sital is a partner and head of the Kingsley Napley family team, where she specialises in complex financial matters within a divorce, including international jurisdictional cases, negotiating and drafting  pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements as well as every aspect of private children law cases. 

Sital’s areas of practice include all aspects of private family work, with particular expertise in financial remedy proceedings often involving an international dimension. Sital has extensive experience in complex cases involving off-shore trusts, family businesses, tracing assets and inherited wealth. 

Sital is an active member of the Resolution Cohabitation committee and has considerable experience in dealing with claims arising for cohabiting couples and their children. 

Sital is also highly experienced in all private children matters including applications for leave to remove from the jurisdiction, change of school and child arrangements generally. 

Sital is known for her tactical approach and likes to push boundaries to find a solution for her clients when they are dealing with a difficult time in their life. She provides constructive and pragmatic advice to achieve her client's goals and strives to obtain a positive result for all concerned. 
 
Sital is recognised as a leader in her field in the recent legal directories, including Chambers High Net Worth Guide, Legal 500 UK, Chambers UK and Spears. As well as being listed in the 'Recommended' tier in the Spear's 2023 Family Law Index. She won silver in the Woman of the Year - Future Leaders (Partner) category at the Powerwomen Awards 2020. She was also shortlisted in 2018 for the Family Lawyer of the Year - Partner in the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards 2018. 


Sital Fontenelle
Sital Fontenelle Partner and Head of Family
Kingsley Napley
Nicholas Allen KC
Barrister
29 Bedford Row

Nicholas specialises in high value matrimonial finance work. He is well known for his eye for detail, his knowledge of the law, and for his client care skills. He is Joint Head of Chambers (with Alexis Campbell KC).

Nicholas was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2018. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge assigned to the Family Division in October 2021 and is also a nominated Judge of the Court of Protection. He was previously appointed a Recorder of the Family Court in 2016. He was elected a Bencher of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in 2021.

Nicholas is highly ranked in both the Chambers UK and Legal 500 directories. He has been ‘Band 1’ ranked in the ADR table in Chambers UK since it was first published in October 2023.

Nicholas is a qualified arbitrator (Finance) through the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA) scheme. He was described as an “expert” in family arbitration by Peel J in G v G [2023] 2 FLR 491). He has to date been appointed as arbitrator in 33 cases and has written 26 awards (five having settled and two are ongoing). This is a significant proportion of the c. 600 arbitrations which have been registered since the inception of the financial scheme. He was also retained on a further six cases which settled or where arbitration was not pursued before his appointment was formalised. He has also conducted more than 80 private FDRs as evaluator.

Nicholas is a regular lecturer including to full-time and part-time judges at the Judicial College.


Nicholas Allen KC
Nicholas Allen KC Barrister
29 Bedford Row
Lucinda Nicholls
Managing Partner
Nicholls & Nicholls

From starting her career working at the biggest law firm in South Wales to founding Nicholls & Nicholls in the City of London, Lucinda has always been driven to raise standards and ensure that defendants are treated fairly and properly within the criminal justice system and by other government and regulatory bodies.

Lucinda has an outstanding background in general crime and has built a reputation for structuring and presenting the best legal arguments to win cases. Not only does she have an extraordinary interest in Proceeds of Crime (POCA) law, but she also excels in situations involving the Health and Safety Executive, Trading Standards and Local Authority investigations and prosecutions. Lucinda has a keen eye for detail and an exceptional capacity for memorising facts and figures.

In May 2022, Lucinda was recognised for her strength in fighting injustices within the Courts of England and Wales. She received the accolade from The Times newspaper as ‘Lawyer of the Week’ and is believed to be the first defence solicitor to be featured.


Lucinda Nicholls
Lucinda Nicholls Managing Partner
Nicholls & Nicholls
Katie Longmate
Partner
Russell Cooke

Katie advises across the full breadth of family law with many of her cases involving an international element. She is a Resolution trained family mediator in financial and private law children matters.

Her specialist acumen is in cases involving international child relocation and disputes involving child arrangements. She advises on divorce, relationship breakdown and managing the associated financial matters. She also assists with the drafting of nuptial agreements. Her clients range from HNW individuals, international entrepreneurs and families of inherited wealth. 

Katie is ranked in Chambers HNW 2023 (Band 5 for Family/Matrimonial Finance: High Net Worth - London) as well as a Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 2024.


Katie Longmate
Katie Longmate Partner
Russell Cooke
Tom Quinn
Partner
Birketts

Tom qualified as a Solicitor in 2008 and joined Birketts in January 2022. Tom is a Partner in our Family Team and heads up our London Family Department.   

Tom is a family lawyer and has accrued over 15 years of experience working at top tier firms, including Payne Hicks Beach (having worked very closely with Fiona Shackleton) and Vardags. Tom is also a member of Resolution.

