International Family

Our International Family Law Team is headed up by Jennifer Headon who is described in the Legal 500 [UK 2025] as being ‘highly experienced in complex asset structures including offshore trusts, family businesses and significant pensions’.

Based in our London Office but servicing clients both nationally and globally, we seek to help international families resolve and pre-empt legal issues arising from divorce and separation.

We focus on providing clear, effective advice in accessible language and work closely with our lawyer partners globally to ensure our clients’ legal position is protected in all relevant jurisdictions.

Our areas of expertise and advice include:

Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements:

Including, where necessary mirror agreements in connected jurisdictions.

Divorce:

Including advice on most appropriate jurisdiction in which to issue proceedings.

Financial matters arising from divorce:

Including, cross-jurisdiction enforcement of orders, Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Order (‘REMO’) cases, cases which involve property in a number of jurisdictions, offshore trusts, international business interests or companies, and matters where one party has a strong connection to another jurisdiction.

Child arrangements:

Including permission to relocate with a child either temporarily or permanently, applications for mirror orders, and cross-jurisdictional child arrangements.

Modern Families:

International surrogacy agreements and international private adoption matters, together with a host of other issues relevant to a growing number of modern families.

The team has a wealth of experience of co-advising with other lawyers in a significant number of jurisdictions. With a particular focus on families with ties to the US and Canada, the team’s expertise is further enhanced by the synergy with the firm’s US/UK Private Client Services Team. This integration ensures that clients receive nuanced advice that takes into account the complexities of cross-border regulations, tax implications, and estate planning. The team’s dedication to working alongside other legal experts within the firm enables the delivery of tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each family they serve.

Some other examples of jurisdictions of which we have recent experience include:

• EU (including France, Finland, Netherlands, Spain and the Balearic Islands and Italy)
• Offshore jurisdictions (Channel Islands, BVI,
• Hong Kong and Cayman Islands)
• USA
• Canada
• Caribbean.

Costs and proportionality remains of paramount importance to the team. The emphasis on Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) aligns with the modern trajectory of legal practice generally, but especially in family law.

NCDR often offers a lower-cost, more efficient and, perhaps most importantly, confidential and more discrete method of resolving a family law dispute. However, should the need arise, our team consists of highly-skilled and experienced litigators.

Birketts is a full-service legal firm which means we have the benefit of working closely with colleagues in all areas of law, to input into the myriad of issues which can arise in complex family law matters such as tax considerations, estate planning/wealth protection, family businesses and companies, immigration matters and reputation management and protection.

Family law is a sensitive and complex area that requires not only legal expertise but also a compassionate and constructive approach to resolving disputes. Being members of Resolution, our family lawyers adhere to a code of practice that promotes non-confrontational resolutions, which can be crucial in preserving the dignity and well-being of all involved. The collaboration with a diverse range of professionals, including independent financial advisors, wealth planners, and forensic accountants, ensures that your clients receive comprehensive support that addresses all aspects of their situation. This multidisciplinary approach is instrumental in providing tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each client, reflecting the high standard of care and commitment to achieving the right outcome for each individual client.