International Family Law Conference 2024

Highly experienced and respected money practitioner with a specialism in international jurisdiction cases and in high-value Anglo-German disputes owing to his expertise in the field and professional-standard fluency in the German language, including German legal language. He has additional expertise in Austria/Switzerland/Liechtenstein and also works/lectures in French as well as German.  He is particularly noted for his skill in tackling complex jurisdiction issues. Amos is also respected for his standing as both collaborative counsel and a resolution mediator.

Strengths: “Tim Amos KC remains one of the real gentlemen of family law and is unparalleled when it comes to unpicking the fine details of a case.” “Very clever and succinct, he makes complicated arguments look simple.”

Camille joined BWG in 2012 and became a partner in 2022. With a strong background in estate law, she has honed her expertise in separations with financial and patrimonial implications. Fluent in English, Camille has expanded her scope to address international family issues. Her dynamic and tenacious approach benefits a diverse clientele, including entrepreneurs and startup leaders. Whether navigating family crises or structuring assets, Camille leverages her international network and close ties with notarial and tax professionals to craft innovative solutions. 

Marisol Arellano Lundberg is exclusively focused on Swedish and international family law. She works as an attorney in division disputes, court appointed distributor of matrimonial property and as an executor in succession law.

Mónica has been a practising lawyer at the Terrassa Bar Association since 1999. She specialised in family law in 2012, becoming a member of the Catalan Society of Family Lawyers and the Spanish Association of Family Lawyers. In 2015, she co-founded the law firm Ambes Advocats SLP in Sant Cugat del valés, Barcelona, where she has been practising for the last 10 years as a divorce lawyer with an international family law practice. During these years, in addition to defending foreign nationals who want to divorce in Spain, she has collaborated in custody and maintenance proceedings for foreigners in Spain with different family law firms in France, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Admitted to the Bar in 2009. Partner of the law firm BRS Berger Recordon & de Saugy, which has been consecutively nominated as one of the leading Swiss firms in the family law area since 2017.

Marie has extensive experience in all aspects of international family law including complex patrimonial and financial issues and international child abduction. She assists clients before Swiss courts, negotiates amicable settlements including nuptial agreements and provides strategic advice mostly in international cases. She also provides legal opinions to foreign courts.

Regularly appointed by Courts as curator in the legal representation of children. Ranked in Chambers High Net Worth. Publishes and lectures frequently on international family law.

Spoken languages: French, English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Duncan is a KC specialising in complex matrimonial finance proceedings, and also acts as an arbitrator and private FDR evaluator in financial cases. He has a wealth of expertise in complex financial cases involving high and ultra-high net worth clients, including issues relating to businesses, trusts, taxation and international forum disputes.  He is adept at dealing with knotty points of law and acting for third parties who are intervening in proceedings. Duncan has been a family arbitrator (MCIArb) since 2013 and has delivered awards in over 30 arbitrations. He has also conducted over100 private FDRs as evaluator. 

Andrew practices in family law with an emphasis on financial cases, including financial remedy claims on divorce, claims under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and Part III MFPA 1984.

Andrew has a particular expertise in issues of domestic and cross-border enforcement and has given a number of lectures (including to Resolution and YRes) on the enforcement of financial orders.

Before coming to the Bar, Andrew gained experience working in market research and brings a measured and analytical approach to his cases. He is adept in dealing with cases with expert valuation evidence.

Founder of the Legal Firm Diana Carrillo Abogados, based in Madrid (Spain). Qualified Spanish lawyer specialising in international family law, and expert witness. Bilingual in Spanish and English. Lecturer in Family and Inheritance Law at ISDE 2020-2022, 2022-2023 and 2023-2024; Lecturer in the Barcelona Bar Association; Vice-president of the Madrid Association of Family and Child Lawyers (AMAFI). Member of the Family Lawyers Association (AEAFA); former member of the Advisory Council of the Family Debates section of the bar association of lawyers of Madrid; member the International Association of Family Law Jurists (AIJUDEFA). Founding partner of the Family and Law Platform. Secretary of the International Association of Women Jurists (Atria International); member of the Association Forum of Justice and Opinion.

Sarah practises exclusively in family law dealing with both children and financial disputes. She has an expertise in international family cases and has an in-depth knowledge of the procedural implications of international family cases, including service, obtaining evidence from overseas, instruction of overseas experts, freezing orders and disclosure. Sarah has extensive experience of dealing with jurisdictional disputes whether under forum conveniens, international instruments or otherwise. Sarah is a fluent Spanish speaker able to conduct conferences and mediations in Spanish.