Tom advises clients on all issues resulting from the breakdown of a marriage, civil partnership, or co-habitation, to include both financial and children matters, as well as pre and post-nuptial agreements and co-habitation agreements. Tom has significant experience in dealing with complex and high-value financial disputes (from the low millions to hundreds of millions), often involving trusts, and jurisdictional issues. He also advises on private children matters including residence and contact disputes, leave to remove cases, and financial claims on behalf of unmarried parents (“Schedule 1”, Children Act claims).

Tom’s client base tends to comprise high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals and his focus is always to try to conclude matters promptly and with the minimum of cost and acrimony.

Reported cases include:

ST  v TC [2022] EWFC 67

MCJ v MAJ (Financial Provision: Treatment of Non-Matrimonial Property) [2016] EWHC 1672 (Fam)

R (Cart) v Upper Tribunal [2010] EWCA Civ 859

CMEC v Mitchell [2010] EWCA Civ. 333

H v C [2009] 2 FLR 1540

Tom was named as a Recommended Family Lawyer 2023 by Spear’s 500.

Tom is a contributor to the trade press, most recently having completed a Q&A for Lexis Nexis focusing on the impact of coronavirus on financial provision.Tom graduated from Cardiff University with a BSc in Economics, Banking, and Finance, before undertaking his GDL and LPC at the University of West England.


Tom Quinn
Tom Quinn Partner
Birketts
Christopher Springett
Partner
Evelyn Partners

Chris advises a broad range of private clients including non-domiciles, families and individuals represented by family lawyers. His client base primarily comprises of senior executives and partners within the legal and financial services sector. In addition to advising private clients, Chris is often instructed by family lawyers to assist with complex cases and appears at the Family Court. Chris has considerable experience and understanding in the following areas:

  • Executive remuneration including carried interest for private equity managers,
  • Property, including the availability of private residence relief,
  • Shareholdings in both quoted and unquoted investments,
  • Private businesses including methods of extraction and the availability of business asset disposal relief,

Chris has over 20 years’ experience advising clients and is a member if the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Association of Taxation Technicians where he has been a Fellow since 2021.


Christopher Springett
Christopher Springett Partner
Evelyn Partners
Lauren Glynn
Counsel
Carey Olsen

Lauren is a senior specialist family lawyer.

She has significant experience and offers robust and straightforward advice to clients in relation to all types of relationship generated issues.

Lauren will always seek to find a sensitive and family-focussed solution to relationship generated disputes and promotes alternative dispute resolution solutions wherever possible. When litigation cannot be avoided, Lauren has a reputation as a perceptive, persuasive and accomplished Advocate having considerable experience appearing before the Royal Court of Jersey at all levels.

Lauren has recently been appointed to sit as Treasurer and Committee Member of the Jersey Family Law Association. 

Lauren is also a member of Resolution, formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association, an organisation of family law professionals.


Lauren Glynn
Lauren Glynn Counsel
Carey Olsen
Louise Woolrich
Partner
Carey Olsen

Louise is Partner in Carey Olsen's dispute resolution team and an Advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey.  Louise specialises in contentious and semi-contentious trust matters.  Louise acts for trustees and beneficiaries in high value trust disputes, including breach of trust proceedings arising out of investment losses, proceedings challenging the validity of a protector's decision to remove a trustee, and contested proceedings relating to the removal of a protector.  Louise also advises on applications for administrative directions, applications for relief on the grounds of mistake, and rectification of trust instruments.  The work that Louise is involved in often has multi-jurisdictional aspects and involves assets located in, and companies and trusts administered out of, foreign jurisdictions.    

 


Louise Woolrich
Louise Woolrich Partner
Carey Olsen
Gillian Crandles
Managing Partner
Turcan Connell

Gillian Crandles is managing partner and head of family law at Turcan Connell. She is accredited as a specialist in Family Law by the Law Society of Scotland and the only family lawyer in Scotland to be recognised as an Eminent Practitioner by Chambers UK. She is dual qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales and is often instructed in cross-border cases particularly in relation to asset protection including pre- and post-nuptial agreements and living together agreements. Gillian is an interdisciplinary collaborative practitioner, having been involved in the introduction of collaborative law to Scotland, and past secretary of the governing body, and is trained as a mediator and family law arbitrator.

Gillian has particular expertise in cases involving professionals, entrepreneurs, land and estate owners and those in the public domain. She deals with complex, high value cases which often involve the valuation of business assets, partnership issues and farming disputes. Many of her cases have an international element, including disputes regarding children and in respect of jurisdiction for financial claims.


