Wealth planning – matrimonial considerations

Wealthy individuals need to plan for a variety of challenges – including tax, potential marital difficulties, business and economic risks, and succession and trust disputes. At Penningtons Manches Cooper, our family law and private client teams work closely together to ensure that clients have access to the best possible expertise.

Matrimonial and wealth planning protection

We have a comprehensive understanding of international and domestic tax and trust law; proven experience in dealing with cross-border disputes and corporate transactions; and huge expertise in the fields of international divorce and relocation. Working in collaboration, our teams, who are based in our offices in London, Oxford, Reading and Guildford, can service the needs of clients operating in both a domestic and international context, be they individuals, family offices, or institutional clients, such as trust companies or private banks.

International pre-nuptial agreements and matrimonial or cohabitation agreements are an often-neglected area of estate and wealth planning. When relocating, individuals, entrepreneurs and families may devote significant amounts of time and resources to wealth planning; but this can be decimated by divorce and relationship breakdown in many jurisdictions, including England.

Penningtons have a superb team. They are all incredibly knowledgeable and experienced and empathetic. Everyone at each rung of the ladder is very high quality.

Family businesses and partnerships are often vulnerable during divorce which, in extreme circumstances, can lead to the winding up of the entire enterprise. We advise on minimising the business risk of divorce and relationship breakdown for partnerships and all family businesses. Our guidance highlights the need to give careful consideration to the matrimonial aspects of wealth protection and family governance in tandem with the wide spectrum of other legal advice required.

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

Domestic and international pre- and post-nuptial agreements

International family law

Choice of forum for divorce

Choice of habitual residence/applicable law

Financial consequences of marital and relationship failure in various jurisdictions

Consequences of international relocation, including exposure in the event of divorce

International enforcement of English orders

Management and supervision of international family law litigation

Wider trust, private client and family governance considerations

They are professional, up to date with new laws and developments, friendly and easy to deal with. They are responsive and knowledgeable.

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

Recent work highlights

International relocations

Advising many clients on the drafting of both pre- and post-nuptial agreements in anticipation of an international relocation, accounting for the implications of residing in different jurisdictions.

Entertainment industry advice

Acting for clients in the entertainment industry advising on 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.

Post-nuptial negotiations

Assisting the partner of a successful international businessman with securing greater financial security in the event of divorce, following a significant change in their wealth profile from the date of their marriage to the current time.

Multi-jurisdictional dispute

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