Divorce, dissolution and separation

Our talented and experienced lawyers have an international reputation for excellence, with particular expertise in advising on complex divorce, dissolution and separation cases. We will provide you with specialist and sensitive legal advice tailored to your individual circumstances. We recognise that marriages and civil partnerships come to an end for a multitude of reasons and our aim is to guide you smoothly and supportively through the process.

International divorce law specialists

With a wealth of experience, our outstanding lawyers offer insight and discretion. While most cases require and can be given ‘a light touch’, others require a firmer stance, which we are not afraid to adopt where necessary.

Our specialists demonstrate a pragmatic, thorough approach aimed at reaching the best possible outcome for you and your family. We endeavour to take our clients beyond the immediate dispute, focusing them instead on their long-term and wider aims. We are able to resolve the vast majority of divorces on a straightforward uncontested basis, without the need for our clients to attend court.

Penningtons Manches Cooper team in London, Oxford, Reading and Guildford has unrivalled expertise in international divorce law. We regularly work with leading law firms, with whom we have close connections, in other jurisdictions. This enables us to offer clients of all nationalities and religions who reside or have assets in more than one jurisdiction the very best legal advice geared to their specific requirements.

One of the leading family departments in the country.

We offer an online system that can help our clients to understand their legal position, prepare for their first meeting, and provide us with the information required to maximise the value we can deliver. We invite you to get started online.

How we help our clients

Divorce

Separation and judicial separation

Dissolution of civil partnerships

Annulment of marriage (nullity)

International divorce

Sharia family law

Their client care is exceptional and the quality of their assistants is extraordinary, they leave no stone unturned.

A joined up, thoughtful and careful approach is embedded through the culture at Penningtons, which I think shows in their reputation and results.

An excellent team of lawyers who are steeped in family law, know how the court system works and are able to give spot-on advice.

Recent work highlights

Religious divorce

Deferring an order successfully, pending the husband giving a ‘Get’ (a Jewish divorce). This leading case (AI v MT) was important to the Jewish community where the plight of the ‘Agunah’ is a serious issue.

Secret Islamic marriage

Acting in the highly publicised case of El Gamal v Al-Maktoum, involving the status of a secret Islamic marriage in England, where the court accepted that a ceremony did take place.

Annulment of marriage

Acting in proceedings where a husband successfully mounted a nullity petition for the first known occasion in English legal history where the fact of being gay was sufficient to show inability to consummate the marriage.

Financial remedy for non-resident

Representing the intervener in financial remedy proceedings between her non-resident Indian son and his wife, which involved very substantial assets and businesses, and required a thorough knowledge of the ‘Hindu undivided family’ legislation.

Entertainment industry advice

Assisting clients in the entertainment industry with the drafting of ‘mirror’ agreements in England and Californa, as well as working with US private client lawyers regarding Californan gift tax and other considerations.