Charmaine Hast

Head of the Family Department

Family & Divorce
Profile Image

Expertise

Charmaine is regarded as an expert in English Family Law and is one of the few Family Solicitor finance Arbitrators (CIArb) which means she is able to hand down binding judgments in family law money matters.

Charmaine has the benefit of BA (Psychology) and LLB degrees.

Charmaine has been nominated as ‘Spears Family Lawyer of the year 2024’ and named in the Spear’s 2023 Index, listed as a leading individual in Legal 500 and is individually ranked in Chambers UK.  She is the only family solicitor to ever be listed on the ePrivateClient’s 50 Most Influential Solicitors.

She has particular experience and expertise in advising on big-money and big-name divorces. She is able to advise on cross-border money matters and has a particular interest in trusts and pensions. Her practice covers divorce, separation, civil partnerships, pre and post-nuptial agreements, co-habitation agreements, children issues, abductions and international law.  She works with the leading Family Law silks.

Charmaine prides herself on not seeking any publicity for herself or Wedlake Bell in order to ensure that each client has the confidence that at a very distressing stage of their lives, no external factors will influence their decision making and their need for peace of mind.

Charmaine is always conscious of the need to combine the legal and psychological factor to facilitate advantageous results in these financially challenging times.

“She has an immense amount of knowledge and a wealth of experience. Her ability to read clients and read the situation is absolutely brilliant.”

Chambers UK, 2023

“I worked with Charmaine Hast, I valued her depth of knowledge of family law and empathy. She also had a great sense of humour and was kind and driven to get me the best settlement possible, which I really appreciated. Charmaine was totally engaged in working for me. Charmaine made the extremely challenging journey less frightening with her wisdom, knowledge and deep empathy.”

Legal 500, 2023

“An outstanding practitioner, hard as nails when it counts. Soft as a feather when needed. A great character of the matrimonial legal world. A truly unique person. One of the top flight of matrimonial solicitors bringing a rare degree of commitment, judgment and intellectual acuity to this most demanding area of law. Her clients like her dedication to their causes.”

Richard Todd KC

Career History

Charmaine has represented a vast number of public figures including pop stars, actors and actresses, members of parliament, well known sports men and women, TV personalities, entrepreneurs, medical practitioners, bankers, accountants and other clients who require efficient no nonsense financial advice. She makes every endeavour to ensure that she receives no publicity from these representations, in deference to the clients’ need for confidentiality during a period in their lives of emotional and financial turmoil.

She established the Family Department at Wedlake Bell in November 2011 and it quickly rose to become one of the most well respected departments in the country. She previously established and headed a former Legal 500 number one family department in the South East. She is a member of Resolution (formerly Solicitors Family Law Association) where she was one of the first accredited specialists in high net worth financial matters and child abductions. She is a past trustee of Surrey Family Mediation and a former Vice Chairman of the British South African Law Association.

As a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, she is able to guide clients, where appropriate, to a more speedy and cost effective manner of adjudicating matters rather than to resort to the court process which can be protracted, public and extremely stressful.

In May 2022, she was included as a member of the esteemed panel at the 1 Hare Court Annual Seminar together with Sir Johnathan Cohen, HHJ Oliver, Justin Warshaw KC and Eleanor Harris, both of counsel and solicitor Sam Longworth.

In February 2020, Charmaine addressed the First National Bank trustees and advisors in Sandton, South Africa on Trusts and Divorce in England and Wales.

In October 2018 she addressed the Bev Clark Seminar on Family Law in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In March 2017, Charmaine addressed The Law Society of The Northern Provinces in Johannesburg, South Africa incorporating The Gauteng Law Society, Limpopo Law Society, Mpumalanga Law Society and the North west Law Society. The subject was Part 111 provisions of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 English Law and how foreign consent and divorce judgements are dealt with in the courts of England and Wales. The title was ‘Is your foreign court order unfair and can it be set aside in England?’

