Family & Divorce
We are a family department that are conscious of the financial restraints on families, regardless of your financial position, during the current pandemic and we facilitate settlement and mediation rather than conflict if the circumstances permit.
Wedlake Bell’s Family Department boasts solicitors who are experienced and qualified mediators, collaborative solicitors, family law arbitrators (CIArb) and one of the only family solicitors in the UK and Wales to be listed as an e-Private Client 50 most influential solicitors 2018.
We are also a top recommended family lawyers in the Spears 2021 Index.
Our experienced Family team can advise you on all matters relating to family law, from the most simple of cases to the more complex and sensitive situations including international law.
“They have good work and they are a very busy department with a lot of energy and a forward-thinking attitude.”
Chambers UK, 2021
‘The family law department at Wedlake Bell conducts some of the biggest and most complex of financial family law cases. It has a wealth of experience and is led by one of the family law’s greatest tacticians, Charmaine Hast’. Legal 500, 2021
‘A top London firm with high-profile clients and strength in big money and international cases Supported by a strong team of business and commercial lawyers’. Legal 500, 2021
‘A very commercial firm of solicitors with high-net-worth clients. Provides an excellent, bespoke service, feisty when necessary, smooth when appropriate’. Legal 500, 2021
We use our broad experience and detailed insight of family law to provide our clients with first class advice on a range of matrimonial matters. The department boasts solicitors who are leaders in their field including, mediation, collaborative law, arbitration and a specialist children law department who are able to deal with, leave to remove children abroad, abductions, surrogacy agreement and all aspects of children work.
The department prides itself on acting for well known personalities in every sphere of life and despite many public figures being represented by the family department, confidentiality and ensuring that the media are excluded is the departments priority. The department is pleased to have acquired the result in the recent reported High Court case of:
FW v FH [2019] EWHC 1338 (Fam)
Our extensive knowledge in this area means we can advise people who may be married, living together, in civil partnerships or living as husband and wife in accordance with Shariah Law.
Our Family team has the advantage of a dedicated data protection and information law specialist, which enables us to provide expert advice in this specialised and complex area.
This specialist expertise sets our Family Law team apart and means that we can advise you on protecting your persona, confidential and sensitive information, protecting your dignity and emotional wellbeing and giving you peace of mind.
Wherever possible, our Family team helps clients to resolve any disputes through negotiation and agreement but where this is not possible, we are ready to protect and promote our clients’ interests with robust action.
Our Family team can provide advice on pre and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, civil partnerships, divorce and separation, issues involving children and can help with a number of alternatives to court-based process.
Many of our clients require help on an international basis so we have developed an extensive network of expert lawyers who are ready to help protect and promote our clients’ interests in foreign jurisdictions.
We also have Shariah law experts who work with respected professionals and Shariah Councils to achieve outcomes that are in accordance with Shariah law and compatible with civil legal proceedings.
Whatever the situation, we ensure that matters are dealt with sensitively and with our clients’ best interests to the fore.
Our Children team are reflected in the reported surrogacy case of Re AB (Surrogacy: Consent) [2016] EWHC 2643 (Fam).
For a confidential, no-obligation call-back from one of our family lawyers, please email your contact details and a brief summary.
News
Wealth Briefing: Summary Of Global Moves In Wealth Management – April 2022
Matthew Brunsdon-Tully’s appointment as partner and head of family alternative dispute resolution and innovation has been further highlighted in Wealth Briefing’s ‘People Moves’ section, in a summary of global moves… Read more →
News
Wedlake Bell announces the arrival of new Family Partner Matthew Brunsdon-Tully
City law firm, Wedlake Bell, bolsters its Family team with the appointment of new Partner Matthew Brunsdon-Tully, who arrived on 1 April. Matthew will also be Head of Family ADR… Read more →
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 wealthy… Read more →
Legal Podcast
Talking Divorce and Expat Law, the UAE and What Not to Do!
Trisha Siddique has collaborated with Tosh Brittan on the Divorce Goddess Podcast. Click here to listen to the episode.
