FLiP Talks: Divorce, Separation & Family Law

In this episode, Mariko Wilson is joined by Charlotte Symes of Lander & Rogers to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in Australia. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

They cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency • Grounds for divorce • Financial claims on divorce • Maintenance claims • Claims available to non-married couples • Pre- and post-nuptial agreements • Key differences between England and Wales and Australia

About the speakers:

Mariko Wilson is a Director at Family Law in Partnership. She handles all aspects of private family law and has a broad range of experience, frequently acting for high net worthindividuals in financial relief and divorce proceedings as well as acting in children matters. Mariko has particular expertise in cases involving complex pensions issues, and in cases in which mental health issues are a feature.

Mariko has acted on a number of complex cross border financial matters, often advising non tax resident and non tax domiciled individuals, entrepreneurs and individuals from the financial sector. Her clients have also included a number of academics and those in the education sector. Mariko has extensive experience in dealing with property claims brought by third parties and unmarried cohabitants under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996.

Charlotte Symes is a Partner at Lander & Rogers and is dual qualified to advise on Australian and English family law. She is a lawyer, mediator and collaborative practitioner, assisting clients who face complex financial, property and parenting issues arising from separation and divorce. Charlotte has worked at top tier law firms in London and Sydney and brings a wealth of international experience to her practice, as well as an appreciation of the legal and practical requirements in different jurisdictions.

In this episode, David Allison is joined by Caroline McNally of Hugill & Ip to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in Hong Kong. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency • Grounds for divorce • Financial claims on divorce • Maintenance claims • Claims available to non-married couples • Pre- and post-nuptial agreements • Key differences between England and Wales and Hong Kong

About the speakers:

David Allison is a highly regarded family lawyer and accredited mediator. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those involving jurisdiction disputes, international asset structures, and families with connections to multiple countries. He works closely with overseas lawyers and professionals to coordinate strategies that protect individual's interests while maintaining a constructive, solutions-focused approach.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each case. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

Caroline McNally is recognised locally and internationally as one of the leading family lawyers in Hong Kong. Caroline qualified in England and Wales in 1998 and in Hong Kong in 2014. In London, she worked at top tier firms before relocating to Hong Kong to set up the family team at an independent boutique law firm. Caroline joined Hugill & Ip in 2023.

Although Caroline has extensive experience in litigation, she is well-known for taking a pragmatic approach and for guiding clients sensitively through one of the most difficult times of their lives. She is a trained mediator and collaborative lawyer and uses these skills to find tailor-made and creative solutions for clients. In May 2020 Caroline broke new legal ground in Hong Kong by acting for a party in the first Private Financial Adjudication, where the parties chose to appoint an adjudicator to settle their dispute. Caroline held the position of Chair of the Hong Kong Family Law Association (HKFLA) from 2016 to 2018. Caroline is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and is President Elect Designate of the Asia Pacific Chapter.

* Disclaimer:

• At the time of recording this podcast the proposed reform in England and Wales affecting how finances are divided when relationships end for non-married couples had not been announced. To understand more about the consultation, it can be accessed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-fairer-end-to-relationships.

In this episode, David Allison is joined by Mudita Chawla of Chemtob Moss Forman & Beyda to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in the state of New York. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency • Grounds for divorce • Financial claims on divorce • Maintenance claims • Claims available to non-married couples • Pre- and post-nuptial agreements • Key differences between England and Wales and New York, United States of America.

** Disclaimer:

• At the time of recording this podcast the proposed reform in England and Wales affecting how finances are divided when relationships end for non married couples had not been announced. To understand more about the consultation, it can be accessed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-fairer-end-to-relationships.

About the speakers:

David Allison is a highly regarded family lawyer and accredited mediator. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those involving jurisdiction disputes, international asset structures, and families with connections to multiple countries. He works closely with overseas lawyers and professionals to coordinate strategies that protect individual's interests while maintaining a constructive, solutions-focused approach.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each case. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each case. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

Mudita Chawla represents clients in all aspects of family and matrimonial law. She has significant experience settling and litigating disputed cases before both the trial and appellate courts. Mudita is an assertive and compassionate advocate who fights relentlessly for her clients. Known for helping clients navigate through the divorce process and understand how the legal system works, Mudita keenly listens to her clients' concerns and crafts legal strategies with them which realize their goals. She is a skilled negotiator who recognizes that her clients' needs are often best met through settlement. At other times, however, when it is in her clients' best interests, Mudita will zealously litigate their cases, making her clients' goals her highest priority. Mudita's tenacity and attention to detail are invaluable assets that her clients revere time and again.

