In our increasingly global world family relationships span jurisdictions: family trusts are set up in one state, when the parties live elsewhere; couples enter in to pre-nups in one place, and then move to another, and they divorce in a jurisdiction that is different from the place where their assets are held. What do we, as divorce, property, trust and private client practitioners do in these situations, or rather, what should we be doing.

Hosted by the Family Law Committee of the CLA, the International Academy of Family Lawyers and the Family Law Bar Association of England and Wales this symposium will bring together civil litigators and practitioners specialising in asset recovery and enforcement and family lawyers to explore the knotty issues that exist for globally mobile clients with complicated financial lives that span the world. There will be a particular focus on jurisdictions where offshore trust structures are regularly employed.

From planning, and consideration of the jurisdiction issues that exist in family law matters, to the issues that arise when it comes to recognition of agreements and court orders, through to asset recovery, enforcement and the impact of sanctions, this will be a symposium that will focus on the practical issues that arise for family lawyers who find themselves dealing with civil litigators in other jurisdictions, and for civil litigators who find themselves instructed by family lawyers!

This event will be held in the wings of the Commonwealth Law Conference 2025 on Saturday 5th April with a cost to attend listed below.

Full delegate rate: £75 GBP
Student Rate: £50 GBP

Please email secretariat@commonwealthlawyersevents.com to register to attend.

Sessions

Family Law Symposium co-hosted by the CLA Family Law Committee, IAFL and the FLBA “Show me the Money” Family Law, Trusts and Recognition and Enforcement
Time: 12.45 – 1.00pm CET
Speaker: Rachael Kelsey – President, International Academy of Family Lawyers

Family Law Symposium Welcome
Time: 1.00 – 1.15pm CET
Speaker: Rachael Kelsey – President, International Academy of Family Lawyers

Session 1: Jurisdiction in family law matters where there are financial elements abroad
Time: 1.15 – 2.15pm CET

Session 2: Recognition (or not) of orders and agreements deriving from family law matters
Time: 2.15 – 3.15pm CET

Teas/Coffee break
3.15 – 3.45pm CET

Session 3: Asset Recovery, Enforcement and Sanctions
Time: 3.45 – 4.55pm CET

Closing
Time: 4.55 – 5.00pm CET

Family Symposium Drinks Reception for Symposium delegates
Time: 5.00 – 6.00pm CET