International Family Law Conference 2025
WED 19 – SAT 22 MARCH 2025
CHAMONIX-MONT-BLANC, FRANCE
Programme
Welcome drinks reception
19:00 – 21:00
La Folie Douce hotel – outside terrace
823 All. Recteur Payot, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
Dress code: Dress warmly
Generously sponsored by
Conference Day 1
Venue: Congress Centre Le Majestic / Majestic Congress Centre
241 All. du Majestic, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France Directions
Dress code: Smart casual
8:30 – 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 9:05
Welcome
Eliza Hebditch, Partner, Expatriate Law
9:05 – 9:35
The recognition of foreign divorces
Moderator:
Sara Lange
Solicitor, Expatriate Law
Marie Berger
Partner, BRS Berger Recordon & de Saugy (Geneva, Switzerland)
Lily Mottahedan
Barrister, 1 Hare Court (England & Wales)
9:35 – 10:20
Trusts and divorce
Moderator:
Lauren Carmichael
Partner, Expatriate Law
Marina Faggionato
Barrister, QEB (England and Wales)
Philippe Pulfer
Partner, Walder Wyss Ltd, Attorneys at Law (Geneva, Switzerland)
John Teitler
Partner, Teitler & Teitler (New York, USA)
10:20 – 10:50
Morning break
Sponsored by
French pastries
10:50 – 11:40
Heads I win, tails you lose: Post-separation increases or decreases in asset values
Introducer:
Eliza Hebditch
Partner, Expatriate Law
Christine Arndt
Partner, Langner Arndt (Zurich, Switzerland)
Elizabeth Clarke
Barrister, QEB (England and Wales)
Caroline McNally
Partner, Hugill & Ip (Hong Kong)
Nicholas W. Lobenthal
Partner, Teitler & Teitler (New York, USA)
Jennifer Wilkie
Partner, Burness Paull (Edinburgh, Scotland)
11:40 – 12:10
It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove!
James Evans
Head of UK Professional Education, OurFamilyWizard
Oscar Smith
Partner, Expatriate Law
12:10 – 12:20
Movement break
12:20 – 12:50
Do women still get a raw deal in financial remedy proceedings in the English Court?
Introducer:
Alexandra Tribe
Managing Partner, Expatriate Law
Alexis Campbell KC
Joint Head of Chambers, 29 Bedford Row (England)
Ann Hussey KC
Barrister, 1 Hare Court (England)
12:50 – 14:00
Lunch
Menu
Mountain buffet:
- Alpine and Valdostan sausages
- Italian grilled antipasti – breadsticks
- Savoy crozets salad, tomme blanche, walnut and green apple
- Roasted and smoked beets salad, horseradish whipped cream, squash seeds
Hot plates:
- Smoked Savoy diots braised with white wine and onions, polenta from Val d’Aosta
- Small spelt risotto with mushrooms
Dessert:
- Fresh fruits salad
- Chocolate fondant
14:00 – 15:00
Panel: The impact of allegations of abuse on our children and financial cases
Frances Auchincloss Goldsmith
Partner, Libra Avocats (France)
Eliza Hebditch
Partner, Expatriate Law (England)
Melissa Kucinski
Partner, MKFL (DC, USA)
Katharine Maddox
Partner and Principal, Maddox & Gerock (Virginia, USA)
Sharon Segal KC
Barrister, 1GC (England)
15:00 – 15:30
The 3Ps: PACS, Partnerships (CP), Part III
Introducer:
Ambar Bharwani
Solicitor, Expatriate Law
Tim Amos KC
Barrister, QEB (England)
Isabelle Rein-Lescastéreyres
Partner, BWG Associés (France)
15:30 – 16:00
Afternoon break
Sponsored by
Afternoon tea:
- Carrot and walnut cake with icing
- Banana cake (gluten free, nut free)
- Victoria sponge with strawberry and cream
16:00 – 16:50
Cross-border prenups
Moderator:
Adam Mitchell
Dual-Qualified Solicitor (South Africa / England & Wales), Expatriate Law
Alexandre Boiché
Founder, Alexandre Boiché & Associés (France)
Larry Ginsberg, Esq.,
Partner, Harris Ginsberg LLP (California, USA)
Sophie Hill
Barrister, Coram Chambers (England)
Pamela Sloan
Founding Partner, Aronson, Mayefsky, and Sloan LLP (AMSLLP) (New York, USA)
Sirin Yüce
Partner and Certified Specialist SBA Family Law, Charles Russell Speechlys (Geneva, Switzerland)
16:50 -16:55
End of day 1 remarks
Alexandra Tribe
Managing Partner, Expatriate Law
Quiz night
La Sapiniere Hotel
102 Rue Mummery, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
Dress code: Casual
Strictly ticket holders only.