Mudita is a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, where she serves as the Assistant Treasurer, the New York Bar Association (Family Law Section), the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York and the New York Women's Bar Association. She served as a member of Sanctuary for Families' Pro Bono Committee.

Mudita has been qualified as an expert to testify on New York State Matrimonial Law. She has served as a faculty member of the American Bar Association, Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence on numerous occasions and the ABA International Law Section, a guest lecturer at The Annual Fordham Forum on Domestic Violence and has presented at conferences of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

In this episode, Elizabeth Hicks is joined by Oren Weinberg to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in the province Ontario, Canada. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency
• Financial claims on divorce
• Maintenance claims
• Claims available to non-married couples
• Pre- and post-nuptial agreements
• Key differences between England and Wales and Ontario, Canada.

About the speakers:

Elizabeth Hicks is a leading expert in complex, cross-border family law matters. She specialises in advising high and ultra-high net worth individuals on divorce, financial remedy disputes, asset protection, and trusts, frequently involving multiple jurisdictions.

Her practice also includes complex private Children Act cases and the negotiation of pre- and post-nuptial agreements, often with an international dimension. As a trained collaborative lawyer, Elizabeth is highly experienced in resolving disputes outside of court, including the use of the collaborative process to structure international pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

Elizabeth works with a diverse client base, including entrepreneurs, City professionals, and high-profile individuals and their families. Known for her strategic approach and strong advocacy, she combines technical excellence with a deeply client-focused style.

Oren Weinberg has practiced family law exclusively since 2005. He advocates for his clients when negotiating agreements, appearing before trial and appellate courts as well as in mediations and arbitrations. Oren handles all aspects of family law including property and support, parental decision-making responsibility (custody), and parenting time (access). Oren acts for clients based in Ontario and internationally.

** Disclaimer:

• At the time of recording this podcast the proposed reform in England and Wales affecting how finances are divided when relationships end for non married couples had not been announced. To understand more about the consultation, it can be accessed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-fairer-end-to-relationships.

In this episode, David Allison is joined by Lavanya Regunathan Fischer to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in India. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce
• Grounds for divorce and the concept of "irretrievable breakdown" of the marriage
• Religious vs secular marriage systems in India
• Financial claims on divorce
• Pre- and post-nuptial agreements
• Child arrangements
• Claims available to non-married couples * see disclaimer at the bottom of these notes
• Key differences between England and Wales and India

About the speakers:

David Allison is a highly regarded family lawyer and accredited mediator. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those involving jurisdiction disputes, international asset structures, and families with connections to multiple countries. He works closely with overseas lawyers and professionals to coordinate strategies that protect individual's interests while maintaining a constructive, solutions-focused approach.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each matter he deals with. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

David is a member of both the International Academy of Family Lawyers, where he is chair of the Gender Identity and Sexuality Committee and Secretary to the Executive Committee, and the UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute.

Lavanya Regunathan Fischer began her law practice in 1998, working at J.B. Dadachanji & Co. in New Delhi, then worked for GE Capital in India & USA and eventually for the Solicitor General of India. After relocating to Heidelberg (2003) and then London (2005), she reinvented her practice at the intersection between India and European legal systems. Ever since, Lavanya has been advising on Indian law internationally. Her LLB degree is from the University of Delhi (1998) and her LLM is from the LSE (2006). Lavanya is a member of the Indian Supreme Court Bar Association and her legal scholarship (child custody, guardianship, surrogacy arrangements, migration law and citizenship) has been published in peer-reviewed journals, as book chapters and in newspapers.

