HNW Divorce Litigation - 4th Annual Flagship Conference

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.

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).

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.

Ben does family law because he cares about fairness, families and the children affected by relationship breakdown. He also enjoys the intellectual challenges: whether tackling trusts, difficult valuation issues or complex medical evidence. Oxford educated, Mishcon trained and Shackleton honed; Ben advises on all aspects of family law as calmly, clearly and cheerfully as possible: children, divorce/civil partnership, co-habitation, pre/post nuptial agreements, complex financial disputes and jurisdictional issues. Much of his work has an international element. Ben is described as “sharp and thoughtful, with an inventive mind which looks for and finds creative but positive solutions to the cases that he is involved in.”

He has dealt with abductions, the relocation of children and on matters involving same-sex parents. Ben has experience of dealing with cases where decision-making capacity is an issue and often acts in cases involving trusts (for beneficiaries, claimants or the trustees themselves).

Ben has worked on the leading case involving “special contribution”, as part of the team representing HRH Princess Haya and recently on a case where his client received far more than half the substantial marital pot to meet her needs. He has a broad practice and experience at all court levels. He is one of a handful of lawyers doing heavy weight financial and complex children work. He has considerable experience addressing domestic abuse of all types and in obtaining injunctions. Ben is familiar with Sharia family law concepts. Over the years, he has acted for all sorts of people in all sorts of predicaments from all over the world.

Ben read law at Merton College, Oxford. He trained at Mishcon de Reya and joined Payne Hicks Beach on qualification in 2008. He became a partner in 2018.

Between 2009 and 2013 Ben delivered a legal aid and legal skills training project at the National University of Rwanda. Ben has recently led a cross-profession and multidisciplinary initiative to assist vulnerable clients and those working with them.

He is listed in all the major directories including the Spear’s Family Lawyers Index.

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.

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.

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.

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)’

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.

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.

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

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.’

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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