Agreements & Settlements

Pre-Nuptial &
Post-Nuptial Agreements

The popularity of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements has grown dramatically in recent years following on first from the 2008 judgment handed down by the Privy Council in the case of MacLeod v MacLeod, and then secondly the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in 2011 in the case of Radmacher v Granatino.

We explore with our clients the best options available, and advise about how best to safeguard assets in the event that a marriage might fail. Sensitive advice and finely tuned negotiation skills are critical to achieving a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement in appropriate terms.

Cohabitation

We provide cohabiting couples with comprehensive advice about their rights and obligations to one another and to any children that have been born during the course of the relationship.

Some couples decide to enter into a contract governing their cohabitation arrangements at the outset or during their relationship. Others do not, and come to us needing urgent advice on how to proceed following the breakdown of their relationship.

We advise on the legal consequences of their relationship with particular attention to the ownership and division of property and the respective rights to, and obligations towards, children.

Financial Settlements

We specialise in negotiating substantial and complex financial settlements. Our clients and their assets often have an international dimension. We understand that some clients may be intimidated by what may be complex financial arrangements. We bring sound judgment and strategy together with formidable negotiation skills to advise our clients on the appropriate strategy for reaching financial settlement. Whenever possible we strive to achieve a settlement before the expense of a final hearing in court is incurred.

We are a team of highly financially literate family lawyers. We understand the complex financial arrangements utilised in the modern financial world including complicated remuneration packages and deferred bonus arrangements, as well as international corporate and financial structures and trusts. We have close links with investigative accountants, independent financial advisers and corporate, tax and estate planning lawyers to ensure that every element of a client’s financial affairs is properly addressed.

The approach taken by the courts towards division and quantification of awards is a fast changing area of the law. Large settlements handed down by the Courts in recent years have given London the international reputation of being the “divorce capital of the world” and as a jurisdiction that is favourable to women. Our clients get the benefit of our expert knowledge of this evolving area of family law.

  • Camilla is “highly experienced and able to see the main issues amongst the very heavy detail.”

  • a HUGE ‘Thank You’ especially to you both, and also to the team, for helping me through this whole process, albeit fraught at times, and helping me to achieve a very decent settlement.

  • “It’s a Rolls Royce service, extremely good and very effective – the strategy can’t be faulted.”

  • Camilla it was truly great to meet you. The meeting was beyond helpful – it left me feeling hopeful, finally. A huge weight lifted. I’ve felt powerless and hopeless for so long. So thank you! This feels like the support and back up I’ve been searching for.