** Disclaimers:

• At the time of recording this podcast the proposed reform in England & Wales affecting how finances are divided when relationships end for non married couples had not been announced. To understand more about the consultation, it can be accessed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/a-fairer-end-to-relationships
• For clarity, the Special Marriage Act, 1954 which is commonly used by interfaith couples and others seeking a civil marriage, requires a 30-day notice period before a marriage can be solemnised. While this notice process may alert family members or others to the intended marriage and create opportunities for interference, any objections raised must be based on legally recognised grounds under the Act. Familial, social, or community disapproval, by itself, is not a veto over the decision of two consenting adults to marry.
• India does not presently have a matrimonial property regime under which assets are pooled and divided upon divorce. Questions relating to HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) property, inherited property, and self-acquired property continue to be governed by their respective legal principles, and ownership ordinarily remains with the title holder or person legally entitled to the asset. The point being made here relates primarily to the manner in which courts may consider a spouse's financial resources and access to assets while determining maintenance and other financial relief, rather than suggesting a direct redistribution of ownership in such property.

David Allison and Jeremy Johnson

In this episode, David Allison is joined by leading barrister Jeremy Johnson to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in New Zealand. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency • Financial claims on divorce • Maintenance claims • Claims available to non-married couples • Pre- and post-nuptial agreements • Key differences between England and Wales and New Zealand

About the speakers:

David Allison is a highly regarded family lawyer and accredited mediator. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those involving jurisdiction disputes, international asset structures, and families with connections to multiple countries. He works closely with overseas lawyers and professionals to coordinate strategies that protect individual's interests while maintaining a constructive, solutions-focused approach.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each matter he deals with. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

David is a member of both the International Academy of Family Lawyers, where he is chair of the Gender Identity and Sexuality Committee and Secretary to the Executive Committee, and the UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute.

Jeremy Johnson is one of New Zealand's leading barristers. Jeremy is an experienced trial, arbitration and appellate advocate with expertise in relationship property, commercial, shareholder, insolvency, equity and trust law. Jeremy works across the Asia-Pacific region. Jeremy is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a Fellow of the Arbitrators and Mediators Institute of New Zealand (AMINZ), a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and a member of the International Trust Arbitration Organisation Advisory Board (ITAO).

In this episode, David Allison is joined by leading attorney Katharine Maddox to compare divorce and financial claims in England and Wales with the system in the state of Virginia. The discussion focuses on issues relevant to individuals with connections to both jurisdictions.

Looking at both jurisdictions, they cover:

• Jurisdiction for divorce, including domicile and residency
• Financial claims on divorce
• Maintenance claims
• Claims available to non-married couples
• Pre and post-nuptial agreements
• Key differences between England and Wales and Virginia

*Update: Effective from July 1, 2026: Viewers and listeners should be aware that the law in Virginia regarding the timeline to file for a divorce has changed since the date of recording. For more information, see Virginia House Bill 303: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB303/text/HB303

About the speakers:

David Allison is a highly regarded family lawyer and accredited mediator. The focus of his practice is financial claims on divorce, particularly those involving jurisdiction disputes, international asset structures, and families with connections to multiple countries. He works closely with overseas lawyers and professionals to coordinate strategies that protect individual's interests while maintaining a constructive, solutions-focused approach.

Known for his calm and thoughtful style, David combines technical precision with a deep understanding of the human context behind each matter he deals with. He supports people through challenging transitions with clear guidance, helping them move forward with stability and confidence.

David is a member of both the International Academy of Family Lawyers, where he is chair of the Gender Identity and Sexuality Committee and Secretary to the Executive Committee, and the UK & Ireland LGBT Family Law Institute.

Katharine Maddox has practiced family law for over 25 years and is a founding partner of Maddox & Gerock, P.C., a boutique domestic relations law firm located in Northern Virginia. Katharine is the president of the USA Chapter of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and she is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Katharine regularly lectures on family law issues throughout the United States as well as internationally. Further, Katharine frequently publishes articles related to Virginia family law and she is the co-author of the Virginia chapter of an international family law treatise. In addition to litigating family law matters, Katharine is a strong advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution: She is certified by the Virginia Supreme Court as a family law mediator and she regularly engages in the collaborative process. When not practicing law, Katharine most enjoys spending time with her family and her two rescue dogs, gardening and cooking.

T: 020 7420 5000 or E: [email protected]

In this episode Helen Greenfield and Chloe Oudiz break down the legal steps and practical considerations every parent must know when considering a move abroad with children. This conversation will help you make informed, confident decisions for your family's future.

Their conversation covers:

• What are the rules surrounding travelling abroad with children on a short and a long term basis? • What applications can be made to deal with any dispute? • What does the process look like once an application is made? • How do you decide which country deals with any dispute? • What factors will be considered by the court in making their decision? • What Non-Court Dispute Resolution options are there to resolve any dispute? • What can be done to prevent a move?

