Anna Shadbolt
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I am a family lawyer specialising in complex financial remedy claims – dividing assets on divorce. I enjoy working with other jurisdictions, for example in enforcing English orders overseas, obtaining disclosure from offshore trustees, obtaining expert advice on foreign law or tracing assets for the purposes of English financial proceedings. I am also experienced in financial claims for children, and trust of land claims regarding property ownership.
I am a pragmatic and constructive lawyer. I aim to settle cases and not to increase tensions between the parties. If there is a need to litigate then I approach this with care, commercial sensitivity and professionalism.
Unfortunately, I cannot provide subsidized legal aid. For legal aid work, you can contact my office for a referral to another team member.
Relevant experiences and positions
I have a wealth of experience in family law, and I am an accredited specialist in complex financial remedies and also cohabitation law by Resolution, an organisation of specialist family lawyers. I am recommended as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the Legal 500 Directory of Recommended Lawyers (2024). I am a CityWealth Future Leaders award winner (2022) for my work on complex financial cases. A number of the cases on which I am instructed have been reported by the senior courts, most notably the Supreme Court case of Unger and another (in substitution for Hasan) v Ul Hasan (deceased and another) [2023] UKSC 22, which won Family Law Case of the Year at the Lexis Nexis Family Law awards in 2023. The Supreme Court summary is here: https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2021-0159.html
I am regularly called upon to write articles for legal journals (for example Today’s Family Lawyer, Solicitors Journal, Family Law Journal), prepare training webinars for other lawyers or various other professionals (for example training for trustees on the English court’s treatment of offshore trust assets) and present to the general public on family law issues.
I, and my team at Dawson Cornwell, play an important role in the development of family law, and I am proud to be a Partner in that team. We help shape our law, through our expertise in dealing with the most complicated cases and our constructive, practical and holistic approach. We are known internationally for our work and we strive to obtain the very best outcomes for our clients.
Some personal questions
What do you like most about working as an international divorce lawyer?
The job is constantly challenging, and fascinating. I enjoy the ability to learn about law in other countries, life in those countries, and to collaborate with foreign lawyers. Every week I learn something new. Our world is becoming more international, with couples living in various different countries, having assets across jurisdictions, having dual nationality. It is important that our law moves with societal change, and each of my cases helps me bring the court’s attention to our ever-changing world.
What is your advice to young lawyers who work on international divorce cases?
Where there are international issues (particularly competing jurisdictions for divorce), always take advice from foreign lawyers at the earliest opportunity possible. The decision about where to issue divorce proceedings is key and it is important to allow the client to make a fully informed decision. Also, if there is a risk that your court order cannot be enforced in the other jurisdiction where the assets are located then always take advice on this at the outset. No-one wants an order that isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Finally, enjoy these cases – they are some of the most interesting in our area of work!
What makes international divorce cases different from other divorce cases?
Greater preparation and help from foreign practitioners is needed, because the English court does not know about life in other countries. Where one party lives abroad, it is crucial that the court understands the economy in that country and has a broad understanding of the way of life. For example, details of the cost of living, housing, tax regimes, child maintenance obligations where the child is habitually resident abroad may be necessary. Also, if there is a separation of property regime or pre-nuptial agreement the court will need to know the circumstances in which this was entered into and what is ‘normal’ in that country. Essentially, since the court is not in familiar territory when dealing with other countries, much more research is needed in international divorce cases.
What do you believe to be one of the biggest problems when dealing with international divorces?
The court system is under great strain. There are not enough judges to hear all the cases, there are long delays between hearings, and the hearing time itself can be limited. This can affect international cases because there is more likely to be expert evidence by foreign practitioners in such cases, and the court sometimes does not have the time to delve into that advice and understand its implications fully. Such an important decision about how to divide assets should not be rushed. More judges are needed to help deal with the enormous number of cases, and more State funding of the court system would ease the strain.
What is your advice to people who are entering into an international marriage?
It is a privilege to experience life as an international couple. It can, however, have its complications if the relationship breaks down. If there is a possibility that you will live in different countries during your relationship, or your assets will be spread across countries, then you make sure that you are informed about what could happen if you and your partner separate. Countries divide assets and deal with income claims very differently and it is wise to have knowledge of this from the outset.