Quizmaster:
James Evans aka Our Family ‘Quizard’
Drinks sponsor
Tartiflette sponsor
Pudding sponsor
19:00
Arrival and Part 1
Ca 20:00
Dinner break
Menu
Tartiflette night:
- Bacon
- Mushroom (vegetarian)
Vegan option option: Sweet potato, spinach, chickpea, red onion and coconut milk <casserole/tajine style>
Something sweet selection:
- Mini tarte citron
- Chocolate eclairs
- Macarons
- Petit fours
Ca. 21:00
Part 2
Ca. 22:00
Prize-giving and good night
Conference Day 2
Venue: Congress Centre Le Majestic / Majestic Congress Centre
241 All. du Majestic, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France Directions
Dress code: Smart casual
8:30 – 9:00
Registration
9:00 – 9:05
Day 2 opening remarks
Alexandra Tribe
Managing Partner, Expatriate Law
9:05 – 9:50
Panel: Family life in the Gulf – the pace of change
Moderator:
Alexandra Tribe
Managing Partner, Expatriate Law
Dr Hanaa Almoaibed
Research Fellow, London School of Economics
Dr Hassan Elhais
Legal Consultant, Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy (UAE)
Byron James
Partner, Expatriate Law (UAE)
Arthur Snell
Writer, Podcaster, International Political Commentator (UK)
9:50 – 10:30
Panel: Family law and the same sex couple – how are things now in your jurisdiction? (Living together, getting married, having children, getting divorced)
Moderator:
David Hansford
Associate, Expatriate Law
John Davies
Partner, Farrer & Co (London)
Kristin Doeberl
Partner, Verrill Law (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Caroline McNally
Partner, Hugill & Ip (Hong Kong)
Alexandra Tribe
Managing Partner, Expatriate Law
Dr. Markus Zwicky
Partner, Zwicky & Partner (Switzerland)
10:30 – 11:00
Morning break
Sponsored by
French and Arabic pastries
11:00 – 12:00
Top ten tips from ten top private client advisors
Moderator:
Naomi Grimwood
Consultant, Expatriate Law
THE SWISS PRIVATE CLIENT LAWYER
Serge Calame
Partner, MLL Legal (Switzerland)
THE ENGLISH PRIVATE CLIENT LAWYER
Harriet Campbell
Legal Director, Womble Bond Dickinson (England)
THE ENGLISH IFA
Jamie Fergusson
Founder and Managing Director, Thomson Tyndall (England)
THE FAMILY OFFICE
Marc Halsema
Founder & Principal, Jaclise International LLC (New York, USA)
THE HONG KONG PRIVATE CLIENT
Alfred Ip
Partner, Hugill & Ip (Hong Kong)
THE FRENCH PRIVATE CLIENT LAWYER
Diane Le Grand de Belleroche
Be Fair Avocats (France)
THE IMMIGRATION LAWYER
Sharmila Mehta
Partner, Keystone Law (England)
THE DIVORCE COACH
Arabella Paul
The Divorce Survival Coach (England)
THE US TAX LAWYER
John Shoemaker
Attorney, Butler Snow (UK)
THE TRUSTEE’S PERSPECTIVE
Clare Usher-Wilson
Head of Family Office, Summit Group (Geneva, Switzerland)
12:00 – 12:10
Movement break
12:10 – 12:40
Financial provision for the unmarried family
Moderator:
Sophie Capo-Bianco
Partner, Expatriate Law
Tadhgh Barwell O’Connor
Barrister, 1KBW (England)
Alexander Chandler KC FCIArb
Barrister, 1KBW (England)
12:40 – 13:10
Enforcement in international cases
Moderator:
Antonia Church
Solicitor, Expatriate Law
Andrzej Bojarski KC
Barrister, 36 Family
Hannah Davie
Partner, Head of contentious estates and family disputes, Grant Thornton (England)
13:10 – 14:15
Lunch
Menu
Sushi and maki assortment:
- Vegetarian
- Tuna
- Salmon,
- Fried chicken
- Beef
Asian salads:
- Wakame and cucumber salad
- Spaghetti soba salad
- Seasonal vegetables
- Green bean salad, sesame, shrimp
Tataki plates:
- Beef tataki, aubergines, Japanese mushrooms, watercress
- Tataki of tuna, old tomatoes, avocados, perfect egg, Japanese vinaigrette
Dessert:
- Seasonal treats
14:15 – 15:15
Panel: International relocation of children
Moderator:
Hero Lomas
Partner, Expatriate Law
Delphine Eskenazi
