Stewarts Law LLP

Stephen Foster

Head of Divorce and Family department. Head of Department Stephen Foster is praised in The Times “for leading Stewarts’ phalanx of family law lawyers to the top of the pack” and as an “intelligent and superbly talented litigator”. The Legal 500 says he has assembled a “scarily bright” team noted for its knack in “unravelling complicated trust structures and assets hidden behind companies”. His clients include figures from the City and entrepreneurs, and many of his cases have an international dimension including Europe, the US and the Middle-East. Stephen is very adept at dealing sensitively with all aspects of children’s matters, including international relocation.

Emma Hatley

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Emma has achieved top ranking in the Directories as a ‘Star Individual’ and has a reputation as the best technical family lawyer of her generation. Admired for her outstanding intellect, efficiency and constructive approach, clients appreciate Emma’s strategic vision and the passion she brings to secure the best outcome for them. Emma is praised as a “superb, no-nonsense and efficient lawyer who can cope with big-ticket litigation". Emma advises on complex and often high profile matters for high net worth individuals, their families and partners. Her cases typically involve an international dimension and she often works in coordination with other cross-border trusted advisers, particularly in offshore jurisdictions and America. Emma has a breadth of experience in all areas of family breakdown but with particular focus on the associated financial issues. She has expertise in jurisdictional disputes, enforcement and injunctive relief. The majority of Emma’s cases involve global assets in the range of £10 million to over £100 million, and concern asset tracing, trust structures, inherited wealth and owner-controlled businesses. Emma advises regularly in negotiating and drafting pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, both in a domestic and international context. Emma has a leading practice in all private law children matters, especially international relocation. Although Emma is proud of a proven track record for discretion and achieving a negotiated settlement in most cases, she has been pivotally involved in a number of reported cases including the landmark relocation case Re C [2015], where she successfully represented the mother. Recent cases include: Advising family office on an ultra-high net worth ($1b) international prenuptial agreement coordinating advice in Middle East, USA and Cayman. Advising wife of co-founder of private equity firm in case involving substantial assets held through complex corporate structures across several jurisdictions as well as an extensive fine art collection. Significant issues regarding illiquidity and post separation accrual. Representing successful British entrepreneur in litigation involving wealth of £400m with issues of premarital wealth/latent value of business interests and Special Contribution. Advising a business associate of the husband in a high net worth matter involving substantial assets held through complex corporate structures across several jurisdictions to defend claims made by the wife as to the beneficial interest of shares in his legal name and/or held by companies under his control. Advising mother in international paternity and relocation proceedings, including to defend allegations of child abduction. Advising father in case involving parental alienation and allegations of coercive control.

Lewis Powers

AssociateLewis advises on all areas of family law. He has twice been recognised as a “Rising Star” in The Legal 500 (2020 and 2021). The 2020 edition says: “Lewis Powers is bright and is on the up. He is efficient, hardworking and will go far.”Lewis has been involved in family law cases in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He has experience in all areas of family law and has advised and assisted on complex financial settlements, cohabitation disputes, child arrangements (including international relocation) and Family Law Act injunctions. He has assisted on a number of interim applications such as orders for legal services and interim maintenance. He has recent experience of private FDRs (Financial Directions Appointments). Lewis assisted on the landmark financial case of Sharp v Sharp [2017] EWCA Civ 408, concerning the correct approach when dividing wealth in short and dual career marriages Lewis recently acted for the applicant father in an international relocation matter and has represented the respondent in Hague Convention proceedings (international child abduction)

Richard Hogwood

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. The Legal 500 has described Richard as "ferociously clever and very solution focused" and a "star in the making". Richard focuses particularly on negotiating the financial aspects of divorce (and civil partnership dissolution), separation and preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Richard focuses particularly on negotiating the financial aspects of divorce (and civil partnership dissolution), separation and preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Often, these matters will have an international element and, with pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements especially, Richard is accustomed to liaising with lawyers in several different jurisdictions. Reflective of his private client background, Richard is also regularly involved in cases involving complex tax and trust issues. Richard acted for HRH Prince Louis of Luxembourg in the successful application for a reporting restrictions order relating to family proceedings – [2017] EWHC 3095 (Fam). Richard also acted for the wife in XW v XH 2017 EWFC 76 (and XW v XH (No.2) (Reporting Restrictions Order) [2018] EWFC 44) in which the wife was awarded one of the highest recorded English divorce settlements.  In addition the case dealt with issues of special contribution, privacy and whether foreign marital contracts should be treated as pre-nuptial agreements. At the Court of Appeal the wife was successful, exceptionally, in her application for the reporting restrictions order granted in the High Court to be maintained (XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 549).  Furthermore her lump sum award was increased from £115m to £145m (XW v XH [2019] EWCA Civ 2262).

Matthew Humphries

Partner in the Divorce and Family department. Matthew has specialised exclusively for over 25 years in resolving financial and children issues arising upon divorce or family breakdown. He represents high net worth individuals, or their spouses / partners, frequently in cases involving complex financial structures (often with an international element) or in cases where there are disagreements regarding arrangements for children. Matthew also regularly advises upon the negotiation of nuptial agreements. Matthew is a senior partner in the Divorce and Family department at Stewarts, the pre-eminent divorce and family practice in England that is top ranked in the legal directories. Whilst Matthew is known for his expertise in complex litigation, he is also a renowned negotiator determined to settle cases whenever possible to do so in the best interests of his clients. He is a keen proponent of arbitration. His practice encompasses high value financial claims, including those on behalf of the children of unmarried parents, as well as resolving areas of disagreement over arrangements for children. He attracts particular recognition for his understanding of clients and their needs, together with his prolific legal knowledge allied with his skills and strategic thinking. Matthew has conducted significant recent cases before the Family Court including: IR v OR [2022] – acting for the wife, achieving an award of over £70m. The case dealt with the treatment of wealth generated before the marriage and from the sale of a family business, as well as the enforceability of a pre-nuptial agreement. Fuchs [2022] – acting for a billionaire husband in response to the wife’s application for interim maintenance of £4.2m a year, demonstrating the level of interim maintenance payable in very wealthy cases. WC v HC [2022] – acting for the husband in a case involving pre and post nuptial agreements and inherited wealth. The case also considered the relevance of future (significant) inherited wealth pursuant to forced heirship provisions. DR v UG [2023] – acting for the husband where the case involved arguments about his ‘special contribution’ and post separation endeavour where the main asset increased in value by a multiple of more than seven times after the date of separation.

Carly Kinch

Partner Carly has significant experience with all aspects of family law. Her work focuses predominantly on the resolution of complex, high value financial issues arising on divorce or separation as well as parental disputes. Carly specialises in all areas of family law, with a particular emphasis on the resolution of complex issues arising on divorce. She also regularly advises on nuptial agreements and wealth protection. Carly has extensive experience in financial cases with an international element or those involving trusts or asset holding structures, inherited wealth or businesses, where issues of valuation and liquidity arise. Her clients include entrepreneurs, business owners, landowners, city professionals and their spouses/partners. Carly is equally adept at resolving complex parental disputes and has extensive experience in dealing with residence, contact, relocation and parental responsibility issues.