The International Family Law Group LLP

The International Family Law Group LLP is a specialist law firm that looks after the needs of international and national families. It is respected for its work on children and financial matters. Clients include ultra-high-net/high-net-worth individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, CEOs, media, entertainment, and sports personalities.

Managing Partner:

Lucy Loizou undertakes complex divorce and separation cases involving partnerships, corporates and trusts. She specialises in acting in high net worth financial cases. Lucy is a specialist in financial provision for children disputes. Lucy is also a fellow of the IAFL and sits as an elected member of Resolution's National Committee.

Partners:

Lucy Greenwood undertakes complex finance and forum cases and is a specialist in pre-and post-marital agreements.

Helen Blackburn is regularly instructed by the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) in its capacity as the central authority in England and Wales to bring proceedings in relation to child abduction. She was the former chair of the Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA). Helen is also a fellow of the IAFL.

Michael Allum undertakes complex international issues and particularly those of high net worth. He has a particular interest in jurisdictional issues and forum disputes. Michael also undertakes many cases involving financial provision in the English court following an overseas divorce (known as Part III). Michael is a member of the editorial board of the Financial Remedies Journal.

James Netto specialises in all areas of children law, with particular expertise in international children matters. He is regularly instructed by the International child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) in its capacity as the central authority in England and Wales to bring proceedings in relation to child abduction. He is Chair of the Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA).

Sarah Cornes undertakes all aspects of divorce and family work for married, unmarried and LGBT+ couples in finance, forum and children cases. Sarah's advises is in high net worth finance cases and particularly those concerning complex businesses and trusts and with an international dimension. She also handles pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

Special Counsel:

Prof David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb is one of the country’s leading experts in finance and forum cases. He specialises in HNW cases, particularly those with complex issues and jurisdictional issues. He is an English accredited solicitor, mediator, family arbitrator, deputy district judge of the Central Family Court in London and an Australian NSW solicitor qualified in 2003. He is a hugely respected and sought-after lecturer and author in England and abroad. In 2014, David was appointed an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours for services to international family law in 2014. He was made a visiting professor at the University of Law in 2015 and honorary professor at the University of Leicester in 2017. Appointed King's Counsel (Hons) March 2022. He is a member of many other committees and professional organisations.

Senior Associate & Mediator:

Agata Osinska

Associates:

Rosa Schofield

Georgina Huse

Solicitor:

Annie Boxer

Types of Work Undertaken:

International finance and forum:

• iFLG advises on jurisdictional issues for divorce and financial aspects of a relationship breakdown. iFLG also advises in relation to the enforcement of financial and pensions orders made in this jurisdiction and abroad. This firm advises on the recognition of foreign marriages and foreign divorces and is frequently asked to provide expert reports to foreign lawyers who require advice about English law and act as witnesses in foreign court proceedings.

Divorce and the dissolution of relationships:

• iFLG undertakes all aspects of divorce, judicial separation, annulments, termination of civil partnerships and break-up of cohabitation relationships.

Financial resolution on relationship breakdown:

• iFLG advises on financial arrangements before and during marriage, on separation, divorce or termination of registered civil partnerships and for cohabitants. The firm investigates disclosure including wealth held behind trusts, companies and offshore assets. It specialises in acting for high net worth individuals.

Marital/separation agreements:

• iFLG advises in marital/civil partnership agreements, separation agreements and cohabitation contracts.

International child issues:

• As well as handling all issues concerning children (child arrangement orders, parental responsibility, child support, declarations of parentage, declarations of legitimacy, Schedule 1 applications and adoption, the children team have much gravitas in the areas of child relocation applications (national and international) and child abduction (Hague and non-Hague).The team also specialises in the recognition of foreign orders, enforcing child support abroad, inter-country adoption, paternity tracing, fraud and surrogacy.

Practice Areas:

Separation & Divorce

• Divorce
• Jurisdiction/Forum Choice: Where to have Family Court Proceedings
• Foreign Marriages and Divorces
• Civil/Registered Partnerships

Children

• Adoption and Surrogacy
• Parental Responsibilities
• Arrangements for Children
• Child Abduction
• Child Relocation: Moving Abroad with a Child
• Cross Border Enforcement

Finances

• Financial Outcomes
• Financial Provision for Children
• Enforcing a Financial Order Made Abroad
• Financial Provision after a Foreign Divorce
• Relationship Agreements
• Dispute Resolution
• Unmarried/Cohabiting/De Facto Couples

Languages Spoken:

• Greek
• Spanish
• French
• German
• Polish
• Dutch
• Bulgarian
• Urdu
• Punjabi

Office:

• Address: Octagon Point, 5 Cheapside, St. Paul's, London, EC2V 6AA.
• Email: [email protected]
• Tel: +44 (0)20 3178 5668