Lauren Carmichael

Lauren is a Partner specialising in international family law, with particular expertise in cases involving England, South Africa and the UAE, having lived and worked in London, Johannesburg and Dubai.

She advises high-net-worth clients on multi-jurisdictional pre/post-nups, jurisdiction disputes, financial remedy proceedings, and Schedule 1 and Part III proceedings. She also advises on domestic and international contact arrangements, abduction and relocation.

Lauren regularly acts for English expatriates in South Africa and the UAE, as well as South African expatriates living in England. However, she is also instructed on cases where there is no international element. She is known for her strategic, empathetic and commercially minded advice.

South Africa and cross-border expertise

Lauren has a depth of expertise in matters involving South Africa, and is widely recognised for her ability to advise across the interface of English, South African and UAE laws. Her experience includes:

• Cross-border pre- and post-nuptial agreements between South Africa and England.
• Jurisdictional strategy and forum advice, guiding clients on where to initiate proceedings for a favourable outcome and advising on jurisdiction disputes.
• Financial matters involving South African Antenuptial Contracts (ANCs) with differing matrimonial property regimes.
• Recognition and enforcement of South African orders in England and vice versa.
• Part III financial proceedings following divorce proceedings in South Africa and the UAE.
• International children disputes, including relocation to South Africa and contact arrangements in the UAE. .
• Working with specialist lawyers and experts in South Africa and the UAE to achieve seamless, coordinated outcomes.

Lauren began her career as a corporate lawyer before moving into family law at Camilla Baldwin, a specialist family law firm in London. She later joined Clarks Attorneys, a leading international family law firm in Johannesburg, where she advised on cases involving complex financial structures and cross-border children disputes.

Lauren co-founded the Johannesburg Family Law Conference, now a well-established event which attracts leading family law practitioners from across South Africa.

Lauren moved from South Africa to Dubai, where she joined Expatriate Law, before returning to England.

Education and Qualifications

• Admitted in England and Wales (2008)
• Nottingham Law School (LPC, Distinction, 2005)
• University of Sheffield (LLB, 2:1, 2004)

Professional Memberships

• South African Chamber of Commerce
• Commonwealth Lawyers Association

Selected speaking engagements

• Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Navigating Cross-Border Prenuptial Agreements between South Africa and England (Johannesburg Family Law Conference)
• Changing Times in the UAE (Cape Town Family Law Conference)
• Tips and Traps for Expats Moving between South Africa and the UAE (Johannesburg Family Law Conference)
• FAQs for South African/English Matters (Johannesburg Family Law Conference)
• When is it right to wrongfully retain your child in England? The UAE: a case study (Resolution Seminar)