About
- FIRM OVERVIEW Expatriate Law is a boutique international family law firm advising high-net-worth and globally mobile clients from offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Singapore. Founded in 2010, the firm acts exclusively in complex cross-border family matters for business owners, executives and international families whose personal and financial lives span multiple jurisdictions. The firm's reputation rests on technical excellence, strategic coordination across legal systems, and discreet, solutions-focused representation. Its lawyers are recognised thought-leaders in international family law — speaking at leading conferences, contributing to specialist publications, and shaping case law at the highest levels of the English courts, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court. ### AREAS OF PRACTICE - High-value financial remedies Divorce and financial proceedings involving multi-jurisdictional assets, complex corporate and trust structures, and offshore considerations spanning the Middle East, Asia, Europe, South Africa and the Americas. The firm regularly handles matters requiring cross-border enforcement, cryptoasset valuations and co-ordination of parallel foreign proceedings. - International children law Relocation, international child abduction (non-Hague), parental responsibility disputes, and urgent protective orders in cases involving multiple legal systems. The firm has particular depth in cases raising safeguarding concerns or requiring the court's protective jurisdiction over children residing abroad. - Jurisdiction and forum strategy Strategic advice on choice of court, competing proceedings and governing law across England and Wales, the UAE, Asia-Pacific, South Africa, the Americas and Europe. The firm is regularly instructed where time-sensitive forum decisions have material consequences for outcome. - Expatriate and globally mobile families Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements with international elements, asset protection planning, and specialist guidance for clients relocating between jurisdictions — including the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South Africa and the United States. ### Languages - English - Portuguese - French - Tamil ### Memberships - International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) - Resolution - UIA – Union Internationale des Avocats - Commonwealth Lawyers Association ### Staffing Figures - 9 Partners - 7 Solicitors
Office locations
London
London
Expatriate Law 2 Eaton Gate, London SW1W 9BJ
Practice areas
Lawyers in this office
Alexandra Tribe
Alexandra Tribe is the founding Managing Partner of Expatriate Law and a leading practitioner in international family law. She advises HNW and UHNW clients on complex cross-border financial remedy proceedings, multi-jurisdictional divorce disputes, and matters involving sophisticated asset structures spanning several legal systems simultaneously. Her practice has particular depth in prenuptial and postnuptial agreements with international elements, forum strategy, and the co-ordination of parallel proceedings. · Family
Byron James
Partner and Head of Middle East at Expatriate Law. · Family
Eliza Hebditch
Eliza Hebditch is a Senior Partner at Expatriate Law's London office, and has been described by Legal 500 as 'a shining star'. Eliza's practice centres on complex cross-border financial disputes, jurisdiction battles, high-value prenuptial agreements, and contested private children matters for HNW and UHNW clients. She has particular experience in matters with Swiss or US connections. Her client portfolio spans aristocracy, royalty, international sports figures and prominent entrepreneurs. She is widely recognised for her ability to navigate intricate trust structures, asset tracing challenges, and the most demanding cross-border divorce and financial remedy disputes. · Family
Lauren Carmichael
Lauren Carmichael is a Partner at Expatriate Law with a distinctive specialism in matters involving England, South Africa and the UAE, having lived and practised in London, Johannesburg and Dubai. She advises HNW clients on multi-jurisdictional prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, jurisdiction strategy and forum disputes, complex financial remedy proceedings, Schedule 1 and Part III applications, and international children matters including relocation and abduction. · Family
Oscar Smith
Oscar Smith is a Partner at Expatriate Law, advising on all issues arising from the breakdown of a relationship, whether between married or unmarried couples. He is a specialist international family lawyer regularly instructed on complex cross-border children and financial matters. His experience spans cases from across the globe, particularly involving Europe, the Middle East and Australia. He has developed a particular reputation for technically demanding cases involving jurisdiction battles, offshore trusts, international relocation, parental responsibility, and matters where the welfare of children intersects with novel jurisdictional questions. Oscar is a Resolution-accredited specialist in complex high-net-worth financial remedies and cohabitation cases. He is also a collaboratively trained lawyer. · Family
Sonny Patel
Sonny Patel is Partner and Head of Asia at Expatriate Law, leading the firm’s Singapore practice and advising clients on complex cross-border family disputes involving England, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. His practice focuses on international divorce, high-value financial remedy proceedings, jurisdiction disputes, international relocation and child abduction matters. Sonny is particularly recognised for his expertise in forum strategy and the co-ordination of proceedings across multiple jurisdictions. He regularly advises internationally mobile and high-net-worth individuals on matters involving competing legal systems, offshore assets and complex international family structures. · Family
Sophie Capo-Bianco
Sophie Capo-Bianco is a Partner at Expatriate Law in London, advising clients on complex international family law matters across multiple jurisdictions. Sophie has a strong track record in high-stakes private children proceedings - including wardship cases involving serious welfare concerns - contested financial remedy proceedings requiring urgent applications, complex disclosure strategies, and the use of Hemain injunctions and freezing orders. She also advises on Schedule 1 financial provision for children of unmarried HNW families and international prenuptial agreements. · Family