Our Family Law and Divorce team is recognised nationally and internationally as specialists for high value and complex work in marriage, civil partnership, cohabitation, separation and divorce/dissolution.
We advise high and ultra-high net worth individuals on complex financial settlements and asset restructuring on relationship breakdown and divorce. Our family lawyers also act on disputes relation to children and arrangements following relationship breakdown, including moving to other jurisdictions.
We are a large and established team, headed by Partner, Sarah Hoskinson. Our practice in Bristol is led by Consultant Alison Hawes and supported by Director Hannah Petherick, and is the largest in the South West.
Partner, Richard Handel leads our London-based practice, with Sarah, which has a focus on complex and international cases.
All of our family lawyers offer meetings in our Bristol or London offices, and in Edinburgh where appropriate.
Our service delivery is enhanced significantly by our Family Law and Divorce team sitting with specialists across Private Wealth. This includes in working closely with experts in Tax and Trusts, Corporate, Real Estate and Pensions.
All of our lawyers in the family and divorce team are members of Resolution, a national family law group committed to cooperative and effective dispute resolution.
The team is recognised by leading industry bodies and features in Chambers High Net Worth Guide, Chambers UK Guide, Legal 500 (in both the South West and London) and eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms.
Areas of focus
Our team has a great depth of experience in providing family law advice and particularly specialises in the following:
- The treatment of pensions, shareholdings and business assets in divorce, advising both divorcing parties and pension trustees.
- Advising on divorces with international issues, including choice of jurisdiction, jurisdiction disputes and enforcement issues.
- Advising trustees and beneficiaries on protecting trust assets in the event of divorce, both before and during divorce proceedings.
- The complex structures and limited liquidity in farming and farm businesses that make those types of divorce challenging.
- Advising Family Businesses on protecting families’ wealth and business interests for future generations.
- Asset protection and safeguarding future wealth in pre and post marital agreements, especially where multiple jurisdictions are involved.