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 extraordinary… Read more →
News
Separation Tax Anxiety
In this article for the STEP Journal, Helen Barnett, a senior associate in the Private Client team, and Trisha Siddique, a senior associate in the Family team, discuss how capital… Read more →
News
CGT and Divorce Explained
Senior Associates in our Family and Private Client teams, Trisha Siddique and Helen Barnett, look at the capital gains tax consequences of separation and divorce in light of potential changes… Read more →
News
Good Divorce Week
This week is #Good Divorce Week. The family team at Wedlake Bell LLP are members of #Resolution – a community of family justice professionals committed to resolving family disputes in a… Read more →
News
ENTREPRENEURS: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS FROM DIVORCE
This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week which is the world’s biggest celebration of entrepreneurship. Dream big Richard Branson is famously quoted to have said “there is no greater thing you… Read more →
News
SECOND WAVE COVID 19- I can’t afford to pay maintenance
While the Government considers options for a wider support package as the Furlough scheme comes to an end in October, many employees fear redundancy is around the corner. Whether you… Read 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 out… Read more →
News
Matrimonial and divorce issues in light of Covid-19
Conrad Adam, partner in the family team and David Foster of Frank Hirth Accountants discuss matrimonial and divorce issues in light of Covid. Please follow this link here to view… Read more →
News
Business Valuations and Covid-19
In the context of financial remedy proceedings, in the absence of agreement as to the value of the parties’ assets, they must be valued. The reason for this, is that it… Read more →
News
Cafcass and coronavirus: attending family Court protocol
Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) represent children in family court cases in England and “put children’s needs, wishes and feelings first, making sure that children’s… Read more →
News
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS – A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT
The notion of prenuptial agreements is commonly associated with the fabulously rich seeking to protect their holiday home in the French Riviera. Although nuptial agreements have traditionally been thought of… Read more →
News
No fault divorce – June 2020
The ‘No fault’ divorce bill has overwhelmingly passed the Commons vote in June 2020 and is likely to receive royal ascent at the end of the month. Please read the… Read more →
News
No fault divorce: Second reading at the House of Lords on 5 February 2020
The Law in England and Wales for a divorce only allows “no fault” to be attributed to either party after a minimum period of two years since separation (the two… Read more →
News
Coronavirus: Co-Parenting Struggles at Lockdown
As daily life grinds to a halt, millions of separated parents have been worried that during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, they will not be able to see their child or… Read more →
News
Mixed-sex civil partnership union begins
From Monday 2 December 2019, mixed-sex couples in England and Wales can choose to enter into a civil partnership rather than get married. The first ceremonies won’t take place until… Read more →
Bulletins
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) – September 2019 figures blog
Cafcass is the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service and they represent children in family court cases in England and “put children’s needs, wishes and feelings first, making… Read 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 to… Read more →
News
High Court Family judge finds “rich and privileged” 83 year old husband in contempt and incarcerates him for 14 months
On 15 March 2018, His Honour Judge Wildblood QC, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, sentenced husband, John Ralph Hart, to 14 months imprisonment as a result of… Read more →
News
What to consider before divorcing
Associate in our Family & Divorce team, Sarah Campbell, has written an article on the things to consider before divorcing for YourMoney.com. Sarah writes “It isn’t unusual for individuals to… Read more →
News
Domestic violence statistics – 14 December 2017
The Ministry of Justice published its Family Court Statistics Quarterly, England and Wales, July to September 2017, on 14 December 2017. The statistics demonstrated that when compared to July to… Read more →
News
Aviva’s Survey in relation to Divorce
Recently Aviva have announced the findings from their research in connection with individuals’ experiences of divorce. Back in 2014, at the time of their previous survey, they had found that… Read more →
News
Private Law cases That Return to Court: A CAFCASS Study
A CAFCASS study regarding private law cases that returned to Court was published. The authors explain that “it was undertaken within the context of a 20% rise in private law… Read more →
Handles issues for individuals with highly complex wealth structures, both domestic and offshore. Also maintains complementary strength in its private client team.
— Chambers UK, 2022
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.
— Chambers UK, 2022
Wedlake Bell LLP is known for its skill at handling complex prenuptial agreements where the assets are worth hundreds of millions (sometimes billions) and where there are significant international issues to be considered. Head of department Charmaine Hast is an 'inspirational leader and clients love her' - she is a dual-qualified South African lawyer. Trisha Siddique specialises in Sharia law and high-net-worth divorce cases. Conrad Adam is now at Adler Family Law Solicitors LLP.
— Legal 500, 2022
Wedlake Bell has a solid reputation for high end family law cases.
— Legal 500, 2022
People, all about the people. Truly fantastic team relationship breakdown.
— Legal 500, 2022
The team at Wedlake Bell has fantastic knowledge of the law and can provide clear advice to clients about any issues in respect of relationship breakdown.
— Legal 500, 2022
Great mix of commercial and family. Charmaine Hast is a veteran and seasoned warrior. Loved by all she works with
— Legal 500, 2021
Good, solid team of family lawyers. Charmaine Hast has been the totemic figure for this firm for years and she has garnered an impressive reputation for managing difficult, high-profile clients.
— Legal 500, 2021
The team at Wedlake Bell has fantastic knowledge of the law and can provide clear advice to clients about any issues in respect of relationship breakdown. Trish Siddique is a sensible, intelligent and diligent solicitor who fights firmly for her clients interests. She is a pragmatic practitioner who will always try to settle a case if at all possible.
— 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
"They're a quality set of solicitors providing first-class services with a friendly, approachable demeanour"
— Chambers UK, 2020
Charmaine Hast – is one of the best family law solicitors'.
— Legal 500, 2020
'Excellent family team with strong support from its commercial and private client colleagues'.
— Legal 500, 2020
'Has a formidable team of family lawyers. It has fantastic resources and is able to do the very biggest cases very effectively and offers good value for money.
— Legal 500, 2020
"Wedlake Bell LLP has a ‘strong team of fee earners possessed of the highest calibre of legal knowledge'."
— Legal 500, 2018
"I think Wedlake Bell offers excellent value for money compared with others."
— Chambers UK, 2018
"Conrad Adam is particularly good on ‘tricky technical points’."
— Legal 500, 2017