Emma Hatley

Partner in the Divorce and Family Department

 

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• +44 (0)20 7822 8024
• ehatley@stewartslaw.com

Specialisations

Emma has a growing reputation as the best technical lawyer of her generation and has also been praised in the Legal 500 for her "outstanding intellect, hard work and constructive approach". She is praised as being "assertive without ever being aggressive".

Emma has a wide breadth of experience in all areas of family breakdown but with particular focus on the associated financial issues. A significant number of her cases involve trusts, family businesses, inherited wealth and tracing assets. Emma has considerable expertise in negotiating and drafting pre- and post- nuptial agreements, both in a domestic and international context. Emma advises on all aspects of cohabitation claims and private law children issues, including applications to relocate internationally.

As a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Emma is commended for having "a strong interest in the subtleties of international forum shopping in family law".

Emma is a trained Collaborative Lawyer and enthusiastically embraces alternatives to the traditional court process, if it is appropriate for the case.

Emma is Highly Recommended in the Spears Wealth Management Legal Index 2010 of leading Family Solicitors and appears in the Honours List in the Citywealth Leaders List 2011. She is ranked in both leading legal directories, the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners 2011.

Emma has featured regularly in the media commenting on family law issues, including appearances on BBC News, Sky News, ITN News and Radio 5 Live. She contributes to the Sweet & Maxwell textbook 'Financial Provision in Family Matters' and has lectured on various issues, including in relation to the niche practice areas of Trusts & Divorce and Marital Agreements.

Career

Emma graduated from Cambridge University (1993). She joined Stewarts Law in May 2009 after 14 years at Withers.

Emma was pivotally involved in the reported cases of Sorrell [2005] EWHC 717 (Fam) on exceptional contribution and Charman [2006] EWCA 1879 concerning departure from equality and international trust issues.

Emma was presented with a Lawyer of the Year award in 2007/2008 by Spears Wealth Management.

Memberships

International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers;
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals;
Resolution.

Accreditations

Resolution Accredited Collaborative Lawyer.

Personal

Emma is married with two children.