The International Family Law Group LLP

The International Family Law Group LLP (iFLG) specialises in looking after the interests of national and international families and children. The team includes specialist accredited English lawyers, mediators, collaborative lawyers, arbitrators and Australian lawyers.

Lucy Loizou  is Managing Partner. She undertakes complex divorce and separation cases involving partnerships, corporates and trusts. She specialises in acting in high-net-worth financial cases.  Lucy hosts a fortnightly family law advice programme on local radio which celebrates its 14th year of broadcasting.

Lucy is also a specialist in cases concerning financial provision for children disputes under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989.

Lucy currently sits as an elected member of Resolution’s National Committee.

Lucy Greenwood is a partner and undertakes complex finance and forum cases and is a specialist in pre-and post-marital agreements, including generational wealth planning. Lucy is regularly asked to provide legal opinions on the application of English family law in cases progressing overseas.

Lucy won the ‘Family Lawyer of the Year’ award at the CityWealth Magic Circle Award Ceremony 2024.

Lucy is a member of Resolution.

Helen Blackburn is a partner and renowned child law specialist and recognised expert in international child abduction. She 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).

She is the author of three chapters (Child abduction, international adoption, and legal aid) in ‘The International Family Law Practice’ (LexisNexis 6th edition Aug 2021).

Helen is a member of Resolution.

Michael Allum is a partner in the forum and finance team. He 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). He is the author of two chapters in ‘The International Family Law Practice’ (LexisNexis 6th edition Aug 2021).

Michael is also co-editor of the Financial Remedies Journal.

Michael is a member of Resolution.

James Netto  is a partner and specialises in all areas of children law, with particular expertise in international children matters, and frequently in child abduction cases. 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).

James received 'Family Lawyer of the Year - Partner' in the CityWealth Future Leaders awards 2021.

James was awarded a 'Highly Commended' in the category of 'International Family Lawyer of the Year' LexisNexis UK Family Law Awards Nov 2022.

James was named as one of the eprivate 'NextGen Leaders' 2023.

James is a member of Resolution.

Sarah Cornes  is a partner and 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 international dimension. She also handles pre- and post-nuptial agreements. She acts for parents in international and domestic children disputes.

Sarah has always been on the innovative side of family law and whether as a mediator, collaborative lawyer or solicitor.

Prof David Hodson OBE KC(Hons) MCIArb is special counsel and one of the country’s leading experts in finance and forum cases. He specialises in HNW cases and 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 and barrister qualified in 2003. He is a hugely respected and sought-after lecturer and author in England and abroad. He is the author of his publication ‘The International Family Law Practice’ (LexisNexis 6th edition Aug 2021).

In 2014 David was awarded an OBE for his ‘services to international family law’ and in March 2022 was awarded an Honorary King’s Counsel (KC Honoris Causa) for his ’outstanding work and ongoing contribution to Family Law’.

He was made a visiting professor at the University of Law in 2015 and honorary professor at the University of Leicester in 2017. He is a member of many other committees and professional organisations.

Rosa Schofield is an associate and her practice covers all key areas of family law, including divorce, financial separation, cross border and domestic issues concerning children. Rosa is regularly instructed in high conflict children matters for international families and cases involving complex allegations of domestic abuse. Rosa seeks to resolve disputes in a constructive manner, focusing on out-of-court resolution wherever possible.

She has recently been appointed to the Publications Committee of Resolution and holds several academic accolades, including: The Stephen Cretney Family Law Prize 2018, The Michelmores Land Law Prize 2017, and The Oxford University Press Law Prize 2017.

Types of work undertaken
International finance and forum: iFLG provide advice as to which jurisdiction is the most beneficial forum for divorce or other proceedings. iFLG advises in relation to the enforcement of orders made in this jurisdiction and abroad. iFLG also advise 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. Our lawyers have also been involved in giving specialist legal advice concerning the law applicable to this jurisdiction in evidence in family proceedings abroad.

Divorce and the dissolution of relationships: iFLG undertakes all aspects of divorce, recognition of marriages and divorces, 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 alongside other experts in other fields, disclosure including wealth held behind trusts, companies, and offshore assets.

Marital/separation agreements: iFLG drafts marital/civil partnership agreements, post and pre-nuptial agreements, separation agreements and cohabitation contracts.

International child issues: iFLG advises on child relocation and international parental abduction. Child abduction (Hague and non-Hague), recognition of foreign contact and residence orders, permission to take a child for a holiday abroad, enforcing child support abroad and intercountry adoption. This area of law is handled by a team of highly skilled professionals who work, on occasions, around the clock when their cases require it. An emergency child abduction line is operated by members of the team therefore providing 24-hour cover for parents fearing their child is going to be, or has been, abducted to another country. The 24-hour ‘out of hours’ judiciary is often used in case of an emergency where time is of the essence in preventing an abduction.

Resolution by out-of-court settlements: iFLG conducts resolutions through negotiation, mediation, directive mediation, collaborative law, early neutral evaluation and arbitration.

Services to other law firms and other organisations: iFLG acts as London agents for English, UK and foreign law firms on international family law cases and complex domestic cases; and as consultants to other law practices and organisations. The firm regularly provides expert legal reports or attends court to give evidence in foreign proceedings in relation to the law of England and Wales. iFLG also presents seminars, speaks at conferences to other firms (in the UK and abroad) and writes many articles on topical family law issues for a wide range of publications.