Branch Austin McCormick LLP

Head of Family Department | Partner

Saika heads the Family Law department at this respected Central London practice.  She has more than 25 years experience in representing spouses, cohabitees, same sex partners, civil partners, parents, and grandparents.  Saika adopts a “full service” approach so that her clients are not compelled to instruct separate solicitors to deal with different aspects of their case. There will sometimes be a cross over in a client’s case between the client’s financial claim and a child arrangements application. Saika has the advantage of being able to represent her clients on all aspects of their cases with a joined-up approach so that the consequences of settlements or orders on child arrangements for example can be considered in conjunction with orders and settlements in a financial case. Her extensive case load includes but is not limited to the following:

Divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships

Legal issues affecting cohabitees, same sex couples and civil partners

Financial disputes between spouses and between cohabitees including disputes over second homes at home and abroad, business interests and property portfolios, pensions, and investments

Wealth protection – nuptial and cohabitation agreements and trust deeds

Arrangements for the children including dealing with urgent child abduction cases, relocation, and other cases with an international element.

Domestic Abuse

Parental Orders in cases of Surrogacy and Adoption Orders

While the focus of Saika’s practice is financial claims on divorce including claims with an international dimension, her broad experience ranges from advising clients on complex cases with significant assets at home and abroad to more straightforward matters such financial disputes involving a family home or one or two properties.  Her clients come from diverse backgrounds from high-net-worth entrepreneurs, bankers, professionals, academics to small business owners and stay at home mothers.

Saika was instructed by a father in his successful Court of Appeal case of AA v NA and Kab in which Mr Justice Mostyn gave detailed guidance on the circumstances in which a court should consider an appeal against findings of fact in domestic abuse cases.

Saika was instructed by a father (a professional footballer) in the case of Re TW and TM (Minors) which was a successful appeal against an order for child maintenance top up.

Saika is an accredited Collaborative Lawyer and is a panel member of the Law Society’s Family Law Advanced scheme. She is also a member of Resolution, and she is featured on “Wiselaw” under the 28 Best Divorce Lawyers and Family Solicitors in London.