Partner, Libra Avocats (Paris)
Nicola Fox
Barrister, 1KBW (England)
Jennifer Perrins
Barrister, 1KBW (England)
Pamela Sloan
Founding Partner, Aronson, Mayefsky, and Sloan LLP (AMSLLP) (New York, USA)
15:15 – 15:35
Human rights issues for advisors to the UHNWI
Introducer:
Eliza Hebditch
Partner, Expatriate Law
Paola Fudakowska
Solicitor (Switzerland)
Shawntel Randi
Senior Associate, Private Clients Group, Nixon Peabody (Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
15:35 – 16:00
Afternoon break
Sponsored by
Cream tea:
Homemade scones (plain or fruit), served with creme fraiche and raspberry jam
16:00 – 16:20
Interim remedies in international cases
Introducer:
Byron James
Partner, Expatriate Law (UAE)
Nichola Gray KC MCIArb
Joint Head of Chambers, 1 Hare Court (England)
Charles Hale KC MCIArb
Joint Head of Chambers, 4PB (England)
16:20 – 17:00
Acting for (or against) the international sports star
Moderator:
David Truex
Consultant, Expatriate Law (Australia)
James Brown
Managing Partner, Hall Brown (Manchester, UK)
Simon Bruce
Partner, Dawson Cornwell (London, UK)
Jorge Cestero
Senior Partner, Sasser, Cestero & Roy (West Palm Beach, Florida, USA)
17:00 – 17:05
End of conference closing remarks
Eliza Hebditch
Partner, Expatriate Law
Gala dinner
La Cabane de Praz restaurant
23 Rte du Golf, 74400 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France
Dress code: black tie or other formal evening dress.
A spectacular evening of drinks, dinner and dancing at the beautiful restaurant La Cabane which looks out on the Aiguielle du Midi and Mont Blanc. The champagne reception is generously being hosted by 1 Hare Court (1HC) chambers, the after-dinner party by Zwicky & Partner, and Sir Nicholas Mostyn will be our after dinner speaker. Booking required.
18:30 – 19:15
Transfers from Chamonix
Mini buses will operate from 18:30 until 19:15 from the following locations:
- La Sapiniere hotel, 102 Rue Mummery, Chamonix (north)
- La Folie Douce hotel, 191 Avenue du Savoy, Chamonix (north)
- Heliopic and Plan B hotels, Chamonix (south)
- Hotel Lyret, 96 Rue du Lyret, Chamonix (central)
After this time, please make your own transport arrangement to La Cabane restaurant.
18:45 – 20:00
Arrival and champagne reception
Generously sponsored by
20:00 onwards
3-course dinner
Menu
Starter
Céviche de daurade acidulée aux épices et coriandre fraîche / Sea Bream Ceviche Flavoured with Spices and Fresh Coriander
Main
Médaillon de veau au romarin, jus corsé, gratin dauphinois / Slice of Pan-Seared Veal Flavoured with Rosmary, Potato Gratin
Dessert
Panna cotta, coulis aux fruits rouges / Red Fruits Panna Cotta
Vegan menu:
Starter
Salade “Toute Verte » (Beans, Edamame, Avocado, Spianch Leaf)
Main
Semoula « Tajine Style » with Vegetables and Vegetables broth
During dessert course
After-dinner speech
Sir Nicholas Mostyn
After speech
Heads & Tails in aid of Charity
Please bring with you a €10 or €20 note.
In aid of The King’s Parkinson’s Charitable Fund
The charity was spearheaded by Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Professor K Ray Chaudhuri. Sir Nicholas is one of the founder members of Movers & Shakers – a podcast about life with Parkinson’s which he produces alongside Jeremy Paxman, Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell and Paul Mayhew-Archer. Professor Chaudhuri is Director of the King’s Parkinson’s Centre of Excellence at King’s College London.
After Heads & Tails – ca 22:45
Dancing
Generously sponsored by
From 22:45
Carriages
Transportation will be available from 22:45 until 1:30 to return you to your accommodation in Chamonix.
1:00
Thank you and good night!
Please note the conference programme may be subject to change.