International family law

With the rise in the mobility of families and international marriages, the consequences of marital and relationship breakdown increasingly have a cross-jurisdictional dimension. Cases involving conflict of law, the international movement of children, and the application of foreign law are becoming common, particularly in London, one of the most international cities in the world.

Leaders in international family law

We can provide advice on all family cases with an international dimension, as well as assisting international clients with a wide variety of questions about how the English legal system might apply to them, taking advantage of our links with leading family lawyers from around the globe where necessary.

The choice of jurisdiction for divorce can have a significant impact on the size and structure of a financial settlement. Rules regarding which assets are eligible for inclusion in the divorce settlement and disclosure requirements or those regarding maintenance vary from country to country. Our team regularly advises on choice of forum, sometimes referred to as ‘forum shopping’.

Penningtons Manches Cooper is at the forefront of thought leadership in the field of international family law and our team members have contributed to a number of seminal publications including International Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements (2011), Relocation: A Practical Guide (2013) and Family Law: A Global Guide (2015).

Our team includes eight Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), an organisation of the world’s leading family practitioners. In addition, members of our team hold leadership positions in other key international family law organisations, including the Family Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), the Private Client Commission of the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) and the International Family Law Committee. These positions of leadership provide us with a global reach which is second to none.

Particularly well known for its expertise in complex financial cases, those involving children and international cases.

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

International pre-nuptial agreements and post-nuptial agreements

Choice of forum for divorce

The financial consequences of divorce in other jurisdictions

International relocation including potential exposure in the event of divorce/relationship failure

International movement of children and international child abduction

Issues of habitual residence/applicable law

International enforcement of English orders

Management and supervision of multi-jurisdictional cases

They are well connected internationally and always managed to source the best individuals with relevant local expertise to help strengthen the case we were putting forward.

They provide bespoke and targeted advice on complex international family law. They are right on point, seeking to limit litigation where possible but happy to pursue if necessary.

Recent work highlights

International child abduction

Acting for the successful mother in the reported case of AI v MT, an international case involving three jurisdictions, where the issues included child abduction and financial proceedings in England and Canada.

Multi-jurisdictional dispute

Advising the wife in an Anglo-Scottish jurisdictional dispute involving substantial inherited and pre-acquired assets, including land and estates in four jurisdictions.

International assets

Acting for the wife in negotiating a successful outcome to a complex international case involving assets in numerous jurisdictions, including Asia, where the primary asset was an internationally well-known corporation.

Complex children private arbitration

Representing our client in respect of an international children matter, assisting the parties in obtaining a private arbitration to settle child arrangements.