The Hague Convention:

https://www.hcch.net/en/states/hcch-members

About the speakers:

Helen Greenfield, Family Solicitor, Family Law in Partnership

Helen Greenfield is a Director and Mediator at Family Law in Partnership. Helen advises on all matters relating to family breakdown, divorce and cohabitation. She has a particular interest in helping those who have been affected by domestic abuse.

When Helen is mediating, she aims to promote constructive dialogue, reduce conflict, and minimise the emotional and financial strain associated with the more acrimonious processes.

https://www.flip.co.uk/profiles/helen-greenfield/

Chloe Oudiz, The Divorce and Separation Coach

Chloe Oudiz is a Certified Divorce Coach specialising in helping international families divorce with less conflict. With 17 years experience working in the City and Masters degrees in both Law and in International Affairs, Chloe's support focuses on the business of divorce and helping her clients acquire the right negotiation and conflict management skills to reach agreements out of court.

https://thedivorceandseparationcoach.com/

Divorcing across borders can feel daunting - especially when the choice of country could shape the outcome especically with regards to the financial settlement. In this episode, David Allison and Isabelle Rein-Lescaterreyes compare the approaches in England & Wales and in France, highlighting the key differences couples should be aware of before deciding where to issue divorce proceedings.

Their conversation covers:

• Jurisdiction for divorce in light of the EU system
• Issues with sole domicile and The Hague Convention
• Financial remedy relief in the context of the Matrimonial Property Regime (France)
• Financial remedy relief under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (England)
• Pre-Nuptial Agreements
• Cultural differences in relation to the concept of "needs"
• Maintenance provision
• Costs and privacy
• Jurisdiction races
• Overseas financial relief in light of Part 3 proceedings

About the speakers:

David Allison, Family Solicitor, Family Law in Partnership

David Allison is a director at Family Law in Partnership and a leading family lawyer with particular expertise in international divorce and financial claims. He represents business owners, entrepreneurs, bankers, lawyers, and their partners, often in high-value cases involving complex jurisdictional disputes and overseas assets. David has extensive experience securing recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and advising clients on financial relief following overseas divorces.

https://www.flip.co.uk/profiles/david-allison/

Isabelle Rein-Lescastereyres, Family Solicitor, BWG

Isabelle is a partner at BWG. She is bilingual and has many years of experience in complex international situations, in particular with neighbouring French-speaking and English-speaking countries. Isabelle favours "a realistic and constructive approach in order to maximise chances for a rapid conflict resolution".

With her HEC (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) training, Isabelle advises individuals, families and trusts and represents them in all aspects of divorce and family law, particularly in dealing with complex patrimonial and financial issues.

In particular, she assists French expatriates and foreigners residing in France on family and patrimonial issues relating to their international mobility.

https://bwg.law/en/avocat/isabelle-rein-lescastereyres/

Both Isabelle and David are members of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).

Helen Greenfield and Chloe Oudiz meet to discuss international, long-distance co-parenting.

With insights from their respective experiences, they provide practical tips on how to approach long distance co-parenting.

Their conversation covers:

• Jurisdiction issues which come to light upon separation
• Who keeps the passports
• Contact and time spent with the "long distance" parent
• Parental responsibility
• Communicating as co-parents
• The introduction of a new partner
• The benefit of mediation
• Top tips for those thinking of embarking on long-distance co-parenting

About the speakers:

Helen Greenfield, Family Solicitor, Family Law in Partnership

Helen Greenfield is a Director and Mediator at Family Law in Partnership. Helen advises on all matters relating to family breakdown, divorce and cohabitation. She has a particular interest in helping those who have been affected by domestic abuse.

When Helen is mediating, she aims to promote constructive dialogue, reduce conflict, and minimise the emotional and financial strain associated with the more acrimonious processes.

https://www.flip.co.uk/profiles/helen-greenfield/

Chloe Oudiz, The Divorce and Separation Coach

Chloe Oudiz is a Certified Divorce Coach specialising in helping international families divorce with less conflict. With 17 years experience working in the City and Masters degrees in both Law and in International Affairs, Chloe's support focuses on the business of divorce and helping her clients acquire the right negotiation and conflict management skills to reach agreements out of court.

https://thedivorceandseparationcoach.com/