In March 2015, Charmaine was widely quoted on the Wyatt post-divorce pay out, including: BBC News, the Press Association, Mail online, the Evesham Journal, Stroud Life, the Western Daily Press and the Tewkesbury Admag alongside interviews for BBC Radio Five Live, ITV, BBC, and many other publications.

Charmaine has a number of reported cases in South Africa and England and Wales.

Charmaine having read a degree in psychology prior to her law degree has a particular interest in the various psychological traits which contribute towards relationship breakdowns:

Bipolar Disorder

This is often evidenced by mood swings from feeling extremely high to feeling extremely low.  They may never experience periods of “normal” moods.

Borderline Personality Disorder

This disturbing condition is when one experiences extraordinary difficulties in dealing with life regardless of whether it relates to how other people deal with things or how the patient perceives the world. Anger, paranoia and even feelings of suicide are experienced by these patients who have insecure relationships.

Depression

It is a tragic feeling of being useless and can include thoughts of suicide. Depression should not be left to smoulder and help should be sought without delay.  Clinical depression can become manic depression and may even result in bipolar tendencies.

The Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 116 123.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is usually found in people who lack confidence but display over confidence, lack of empathy for others and the need for attention. This disorder causes unhappiness and disappointment as they think they deserve more and they find their relationships unfulfilling.

Adult Autism

This is the general inability to experience feelings of emotion.

Gaslighting

This is when a person is conditioned or groomed into believing that his/her perception of reality is without foundation.  The retort “you are letting your imagination run away with you”  is usually evidence of this. Once an abusive partner has broken down the victim’s ability to trust their own perceptions, the victim is more likely to stay in the abusive relationship.  Gaslighting tends to happen very gradually, the abusive partner’s actions may seem like just a harmless misunderstanding at first. Over time, however, these abusive behaviours continue, and a victim can become confused, anxious, isolated and depressed, while losing all sense of what is actually happening. Then, the victim may start relying on the abusive partner more and more to define reality, which creates a very difficult situation to escape.

Psychosis and neurosis are subjects which require more than a simple explanation.

Reported Cases

Charmaine has a number of reported cases including:

  • FW v FH [2019] EWHC 1338 (Fam)
  • Tracey v Tracey [2006] 2 FLR 480
  • B v B (Divorce: Anti Suit Injunction) [2002] EWHC 1711
  • Re SW v RC (2008) 1FLR1703*
  • Re B (removal from jurisdiction) (2003) BWCA Civ1149*
  • Armstrong v Armstrong (2003) 2FLR48
  • Richardson v Richardson (2) another (1996) 2FLR617

* These cases were appeal cases which were successfully appealed.

Press Coverage

  • “Lawyers prepare for biggest shake-up to divorce law in 50 years”, The Financial Times, 24 January 2022
  • Charmaine Hast comments regarding the emotional burden covid has placed on the population were featured in The Times and Edward Fennell’s Legal Blog, 25 March 2021
  • Am I Legally Entitled To A Share Of The Family Business?”, The Financial Times, 25 February 2020. Printed edition published on 27 February 2021.
  • ‘No fault’ divorce bill gets MPs backing‘, Eprivate Client,  9 June 2020.
  • “Government gets tough on family financial orders”, Law Society Gazette, 17 August 2018.
  • “UK: Ex-wife cannot claim increased maintenance to compensate for lost capital”, STEP, 19 July 2018.
  • “Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeal’s ruling on spousal maintenance case – Industry reacts”, ePrivateClient, 19 July 2018.        
  • “Reader’s question re: Non-disclosure of assets”, Financial Times, 14 June 2017 .
  • “Divorce for international couples”, Spear’s, 14 February 2017.
  • “Divorce season”, Spear’s, 8 September 2016.
  • “Ask the expert section: inheritance”, Choice Magazine, 24 June 2016.
  • “Asos co-founder sells shares to fund divorce settlement”, Spear’s, 21 June 2016.
  • “Widow seeks half of deceased husband’s estate”, Spear’s, 16 May 2016.
  • “Answer to ask the expert question”, Choice Magazine, 24 February 2016.
  • “Press release re: Data Protection in divorce”,  The Times’ Brief, 5 January 2016.

