• Services we provide banner

    Family Lawyers

Going through a relationship breakdown can be incredibly tough. And when it involves children or financial issues it can be even more challenging.

That is why it is essential to plan for the future to ensure that you and your loved ones are taken care of.

Our work is not just about what happens once a relationship, be it marriage, civil partnership or unmarried cohabitation, breaks down. It is becoming increasingly important to plan for the future and we can advise you, your family and trustees on a wide range of relationship agreements and wealth preservation strategies.

If you need assistance with fertility treatment, surrogacy, or adoption, we can help you navigate the legal issues that may arise, making your journey to parenthood smoother.

Our family lawyers

Our approach is both humane and pragmatic, catering to the needs of people with complex lives. Our clients are often from international families, and they possess significant assets or earnings. With our vast experience, we specialise in representing high-profile individuals who are often in the public eye.

Our family lawyers are leaders in their field. We are top-ranked in the UK and internationally, and have been involved in many of the leading cases. We are one of the largest and longest-established family law teams in the world, with unparalleled breadth and depth of expertise.

We have pioneered a cross-disciplinary approach to family law, and work alongside our Firm’s experts in tax and trusts, trust disputes, corporate law, immigration, property disputes, reputation management and other areas of law to provide you with a smart and bespoke service that meets your needs.

Flexibility is key to our approach. With leading family mediation and arbitration practices, as well as collaboratively trained lawyers, we always recommend innovative ways to resolve disputes.

While litigation may be the last resort, we protect your interests fiercely and successfully when court proceedings become necessary. We are experts in handling the most challenging and complex litigation and have acted in many leading family law cases. You can find our reported cases listed here.

We will always give you clear, realistic advice. We tell you what you need to know, even if it may not be what you want to hear. We listen to your concerns and priorities and help you find the best solution for you, no matter the circumstances. We are on your side.

We have family law specialists in our London, Guildford, Geneva and Hong Kong offices, and we regularly advise on international family law issues involving other jurisdictions around the world.

Our family law services

Recognition

Charles Russell Speechlys are big hitters in this area, and rightly so. They are a substantial department with a real depth of quality, who provide a Rolls-Royce service."

Chambers High Net Worth 2024, Family/Matrimonial: Ultra High Net Worth

Charles Russell Speechlys are a class act - calm, commercially savvy and a pleasure to deal with. The team is excellent at every level."

Chambers High Net Worth 2024, Family/Matrimonial: Ultra High Net Worth

As a Firm, they are at the top of their game and are as good as you will find."

Legal 500 UK, 2024, Family Law

Charles Russell Speechlys' global coverage is a main indicator for their top ranking."

Chambers High Net Worth 2023

They have a real strength in depth. They have many strings to their bow and are well integrated to other practice areas."

Chambers High Net Worth 2022

Membership

Connecting you with our membership of 6,500 family law professionals

Read more

Our awards

Meet our family lawyers

Our family law services

Divorce & Finance Legal Services

Divorce & financial settlements

Our family law specialists give clear advice on all financial aspects of divorce.

Find out more
Children & Parental Disputes Legal Services

Children & Parental Disputes

We are well positioned to advise you on the best options for your children’s particular circumstances.

Find out more
International Family Legal Services

International Family Law

No matter where you are based, our approach is supportive with a fast turnaround time where required. 

Find out more
Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements & Wealth Protection Legal Services

Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements

We are recognised as being experts in the field of negotiating and drafting marital agreements.

Find out more
Unmarried Couples & Financial Claims for Children Legal Services

Unmarried couples, cohabitation & financial claims for children

Our role is to advise you on how to obtain the best outcome, irrespective of your situation

Find out more
Family Mediation & Dispute Resolution Legal Services

Family Mediation, Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

We advise on and offer several forms of dispute resolution, with each having their own merits.

Find out more
Parentage, Fertility & Surrogacy Legal Services

Parentage, Fertility Law & Surrogacy

We care about families in all their forms. Problematically for families, the law on parentage does not join up internationally. 

Find out more
Adoption Legal Services

Adoption

We help parents adopting children across borders, including advising on the cross-border recognition of adoption orders. 

Find out more
william-longrigg

What's important to you is important to us. Let's talk

If you would like to speak to a member of our Family team or to find out more about how we work, please get in touch.

Contact us

  • Grandparents’ Day on 6 October 2024: do grandparents have a legal right to a relationship with their grandchildren?

    Miranda Fisher

    Quick Reads

  • Consequences of the abolition of the non-dom regime: what are the family law issues for wealthy clients leaving the UK?

    Miranda Fisher

    Quick Reads

  • Swiss estates: would a 50% tax on the super-rich be appropriate?

    Alexia Egger Castillo

    Quick Reads

  • “This is going to hurt” – potential implications of the forthcoming Budget on financial arrangements on divorce

    Charlotte Posnansky

    Quick Reads

  • How the forewarned ‘hike’ on private school fees is going to bite – a family law and Private Office perspective

    Jemimah Fleet

    Quick Reads

  • Vanessa Duff writes for Expat Living on navigating divorce with a neurodivergent child

    Vanessa Duff

    In the Press

  • James Elliott-Hughes writes for Today's Family Lawyer on the legal balance of Love Island's power couple upon separation

    James Elliott-Hughes

    In the Press

  • Molly-Mae'd to Last? Exploring the legal balance of Love Island's power couple upon separation

    James Elliott-Hughes

    Quick Reads

  • Love Don’t Cost A Thing...Or Does It?

    Emily Borrowdale

    Quick Reads

  • Illegal to divorce in the Philippines - is this about to change and how does England recognise overseas divorces?

    Charlotte Posnansky

    Quick Reads

  • Love is Blind UK – the legal practicalities if the couples do say “I do”

    Hannah Owen

    Quick Reads

  • From Goalposts to Schedule 1 claims: Navigating witness credibility and press reporting in light of Kyle Walker's legal manoeuvres.

    Sarah Jane Boon

    Quick Reads

  • “Extreme handouts to divorced wives do nothing to help [...] Women are not all victims”. After half a century, will this be the end of the ‘meal ticket for life’?

    Matt Foster

    Insights

  • Bloomberg quotes Sarah Jane Boon on plans announced in the King’s speech to press ahead with the tax hike on UK private school fees

    Sarah Jane Boon

    In the Press

  • “We want prenup! We want prenup!” (Yeah!)

    Cara Fung

    Quick Reads

  • RTHK Money Talk interviews Lisa Wong and Vanessa Duff on wealth preservation and managing overseas financial liabilities

    Lisa Wong

    In the Press

  • IFA Magazine quotes Sarah Jane Boon on Labour’s pledge to add VAT to private school fees within their first year in government

    Sarah Jane Boon

    In the Press

  • I now pronounce you husband and wife (hopefully…..)

    Jemimah Fleet

    Quick Reads

  • That’s not my name – Brangelina’s daughter Shiloh files to drop Pitt from her surname

    Zandra Beaumont

    Quick Reads

  • Charles Russell Speechlys Switzerland strengthens its Family Law practice with the promotion of Sirin Yüce to Partner

    Michael Wells-Greco

    News

Back to top