In relation to financial disputes, Sarah is experienced in conducting financial remedy applications, many involving various types of overseas assets including property, trusts and shareholdings as well as the consideration of bilateral tax accords and dowry proceedings. Sarah has a particular expertise in the consideration of overseas matrimonial regimes. In addition, Sarah has successfully brought various applications for financial relief after an overseas divorce pursuant to Part III MFPA 1984.

In relation to children, Sarah regularly conducts child abduction cases under Hague 1980 and 1996 conventions as well as the inherent jurisdiction. She also represents parents in leave to remove applications.

James was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2016. He acts in a wide variety complex and big money cases at all levels, specialising in financial provision cases of all kinds.

James frequently advises and represents clients in proceedings in the High Court and Family Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, at the Central Family Court, and in other courts around the country. James has significant experience in the Court of Appeal. He also represents clients at private FDRs, round-table meetings and in arbitrations. He is also qualified to accept Public Access work.

James is a well-respected and highly sought after ‘evaluator’ in family-finance private FDRs. He qualified as an IFLA accredited arbitrator in 2017 and regularly undertakes matrimonial finance arbitrations. In 2023, James was appointed as a s.9(4) Deputy High Court Judge, assigned to the Family Division.

Marina’s practice covers all areas of family law work with a particular focus on the financial consequences of divorce and disputes involving children, including Schedule 1 provision, abduction and relocation cases. She sits as an arbitrator and early neutral evaluator and regularly advises and represents corporate and international clients. 

Marina has a particular interest in cases with a foreign dimension and has practical experience of family law in France obtained during her time as a Pegasus scholar with the Parisian law firm Lafarge Associes. Marina is fluent in French. 

Sir Nicholas Francis became Head of Chambers at 29 Bedford Row shortly after taking silk in 2002.

After more than 14 years at the helm at 29, in 2016, he was appointed a High Court Judge.

As a judge of the Family Division, Nick has adjudicated on an array of complex money cases, as well as dealing with a variety of care, Hague and Court of Protection cases.

After eight years on the Bench, Nick returns to 29 as an Associate Member and will practise there as an arbitrator and as a private FDR Judge.

Marilyn Freeman is Co-Director of the International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice (ICFLPP), Principal Research Fellow at The Westminster Law School, London, and chairperson of the International Association of Child Law Researchers (IACLaR). She is widely acknowledged as a leading expert in the area of international child abduction and international children’s law, and publishes widely in her areas of expertise. Her current research focuses on the issue of Identity for Children and Young People; Domestic Violence and International Child Abduction; and Child-Friendly Resources relating to International Child Abduction. She holds a door tenancy at 4PB, a specialist Family Law set of barristers’ chambers in London, and qualified as a Family Mediator, trained to undertake direct consultation with children, cases involving international child abduction, and other international family disputes.

Hamish is an experienced family law advocate and head of 3PB’s Family Finance group.  He was shortlisted for Junior Barrister of the Year at the 2019 Family Law Awards.  His practice is concerned with the financial claims of spouses on divorce and co-habitees on separation. He maintains a keen interest in the developments in divorce law. Hamish represented the husband at first instance, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in Owens v Owens ([2018] UKSC 41). He is described in Chambers and Partners UK Bar 2024 as ‘an exceptional barrister, especially on technical matters involving complex assets’.

Charles Hale KC, Joint Head of Chambers of 4PB, is a Family Law Specialist and Arbitrator, recognised as leading King’s Counsel in both, Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Notably, his outstanding contributions have led to his nomination for the prestigious Legal 500 Silk of the Year Award on three separate occasions, in addition to his recent nomination in the same category at the 2023 Family Law Awards.  

With expertise in all aspects of financial, international and private law family cases, Charles is regularly instructed in international family disputes for high net worth individuals and often provides expert opinion in foreign divorce matters. Charles has a reputation for dealing with the most complex cases involving financial disputes and trusts, also cases arising out of same sex/modern families disputes. As one of the few recognised leading family UK barristers in both matrimonial finance and children work, Charles is often instructed to represent high profile clients in all issues arising out of their separation.

Laura’s practice is predominantly focussed on financial remedies cases including of high net worth, high profile clients and cases with modest assets but other complex aspects including trust and company structures, on and offshore assets and where 3rd parties intervene. She has a wide range of experience of Trusts of Land cases and applications under Schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989. She has worked as a junior to a number of QCs both in and out of Chambers. Laura is also interested in other dispute resolution methods. She is a collaborative lawyer, mediator and arbitrator and sits as a pFDR judge.

Eliza works with high net worth, high profile and international private clients advising on all areas of family law, but particularly complex financial disputes, jurisdiction battles and multi-jurisdictional prenups. Formerly practising at Farrer & Co since 2001 (partner from 2011-2021), Eliza is recognised across the private wealth sector as a leader in her field, acting for some of the highest-profile and wealthiest individuals and families in London.