An outstanding practitioner, hard as nails when it counts. Soft as a feather when needed. A great character of the matrimonial legal world. A truly unique person. One of the top flight of matrimonial solicitors bringing a rare degree of commitment, judgment and intellectual acuity to this most demanding area of law. Her clients like her dedication to their causes.

Richard Todd KC

Charmaine's knowledge and negotiation skills meant I was always confident that she had given her all on my behalf. Her vision for my outcome was always realistic.

Chambers UK, 2023

She has an immense amount of knowledge and a wealth of experience. Her ability to read clients and read the situation is absolutely brilliant.

Chambers UK, 2023

Charmaine is a very commercial, direct and straightforward lawyer. She manages clients well and is really sensible.

Chambers UK, 2023

She is well regarded in terms of her being totally wedded to her client's cause, but not so as to lose sight of the need for a fair compromise in the right case.

Chambers UK, 2023

The people involved in Wedlake Bell LLP Family were outstanding. Led by Charmaine Hast an expert practitioner of Family law a professional that will go the extra mile for their client giving sound advice and guiding you personally through the legal system every step of the way. Charmaine Hast stood out as a dedicated, tenacious advocate for her client.

Legal 500, 2023

I worked with Charmaine Hast, I valued her depth of knowledge of family law and empathy. She also had a great sense of humour and was kind and driven to get me the best settlement possible, which I really appreciated. Charmaine was totally engaged in working for me. Charmaine made the extremely challenging journey less frightening with her wisdom, knowledge and deep empathy.

Legal 500, 2023

International experience Tough litigators. Excellent client care skills. Charmaine Hast and Natasha Kurth.

Legal 500, 2023

Charmaine Hast maintains strength in assisting high net worth individuals with international matrimonial disputes, and has additional expertise in offshore trust structures and tax issues. She also represents high-profile clients in nuptial and cohabitation agreements.

Chambers UK, 2022

Charmaine Hast heads up the Wedlake Bell family team, which are all very strong and benefit from her wealth of experience and tenacious legal ability. Charmaine is vastly experienced and knows exactly when to settle or fight a case. Her clients think she walks on legal water, which is almost true. There is no one who knows the twists and turns of financial remedy law and practice like Charmaine. She is never outgunned. Natasha Kurt: an excellent Associate who will soon be a star of financial remedy work. She is more than one to watch.

Legal 500, 2021

Great mix of commercial and family. Charmaine Hast is a veteran and seasoned warrior. Loved by all she works with.

Legal 500, 2021

People, all about the people. Truly fantastic team. Charmaine Hast is an absolute master in her field. Super knowledgeable, creative, proactive and a great partner.

Legal 500, 2021

I dealt predominantly with Charmaine and Natasha and soon referred to them as the Dream Team. Someone once described Charmaine to me as a street fighter with a heart of gold. She truly cares and whilst she doesn’t mind adopting a very direct approach at times the final result was far better than I could ever have hoped for. Both my daughter and I will be eternally grateful.

Legal 500, 2021

Wedlake Bell has a solid reputation for high end family law cases. Charmaine Hast is an exceptionally highly-regarded family lawyer with a strong reputation for high end family law work.

Legal 500, 2021

Charmaine has 'quite a formidable reputation' as a highly experienced family lawyer. Peers commend her litigation skills and links with South African clients, decribing her as a 'master strategist'. 'She's always thinking about the next step and where the case is going. She never get caught by surprise.'

HNW Chambers 2019

"The ‘hugely experienced and knowledgeable’Charmaine Hast heads the team and is ‘never phased by anything and has seen it all before’."

Legal 500, 2018

"She's got a huge amount of experience but she's not afraid to try different things in a case."

Chambers UK, 2018

"Commentators describe her as "fantastic with clients and a really good tactician,"

Chambers UK, 2018

Charmaine Hast is highly regarded for her ability to handle complex financial litigation, as well as her strength in collaborative proceedings.

Chambers UK, 2018

Impressed sources describe Charmaine Hast as a "great tactician" who "really knows how to call the shots".

