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Michael Gouriet Withers


FOCUS Complex cases withersworldwide.com


Georgina Hamblin Vardags


FOCUS UHV jurisdiction battles


contact@vardags.com +44 (0)20 7458 4301 vardags.com


Few family lawyers balance the emotive and technical aspects of the trade as well as Michael Gouriet, whose clients have included landed estate owners, politicians, film and music stars, and their partners. Cases range from £1 billion-plus matters on behalf of Middle Eastern families to intricate cohabitation matters. ‘In my experience you may have to take it so far down the court route to get to a solution, but matters shouldn’t go all the way to court unless there are serious issues,’ he tells Spear’s. A large amount of the work that


Gouriet conducts is on behalf of international families, with an increasing number of cases involving third-party intervention from trustees and companies.


Adviser profile Michael advises on all aspects of divorce and family law (including pre- and post-nuptial agreements) with particular focus on the resolution of financial issues for wealthy individuals, whether married or unmarried and usually with international interests (including clients from Europe, US, Middle East and Russia). Michael also has extensive expertise of child law matters, including international relocation. He is also a qualified Arbitrator. Michael has acted in numerous


complex high-value divorce cases involving trusts and businesses. His clients include business owners and entrepreneurs, private equity, city professionals, landowners, sports and music stars, politicians, and their spouses/partners.


Georgina Hamblin is head of Vardags’ London family team. She often joins forces with founder Ayesha Vardag and Simon McKirgan to represent clients in complex, high-profile and international cases. The Vardags team are no strangers to divorce battles with heavyweights such as Baroness Shackleton, Diana Parker, Helen Ward and Stephen Foster. Hamblin specialises in cases where


‘cutting-edge’ legal solutions are involved. Within the often fractious field of ultra-high-value divorces, she focuses on jurisdictional battles. Notably, she was instrumental in helping to lead Pauline Chai to victory against her husband in a battle spanning two hemispheres in the extraordinary case of Chai v Khoo.


Adviser profile Hamblin is committed to achieving the best results for her clients whilst preserving vital, priceless family relationships. She offers the best emotional and legal support available, focusing on the practical elements of a case, offering reassurances as well as strong tactical advice to her clients. Recognised as a leading voice and


go-to lawyer for jurisdictional disputes, Hamblin uses her skills and expertise to slot together the unique jigsaw pieces of each case. A well-respected thought leader in her field, Hamblin has authored articles featured in The Times and The Independent, and provided expert commentary in The Telegraph, The Guardian, the Evening Standard, Daily Mail, Marie Claire, Grazia and on BBC News.


Charmaine Hast Wedlake Bell


FOCUSHigh-profile, big-money cases wedlakebell.com


Wedlake Bell’s Charmaine Hast is a specialist in cases that have the potential to attract a lot of interest, but privacy is always paramount. ‘If it’s a particularly high-profile case, we pride ourselves on confidentiality during this stressful time and even take the client out through a separate entrance to avoid the press,’ she says. Hast established the firm’s family law department in 2011, and it has


gained an impressive reputation. ‘More than a few billionaires have come by with very complex cases,’ she says. Hast is also one of a handful of family law arbitrators, allowing her to hand down binding judgements in financial matters. Her favourite part of the job? ‘Winning,’ she says.


Adviser profile Charmaine Hast is a partner at Wedlake Bell LLP where she heads the family department which she set up in 2011. The department has experienced significant growth over the years and now consists of a team of 10. She is regarded as an expert in English Family Law and is one of the few Family Solicitor finance Arbitrators (CIArb). She read a BA (Psychology and English) and LLB degrees. Charmaine is always conscious of the need to combine the legal and


psychological factor to facilitate advantageous results in financially trying times, which is probably one of the most stressful experiences many people will endure. Her expertise is advising on big-money and big-name divorces, cross-border money matters, with a particular interest in trusts and pensions. Her practice covers divorce, separation, civil partnerships, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, co-habitation agreements, children issues, abductions, international law and jurisdiction races. Charmaine has represented a vast number of public figures including pop stars, actors and actresses, members of parliament, well-known sportsmen and women, TV personalities, entrepreneurs, medical practitioners, bankers, accountants and other clients who require efficient no-nonsense financial advice. She makes every endeavour to ensure that she receives no publicity from these representations, in deference to the clients’ need for confidentiality during a period in their lives of emotional and financial turmoil. Charmaine, having previously practiced as an Attorney of the


High Court of South Africa, has a number of reported cases in South Africa and England and Wales. She is a regular speaker at conferences, is quoted extensively in the national press and has from time to time appeared on national television.


FAMILY LAWYERS


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