High net worth divorce

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If your family’s finances include companies, trusts, international assets, complex pensions or significant investments, you’ll want a HNW-experienced team. We combine strategic settlement work (private FDRs, arbitration, round-table negotiation) with firm court action where needed—protecting wealth, privacy, and long-term family interests.

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• Outcomes are guided by the same law—but the issues are bigger. Courts must consider the section 25 factors in the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (e.g., needs, resources, standard of living, contributions).
   
• Fair sharing is the starting point. Leading cases set the “yardstick of equality” and the principles of needs, sharing, and (sometimes) compensation.
   
• “Special contribution” is rare. Unequal division because one party created exceptional wealth is possible but tightly limited.
   
• Companies and trusts complicate things. The court can look at resources available to a spouse, vary nuptial settlements in some cases, and (if appropriate) join third parties such as trustees or companies. It won’t simply treat a company’s assets as a spouse’s unless legally justified.
   
• Prenups and postnups matter. Courts give significant (sometimes decisive) weight if freely entered into with a proper understanding and where the outcome remains fair.
   
• International lives = jurisdiction choices. Post-Brexit, the grounds for issuing in England & Wales are in the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973, and the court applies a “most appropriate forum” test where countries compete. 

Early strategy & disclosure

• Full financial disclosure (Form E, valuations, tax and forensic input). Courts take non-disclosure seriously and can reopen orders for fraud or material non-disclosure.
   

Rapid protective measures

• Freezing orders to stop assets being moved or hidden (where the legal test is met).
   
• Joinder of companies/trustees where needed so the court can decide all issues together.
   

Negotiation first—court if required

• FDR (Financial Dispute Resolution)—a settlement-focused hearing (or a private FDR) where a neutral judge/evaluator gives an indication; what’s said there stays confidential.
   
• Family arbitration—a private, faster, binding decision under the IFLA Scheme; the court can convert the award into an order.
   

• Business interests & carried interest (valuation methodology; liquidity)
   
• Trusts & nuptial settlements (can a trust be varied? is it a “resource”?)
   
• Share options & RSUs (classification/matrimonial vs non-matrimonial)
   
• International property & accounts (enforcement, mirror orders; Part III applications after foreign divorces)
   
• Complex pensions (bespoke Pensions on Divorce Expert reports)
   
• Tax timing—including the extended CGT “no gain/no loss” window on separation (up to three years, and unlimited time for transfers made under a court order).
   

1. Disclosure & First Appointment – information gathering and timetabling.
    
2. FDR / Private FDR – settlement-focused hearing with “without prejudice” protections.
    
3. Final hearing (only if needed) – a judge decides.
    

Confidentiality & the press: Financial remedy hearings are usually in private, though accredited media/legal bloggers may attend with limits on reporting; judges can make reporting restriction/anonymity orders.
 

• Where to file (habitual residence/domicile) and forum disputes are strategic in HNW cases.
   
• After an overseas divorce, you may still seek financial relief in England & Wales under Part III MFPA 1984 if there’s sufficient connection and it’s just to do so (permission stage first; key guidance in Agbaje v Agbaje).
   

• Court fees: current HMCTS guidance shows main family fees (e.g., divorce application; financial order by consent or otherwise). We’ll confirm the exact fee that applies.
   
• We give clear budgets and stage-by-stage estimates. Many HNW clients choose private FDRs/arbitration to shorten the timetable and protect privacy.
   

• HNW focus: companies, trusts, venture/PE structures, crypto, offshore elements.
   
• Trusted experts: we work with top valuers, forensic accountants and pensions experts.
   
• Settlement-first, litigation-ready: we aim to settle early—but prepare as if we’ll trial.