Chambers UK, 2020

News

Lawyers prepare for biggest shake-up to divorce law in 50 years

Charmaine Hast has shared her thoughts on ‘no-fault’ divorce claims, highlighted in the Financial Times. “The change in law is likely to lead to a greater number of less wealthyRead more

News

Charmaine Hast comments on the emotional burden Covid has placed on the population

Charmaine Hast comments on the emotional burden covid has placed on the population: “The MoJ Quarterly Family Court Statistics for the period October 2020 to December 2020 provides an extraordinaryRead more

News

“Am I legally entitled to a share of the family business?” – Charmaine Hast Comments For The Financial Times

Partner and Head of our Family & Divorce team, Charmaine Hast, has had her comments published in The Financial Times on whether or not you are entitled to a shareRead more

News

EU Divorces

After the end of the year and Brexit it may become impossible for UK-based pensions to be counted as part of an overseas divorce settlement.  UK-based pensions could be outRead more

News

Did my ex-husband hide assets in our divorce settlement? Charmaine Hast comments for the Financial Times

If my husband was hiding assets from me in the divorce process, is there any way I can get this taken into account in our divorce settlement? Partner Charmaine HastRead more

News

Family business wealth and protecting it on divorce

When a couple divorce and there is family business wealth in common, protecting that wealth requires special consideration. Regrettably what was previously in a lot of cases the ‘golden goose’Read more

Legal Podcast

Episode 4: English Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

Join Charmaine Hast and Conrad Adam for an interesting and lively discussion regarding the public’s perception of, and the court’s treatment of, pre and post nuptial agreements on divorce in the EnglishRead more

News

Charmaine Hast is mentioned in the Spear’s 500 index

“A veteran of big-money divorce for over 35 years in South Africa and London, Charmaine Hast is highly regarded among peers. A QC calls her ‘an outstanding practitioner, hard as nailsRead more

News

“Why is London the ‘divorce capital of the world’?” – Charmaine Hast comments for The Financial Times

Partner and Head of our Family & Divorce team, Charmaine Hast, has had her comments published in The Financial Times on whether London or Switzerland is the best jurisdiction toRead more

News

“Rise of women backing out of divorces as court settlements shrink” – Charmaine Hast comments for The Telegraph

Partner and Head of our Family & Divorce team, Charmaine Hast, has had her comments on the increasing number of women “backing out” of divorces for The Telegraph. On theRead more

News

Wedlake Bell’s family team appeared in the list for 2018 as one of eprivateclient’s Top Family Law Firms at their awards evening

On Monday 2nd July 2018, Charmaine Hast and Sarah Campbell attended Dixon Wilson’s offices for  the 2018 eprivateclient Top Family Law Firms awards evening, sponsored by Close Brothers. eprivateclient explainRead more

News

UK: Ex-wife cannot claim increased maintenance to compensate for lost capital

The UK Supreme Court has ruled that Maria Mills is not entitled to higher maintenance payments from her husband to make up for the fact she has lost most ofRead more

News

Supreme Court overturns Court of Appeal’s ruling on spousal maintenance case – Industry reacts

Charmaine Hast’s comments were featured in eprivateclient. “The Supreme Court’s ruling today endorses the equitable principle that you cannot have two bites of the cherry in respect of a capitalRead more

News

Charmaine Hast’s comments are published in The Law Society Gazette

The article was originally published by The Law Society Gazette on 17 August 2018 Government gets tough on family financial orders – By Monidipa Fouzder Over a year after the LawRead more

News

Charmaine Hast spoke at the Clarks 5th Annual Family Law Conference 2018 in South Africa

Charmaine spoke at a conference in South Africa for the Clarks 5th Annual Family Law Conference 2018.

Bulletins

Camilla Wallace and Charmaine Hast Named in eprivateclient’s ’50 Most Influential’

We are pleased to announce that Head of the Private Client Group, Camilla Wallace, and Head of Family, Charmaine Hast, have been recognised in the 2018 eprivateclient 50 Most InfluentialRead more