Biography
Michelle is our Family & Childcare Partner. She has specialised in family and childcare since early 2000 and has a considerable amount of experience in dealing with issues that arise following the breakdown of a relationship, including the financial consequences of a divorce and or separation. This includes resolving arrangements for children, as well as cases involving their relocation both in the UK and abroad. She has a keen interest in complex international cases which often involve cross-border disputes with medium to high-net-worth assets and has supported many families returning to the UK to reside permanently or assisted parties with their plans to move abroad. With her extensive experience of taking cases to court where required, she is also known for her practical approach to dealing with matters on a conciliatory basis.
Michelle also has many years of expertise advising parties prior to marriage with the drafting of pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreements or cohabitation agreements and often compares the process to taking out an insurance policy with the hope of avoiding the potential risks of a messy and unnecessary costly separation or divorce.
She was a keen supporter of the non-fault divorce campaign and has supported Resolutions outside the Houses of Parliament to promote ongoing campaigns to seek the very much needed change to the divorce process.
As well as being a member of Resolution and Association or European Lawyers she continues to campaign for improvements to the family justice system.
Michelle also runs a small Will department offering client advice on ensuring their last wishes regarding possessions and property are carried out in the event of their death.
Interests: In her spare time, Michelle enjoys walking with her dogs, horse riding and socialising with friends and family.
Some recent highlights include:
| Advising on a High Net worth Pre Nuptial Agreement to which included many assets held in Uk and Overseas. | |
| Advising on an application for leave to remove a child from the UK. | |
| Advising a party on a complicated variation of spousal maintenance order before the Central Family Court sitting in London. | |
| Advising on an international client who has assets worth over £30m held in the UK following separation with her husband. | |
| Advising on a cohabitation agreement of a high net worth client and his new partner to whom seek to cohabit in the foreseeable future and emphasising the importance of recording the parties common intention and their pre owned assets prior to cohabitation. | |
| Advising on a separation agreement to which includes properties and two family run businesses held in the UK. |