Gillian Crandles
Gillian Crandles Managing Partner
Turcan Connell
Sofia Thomas
Director
Juno Tax

Sofia trained and qualified in personal tax at PwC before going onto work at Citibank. She holds qualifications with the UKs premier tax institution, The Chartered Institute of Taxation.  She brings all this experience and much more to all of her work and is best placed to provide tax advice on any range of personal tax issues that may arise during a divorce. From one party being under HMRC investigation to capital gains tax positions on multiple property holdings Sofia can provide quick, effective and clear advice.


Sofia Thomas
Sofia Thomas Director
Juno Tax
Beverley Morris
Partner and Head of Family Law
Lodders

Beverley Morris
Beverley Morris Partner and Head of Family Law
Lodders
Simon Sugar
Barrister
1GC

Simon practices exclusively in family law; predominantly in the law of financial remedies following the breakdown of marriage but also in cohabitation disputes, schedule 1 claims and inheritance actions.

Simon is one of very few counsel who are members of both the Family Law Bar Association and the Chancery Bar. Consequently, in addition to more straightforward claims, he is at home dealing with complex financial remedy claims involving companies, business assets, farms and trusts.  Simon writes and lectures extensively on family law issues and amongst other works is the co-author of Unlocking Matrimonial Assets on Divorce.

Simon also accepts public access work is an accredited CEDR mediator and a private FDR judge.


Simon Sugar
Simon Sugar Barrister
1GC
Emily Brand
Partner and Head of Family
Boodle Hatfield

Emily is known for her creative and discreet approach acting in high profile cases often involving extensive wealth or complex issues concerning children including international relocation.

She frequently advises on cases involving family businesses or private equity. She has worked on a number of ground-breaking cases including Radmacher v Granatino (concerning a German prenuptial contract), Prest v Petrodel (piercing the corporate veil) and Young v Young (involving complex financial structures, asset tracing, non-disclosure and enforcement).

She also has particular expertise and interest in advising on disputes concerning children on the autism spectrum.

Whether in court proceedings or negotiating private settlements, Emily delivers results for her clients, always focusing on their specific needs and concerns. She is widely respected for her combination of compassion for her clients’ unique circumstances, and her astute ability for intelligent problem-solving.

Emily is also a qualified Arbitrator.


Emily Brand
Emily Brand Partner and Head of Family
Boodle Hatfield
Tracey Beechey
Director, Private Banking
SG Kleinwort Hambros

Tracey has over 30 years’ financial services experience having worked across Retail, Commercial and Private Banking for HSBC and then SG Kleinwort Hambros as a Senior Relationship Manager in March 2021.

Tracey is passionate in helping families and business owners in planning their financial future to ensure their goals and objectives and changing requirements are met in the most efficient way. Flexibility in approach and being there to support throughout is key in her relationship management style.

Tracey is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments having achieved Chartered Wealth Manager status.  She is also a Chartered Financial Planner of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Tracey is mother to 2 young adults and enjoys playing Golf and supporting her beloved Coventry City FC.


Tracey Beechey
Tracey Beechey Director, Private Banking
SG Kleinwort Hambros
Sarah Williams
Partner
Payne Hicks Beach

Sarah Williams
Sarah Williams Partner
Payne Hicks Beach
Kate Lilleyman
Partner
Evelyn Partners

Kate has over 16 years of experience as a forensic accountant, working on commercial litigation, arbitration and expert determinations both in the UK and internationally.  Kate specialises in quantum disputes and valuations.  

Kate has been recognised by Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader, an Arbitration Future Leader and a Consulting Expert- Quantum and Damages.  

Kate has given oral testimony in the UK High Court on multiple occasions.


Kate Lilleyman
Kate Lilleyman Partner
Evelyn Partners
Bethany Scarsbrook
Barrister
St John's Chambers

Bethany specialises in financial remedy disputes and private children law, with particular experience in cases that involve cross-jurisdictional issues.

Bethany is ranked as a leading junior in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK. She has been described as an extremely strong advocate who is able to empathise with clients while providing robust advice. Her approach to each matter is entirely client-centred.

Before joining St John’s Chambers, Bethany successfully completed pupillage at 1 Hare Court in London, where she obtained extensive experience in financial remedy disputes. This includes dealing with complex financial structures, high net-worth parties and assets outside of the jurisdiction.

Bethany is happy to advise in conference or in writing, or alternatively to undertake separate drafting instructions where required.

Bethany co-authors the Financial Remedies Update in the FLBA’s “Family Affairs” publication. Until 2024, Bethany served as a contributor on the looseleaf ‘Financial Provision in Family Matters’.

Bethany has delivered training on the impact of controlling and coercive behaviour and the practical and legal issues that arise from it. She is also recording a podcast on matrimonalisation to which you will be able to listen very soon.

She has completed the FLBA vulnerable witness training.


Bethany Scarsbrook
Bethany Scarsbrook Barrister
St John's Chambers

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