With ongoing sanctions regimes complicating ultra-high-net-worth family law in England and Wales, the industry has been forced to evolve. However, it continues to thrive, and with the number of cases flowing through the courts it shows no signs of slowing down.

Commenting in Citywealth, Partner Renato Labi outlines that the world of family law is set to prosper throughout the coming year, with London remaining the divorce capital of the world.

“The world of divorce never stands still. When one source of work dries up as with the wealthy Russians, others expand. We have had work with prenups and post-nups, US and Asian UHNW’s. In 2024 the Supreme Court criticised the procedure for financial claims following a foreign divorce, but these claims are still making their expensive way through the family courts. And the Supreme Court – which rarely considers family cases – will be in action again, this time on Standish, a sorry tale of wealth planning gone wrong.

“All of this is grist for the lawyers’ mill, and London remains a sought-after jurisdiction for big money divorces. Other matters to look out for include the extent to which a party’s abusive conduct should be penalised monetarily. It was once thought that this was a very high bar but with the growing awareness of coercive and controlling behaviour it is a global hot topic. An interesting year awaits.”

Read Renato’s comments in Citywealth, here.