Eliza is particularly known for her expertise in resolving disputes about children, including contested international relocation cases, risk of harm cases (including international abduction/flight risk), paternity disputes, applications by grandparents and cases involving addiction or mental health problems.

Hero is a Partner at Expatriate Law and practises as a solicitor, collaborative lawyer and accredited mediator.

Hero deals with complex financial issues arising on divorce, particularly cases with an international element. Collaborating with lawyers from around the world to protect her clients’ interests is a large part of her practice. Hero has dealt with cases involving a wide range of issues including the ownership of multi-million pound company assets, pre-nuptial agreements and financial claims by parents who are unmarried.

Maria Isabel Pacheco is a Family and Succession Lawyer with 20 years of experience. Partner with Bruna Rinaldi de Carvalho at Rinaldi de Carvalho Advogados, a law firm based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and member of the Brazilian Bar Association since 2002. Member of the Asset Management and Family Office Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association since 2023. She also has two post-graduate degrees – EMERJ (School of Magistrates of the State of Rio de Janeiro) and FGV (Getúlio Vargas Foundation). She worked with many international clients over this time and acted as a judicial expert in a lawsuit that took place before the Maidstone Family Court – UK.

Spoken languages: Portuguese, English, German and Spanish.

Joao Perry da Camara is a founding partner of RA&A -Rogerio Alves & Associados­ Sociedade de Advogados, Sri, (RA Law firm-www.raassociados.pt) being responsible for the area of Family and Successions Law, and one of the responsible for the Litigation and Arbitration Area. He is a lawyer over 39 years and has a wide experience in different practice areas such as Family and Inheritance Law, Litigation and Arbitration, Commercial Law, Companies Law and Insolvency Law having extensive experience in the field of Family Law, in national and international spheres. 

Joao Perry da Camara is also considered by his peers as a leading figure in all matters related with Family and Inheritance Law, and is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers since 2009.

Andrew is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children.  He is listed in the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading barrister and was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021.

His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He regularly represents parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption in the High Court.  In 2021 he provided an expert opinion in a case before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court  concerning international surrogacy arrangement.

Malavika Rajkotia is an independent Legal Practitioner, enrolled to the Bar in the year 1985. She is a Family and Matrimonial Law specialist and has handled several high profile and complex divorce and property disputes across various courts of India for over 37 years.

She is the founder of Rajkotia Associates, a leading multidisciplinary law firm specialising in matrimonial and property laws, and which primarily handles matrimonial cases such as divorce, child custody, alimony, domestic violence, and other related matters in all forums such as Supreme Court, High Court and Family Courts all over India.

Malavika is recognised as an expert in India in the field of family, matrimonial and allied laws.

She is the author of Intimacy Undone: Law of Marriage, Divorce and Family in India which has been included in the reading lists of leading law school curriculums.

In addition to arguing several notable family law cases, she has argued for the custody rights of mothers facing domestic violence in foreign jurisdictions. She has worked on issues such as the protection of civil liberties, gender rights, human rights and environmental concerns with various NGOs like Sakshi and IFSHA, and lectured at several law schools.

Isabelle has been a partner at bwg since 2005. Fluent in both French and English, she specialises in navigating complex international situations, particularly with neighbouring French-speaking or Anglo-Saxon countries. A notable aspect of Isabelle’s practice involves assisting French expatriates and foreigners residing in France with aspects of their international mobility. 

Embracing a realistic and constructive approach, Isabelle is dedicated to maximising the chances of a swift resolution to conflicts. With her background in HEC education, she offers comprehensive advice and representation to individuals, families, and trusts in all facets of divorce and family law, particularly in handling intricate wealth and financial matters. 

Bruna Rinaldi de Carvalho is a Family and Succession Lawyer with 17 years of experience. Partner with Maria Isabel Pacheco at Rinaldi de Carvalho Advogados, a law firm based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and member of the Brazilian Bar Association since 2005. Member of the Asset Management and Family Office Commission of the Brazilian Bar Association since 2023. She also has a post-graduate degree – Universidade Cândido MendesEMERJ. She worked with many international clients over this time and acted as a judicial expert in a lawsuit that took place before the Maidstone Family Court – UK.

She led, during nine years, a live TV show regarding Family Law (answering questions about the theme) on the GloboNews channel – an important Brazilian TV journal channel.

Spoken languages: Portuguese, English, German and Spanish.

Oscar advises clients on a wide range of family law including the financial and children issues which arise upon the breakdown of a relationship in married or unmarried couples. He is a Resolution-accredited specialist in complex high-net worth financial remedies and in cohabitation cases.