International family law

We have a fast growing reputation in international family law cases, particularly where these involve potential or actual child abduction. We act in Hague and non-Hague Convention matters, Brussels II Regulation proceedings, and cases where none of these conventions apply. Our team is available to act at short notice where urgent applications need to be made to the Court to prevent the removal of a child from the jurisdiction. We also act in cases relating to forced marriage, female genital mutilation and in wardship applications.

We act in applications for temporary and permanent leave to relocate children abroad and advise on the relevant (and frequently complex) contact issues which arise. We also advise on the relocation of children into England and Wales and on the enforcement of foreign orders within this jurisdiction. We frequently work as part of a team with lawyers in other countries in order to deal with cross-border cases, and our barristers are very good at building effective working relationships even at a distance.

Our family finances team frequently undertake work with an international element, including dealing with registering orders in foreign jurisdictions, applications for financial provision following divorces granted overseas, and financial remedy cases involving assets held in other jurisdictions.