Expatriate Law

Expatriate Law is an award-winning, boutique international family law firm advising high-net-worth and globally mobile clients from its offices in London, Abu Dhabi and Singapore. Founded by Alexandra Tribe and David Hallam-Peel in 2010, the firm specialises exclusively in complex cross-border family matters, acting for business owners, executives, international families and expatriates whose personal and financial lives span multiple jurisdictions. The firm is recognised for its technical excellence, strategic coordination across legal systems, and exceptional client care, offering discreet and solutions-focused representation in some of the most challenging international family disputes.

Managing Partner: Alexandra Tribe

Executive Partner: David Hallam-Peel

Senior Partners: Hero Lomas, Eliza Hebditch, Sonny Patel, Byron James

Partners: Lauren Carmichael, Sophie Capo-Bianco, Oscar Smith

Number of other fee earners: 6

The team forms the core of the firm's reputation and is recognised collectively for its depth of specialist knowledge. It includes accredited mediators, collaborative practitioners and internationally trained family law specialists with particular strength in cross-border financial disputes, international children law and jurisdictional strategy.

The firm is widely regarded as a thought-leader in international family law. Its lawyers speak at major conferences, contribute to leading publications, author specialists texts and provide expert commentary on developments in the field. The team is deeply engaged in advancing best practice through training and knowledge-sharing, reinforcing its commitment to excellence both within the profession and in the service of clients worldwide.

United Arab Emirates

Expatriate Law has a longstanding presence in the UAE and is widely recognised for its leadership in international family law across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The firm is noted for its deep experience advising expatriate families, handling complex jurisdictional disputes, and coordinating parallel proceedings between the UAE and England. Its work frequently involves cross-border financial claims, international relocation, and urgent protective orders.

United Kingdom

The firm is known for its specialist international practice and its strength in advising HNW / UHNW clients with sophisticated asset structures and multi-jurisdictional connections. It is regularly instructed in matters involving competing proceedings overseas, complex financial disclosure, and strategic forum considerations. Expatriate Law is also recognised for its contribution to developing case law in areas such as parental responsibility and international children disputes.

Singapore and Asia-Pacific

Expatriate Law has an expanding presence in Singapore, advising on cross-border disputes involving England, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The team is values for its ability to coordinate international litigation, negotiate high-value settlements, and provide culturally informed advice to families relocating within or out of Asia. The firm's Singapore practice frequently handles matters involving multi-jurisdictional assets, trusts and international relocation.

High-value financial remedies

• Divorce involving multi-jurisdictional assets and corporate structures
• Complex valuations (businesses, trusts, property portfolios, cryptoassets)
• Enforcement of foreign financial orders
• Offshore considerations involving the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas

International children

• Relocation and cross-border movement of children
• Abduction (Hague and non-Hague)
• Safeguarding concerns, coercive control, and cases requiring urgent protective measures
• Contact, living arrangements, and parental responsibility disputes involving multiple legal systems

Jurisdiction and forum strategy

• Competing proceedings across England and Wales, the UAE, Americas, Singapore and Europe
• Strategic advice on choice of court, governing law and enforceability
• Advising expatriate families navigating conflicting legal frameworks

Expatriate and globally mobile families

• Asset protection and prenuptial/postnuptial agreements with international elements
• Financial planning and tax-sensitive structuring (in collaboration with specialist advisors)
• Specialist guidance for clients relocating between England and Wales, the Middle East, the Americas, Asia and the Americas

Expatriate Law has acted in a number of significant and influential cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. These decisions reflect the firm's specialist expertise in cross-border family law, complex children matters, and high-value international disputes.

High Court decisions

1. M v F (Parental Responsibility of a non-biological father) [2024] EWFC 377 (B) (09 September 2024) This case led by Oscar Smith clarified how mistakes on birth certificates should be treated in the context of parental responsibility.
2. G v H (Relocation to Australia: Immigration Issues) [2024] EWFC 230 (B) (24 January 2024)Oscar Smith successfully obtained permission for an autistic child and his mother to relocate from England to Australia, addressing intricate immigration and welfare considerations.
3. AR v BR (Re Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 and Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973) [2023] EWFC 76 (13 March 2023) A case concerning the interaction between the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 and the Domicile and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1973 in jurisdictional disputes within divorce proceedings.
4. SA v FA [2022] EWFC 115 (09 September 2022)The first case to consider whether England should defer jurisdiction to the Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court on forum conveniens grounds. The decision included detailed examination of the world’s newest family law jurisdiction and the domicile of the parties.
5. GC v AS (No. 2) [2022] EWHC 310 (Fam) (09 February 2022) A highly complex first-instance determination following success in the Court of Appeal. The judgment considered whether the English courts should extend jurisdiction to British children living in a war zone in Libya, undertaking detailed analysis of the parens patriae doctrine and the scope of the court’s protective jurisdiction.

Court of Appeal

1. S (Children: Parentage and Jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897 (27 July 2023) EWCA Civ 897One of the most complex children cases of 2023, addressing two important questions: the definition of a parent under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, and the extent of English jurisdiction over children residing abroad. The firm was successful, and the judgment is now a leading authority on both issues.
2. S (Children), Re (Inherent Jurisdiction: Setting Aside Return Order) [2021] EWCA Civ 1223 (13 August 2021) A significant decision concerning the circumstances in which the court may set aside a return order under the inherent jurisdiction in international children cases.
3. GC v AS (No. 2) [2022] EWHC 310 (Fam) (09 February 2022) A Court of Appeal matter concerning British children residing in Libya, resulting in an appeal being allowed against a decision of Mostyn J. The case clarified the availability of the parens patriae jurisdiction where it had not been raised at first instance.

Supreme Court

Unger & Anor v Ul-Hasan (deceased) & Anor [2023] UKSC 22 (28 June 2023)

A landmark Supreme Court decision addressing the ability to pursue financial remedy claims after the death of a party, with significant implications for international estates and long-running cross-border financial disputes.

• UK, London - Alexandra Tribe [email protected]|+44 (0)207 846 5451
• UAE, Abu Dhabi and Dubai - Byron James [email protected]|+44 (0)207 846 5445
• Asia, Singapore - Sonny Patel [email protected]|+44 (0)207 846 5470(UK) |+65 (0) 6829 7177(Singapore)