Our particular expertise is based on advising US/UK clients on how UK law (specifically in relation to England and Wales) may apply in their situation and following consultation with US attorneys establishing which jurisdiction would be best for them. If the UK jurisdiction to be used then we can advise on the following matters:
Divorce and Civil Partnership Dissolutions
We can advise you on the legal steps required to obtain a divorce or a dissolution of a civil partnership.
Financial Arrangements
Using various process options such as; mediation, collaborative divorce, litigation or arbitration, we can assist you in reaching a financial outcome following your separation. We would continually advise you on the factors to be taken into consideration and likely outcomes. This would include a division of capital and pension and income and child support where appropriate you might be able to receive. We can work with your lawyers and tax advisors in other relevant jurisdictions to ensure that any settlement is compliant with all necessary tax rules and is enforceable in that jurisdiction.
Your children
We can help and advise you in reaching agreements in issues concerning the arrangement for your children following separation of the parents. This can be particularly complex when you may be living in different countries.
This can also include advice on whether a parent can relocate with the children to a country other than where the children currently reside and what is required to achieve or prevent that.
We are also experienced a dealing with cases where there is an emergency risk of abduction of a child by a parent or when a parent has abducted a child from the country in which they were residing and seek their return.
Pre and Post nuptial agreements
These are agreements made either prior to the marriage or during the marriage to regulate what is to happen in the event of your marriage breaking down. They can be particularly useful where there may be issues of inheritance, family owned companies, other capital, trusts or children from a previous relationship. It can also determine which jurisdiction should deal with matters arising from any separation. We are often asked to review US agreements from a UK perspective if the parties spend time on both countries.
Cohabitation
We can help you consider and prepare any agreements dealing with financial arrangements between you both at the outset of any period of cohabitation. This is particularly important when buying a home together. If your relationship breaks down we can upon the financial consequences of that which are quite different from those that would arise if you were married.