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Family Law Solicitors

Family law is an increasingly complex area and requires a demanding set of skills. An experienced and intelligent analysis of complex financial circumstances – often international – is needed, together with a sensitive and authoritative approach to guide clients and obtain the best possible outcomes through often difficult times.

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Divorce & Separation

Growing your Family in the Modern World

"Payne Hicks Beach are arguably the strongest family law firm in the country, providing enviable strength and depth in both financial and private children law areas” CHAMBERS UK

Clients come to us with complex needs for which we provide highly bespoke advice. Whether advising on civil partnerships or cohabitation, pre-nuptial agreements or surrogacy, separation or divorce for clients in London, the UK or overseas, our lawyers understand the importance of preserving their confidentiality and exercising discretion at all times.

Our highly regarded family team combines top flight expertise and an unrivalled depth of experience in this area of law with the ability to access advice and assistance from exceptional lawyers, attorneys, counsel, advisers, mediators and experts world-wide.

Members of the department are regular contributors to the evolution of the law as well as improvements to best practice. Our lawyers are active in Resolution (a national organisation of family lawyers committed to non-confrontational divorce, separation and other family problems), the International Academy of Family Lawyers (which provides an international network of top family lawyers), the Family Law Bar Association and the Association of Lawyers for Children.

With top ratings in Chambers UK, Chambers HNW and The Legal 500 UK guides, the department is recognised as frequently advising in some of the most high-value and high-profile matrimonial finance cases in the market, including cases involving complex international aspects. It also has a great pedigree in high-end pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements.

 

Chambers HNW 2023 lists the Family Team as a leading firm in Family/Matrimonial: ultra high net worth. The directory writes that “Payne Hicks Beach has a highly esteemed family law department which regularly handles high-value and sophisticated matters.” Testimonials include “They are uniformly first rate, from the technical ability of more junior team members with day to day responsibility on a case, to the deep experience and strategic thinking offered by the partners and more senior associates” and “PHB are absolutely excellent. They are all extremely competent, and can handle really big cases without being fazed by anything.” With rankings over many years in, Chambers HNW testimonials include “They’re as good as you’ll find; they’re a class act,” says a source, explaining: “They have a lot of depth to their practice. They all have great experience and are very good to deal with.” Another comments: “They are a fantastic group of lawyers. They provide excellent advice to clients, and they have strong expertise in a range of areas. They really invest in their clients; it’s a real pleasure dealing with them.”

The Legal 500 UK 2024 rank our Family Law Team in Tier 1, and we are described as “simply fantastic. They are a varied group of talented lawyers who work to their strengths, delegate well and provide a very high-quality service to their clients. They are a well-resourced, intelligent, compassionate and thoughtful group of lawyers.”

The Legal 500 UK 2023 describes Payne Hicks Beach LLP as a “top notch firm that does A list work for the most influential, successful and high profile clients.”  The law directory expands to say that “the department is ‘outstanding’ and garners praise for its specialist advice on the full spectrum of complex family law issues often with an international dimension for high-profile individuals, entrepreneurs, UHNWs and others, including members of international Royalty” and recognises that the team “is frequently instructed in cases that go to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.”  “Overall it is a ‘class act with a team of great lawyers who know exactly how to run the big, difficult litigation but never lose sight of what the client wants’.” One commentator states, “The PHB family team has exceptional experience of the most complex international family law disputes. Very few other firms have this level of experience. Hand-in-hand with this the firm delivers a very personal service, giving clients the assurance that both their case and their welfare are being cared for with utmost attention.”

"The best legal team money can buy. Unbelievably thorough, first-class litigators, highly respected in the field. Supremely well connected internationally and ideally placed to help in cases involving multi-jurisdictional issues" The Legal 500 UK