High Net Worth Divorce Solicitors in London

The high net worth divorce challenges

The challenges involved in high net worth divorce settlements are not just about how much money you have and how much property you own. If you are ultra-wealthy but hold all your assets in cash, your divorce challenges may relate to publicity, reputational damage or international children law proceedings.

However, if you or your spouse are high net worth individuals, it is normal for your high net worth divorce to present specific financial challenges. Experienced high net worth divorce solicitors can guide you through those complexities. We will involve you and your support team in the technical issues as much or as little as you prefer as not everyone who has an international lifestyle or is in the eye of the media, or has a multi-million business to run, wants to know all the legal complications involved in their high asset divorce.

With our high net worth divorce lawyers you can trust our discrete specialist divorce solicitors to “get on with the job” liaising with your financial team and personal assistants so you know what you need to know, without being inundated by divorce communications.

If you are a high net worth individual and need pre-separation advice on your divorce options then you need specialist and experienced high net worth divorce solicitors on your side to guide you through the complicated, technical and emotional high net worth divorce process.

Our high net worth divorce solicitors do not concentrate solely on the international or complex assets in your divorce. However complicated the asset structures or size of your financial settlement, we remain focused on you and what you want to achieve.

The high net worth divorce issues

If you are contemplating a high net worth separation or divorce your UK divorce solicitor has to consider any special challenges associated with your divorce such as:

• International divorce- The court jurisdiction for divorce and financial settlement proceedings can have a massive impact on the size of the financial settlement
• Arbitration- The court process to resolve any children or financial aspects of your separation and divorce may not be the best option for you and your family if you want to keep your family life confidential. We use experienced family arbitrators (private judges) who can be an excellent and discreet alternative to court litigation
• Reputational damage- If you are an entrepreneur, business owner, sports star or media personality the fallout from your divorce may be reputational damage to your career or business. We work with your publicity team and agents and with reputational damage specialists to minimise the effect of your separation or divorce on you and your family
• Finding assets– One of the key attributes of a high net worth divorce solicitor is their ability to find the money. Admittedly, in some divorce cases, full financial disclosure is provided but it often isn’t. Our team of UK divorce lawyers works with forensic accountants and asset tracing specialists to establish the extent of the assets as, without that information, a fair financial settlement cannot be achieved. If you are concerned about assets being disposed of or transferred out of the court jurisdiction then injunction applications can be issued
• Defining family assets– In high net worth divorces you need to define the matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets. The distinction is key to the potential size of the financial settlement because the court is unlikely to share non-matrimonial assets if a spouse’s needs (based on the family standard of living) can be met through sharing matrimonial assets. This legal argument is raised in high net worth divorces involving inherited wealth, trust assets and pre-marriage owned assets, such as company shareholdings
• Special contribution cases- In high net worth divorces it is essential to see if a special contribution argument can be raised as this may affect the size of the financial settlement. If you are ultra-wealthy and the wealth derives from a “special contribution” then you or your spouse may be able to ring-fence a share of the assets. This legal argument is raised in high net worth divorces involving entrepreneurs
• Offshore assets-  If assets are held offshore your high net worth divorce solicitors should have experience in international family law cases and be able to call upon the expertise of specialist overseas family lawyers and professionals
• Trust assets– It is common for high net worth divorces to include assets held in onshore or offshore trusts as part of wealth protection measures. Financial settlement proceedings involving trusts can require analysis of the nature of the trust (nuptial or non-nuptial) or  require applications for disclosure of discretionary trust information from trustees and administrators
• Asset valuation – Valuing wealth accurately in any high asset divorce is essential. Often assets are held in complicated business, pension, trust or investment structures. We will work with forensic and shadow accountants and your financial advisors to protect your interests
• Asset and business restructuring– If you can reach an agreement or the court makes a financial court order you may need to carry out asset and business restructuring. We will work with your existing corporate law advisors or call upon the expertise of our corporate law team to advise on asset and business restructuring
• Tax consequences of financial settlements – In any financial settlement proceedings you need to look at the “net effect” of any financial settlement after considering the tax consequences of a financial settlement in the UK or overseas. We will work with your tax advisors and accountants to factor in and minimise the tax consequences of your high net worth financial settlement

High net worth divorce issues are not just financial. They can be emotional too. If you are ultra-wealthy, the temptation is to let the divorce lawyers get on with it. Whilst you may be able to afford any amount in legal fees that may not be the best approach to your separation and divorce. Our high net worth divorce solicitors will listen to what you want and focus on securing your objectives as quickly as possible by negotiating hard and providing robust strategic representation in divorce and financial settlement proceedings to help you achieve the result that best meets your personal and commercial goals.

What is considered a high net worth divorce?

A high asset divorce is any financial settlement where assets exceed needs. Often the divorce settlement involves property in England and overseas, trust assets, inherited wealth, multi-million company shareholdings or highly complex asset structures. In any ultra high net worth divorce, the family is likely to have international connections and offshore wealth. Court jurisdiction can substantially affect the size and structure of the financial settlement or the approach taken to non-disclosure or joinder of parties.

Get in touch with our high net worth divorce solicitors in London

For family law legal advice, we can talk to you at our offices in London, over the phone or online via Web Conferencing such as Zoom or Skype. For expert help, contact our high net worth divorce solicitors in London.