Our client’s situation
Julie’s client was a Russian speaking woman who wished to marry a significantly younger man. Her concern was the protection of wealth she acquired prior to her relationship and marriage, including a successful business venture and several properties in London and Lithuania.
This was a complex situation due to the vast disparity in wealth between our client and her partner and due to the intricacies in valuing a multi-national business venture.
Although the client’s partner was in agreement with the idea of having a pre-nup, he vigorously negotiated the terms of the agreement.
How we helped our client
SA Law’s Russian speaking family solicitor, Julie was able to advise the client on the principles of prenuptial agreements and their enforceability in England and Wales. It was important to manage the client’s expectations, given that prenuptial agreements are not automatically enforced by the English courts. She ensured that the client understood that the English court will continue to have the power to consider the needs and circumstances of both parties at the time of marriage breakdown, which are not necessarily the same as those existing at the time that the pre-nup is signed.
Julie worked with the client to compile the essential disclosure of her complex financial position, including arranging for the valuations of her business and four properties both in the UK and in Lithuania. Once the pre-nup was drafted and financial disclosure was exchanged, Julie assisted the client in negotiating the terms of the agreement with her partner.
Julie was particularly suited to this case as she is a fluent Russian-speaker. She was able to discuss with the client the intricacies of her matter in her first language. This was particularly vital in this case, as the client needed to safeguard her future position which involved discussion of various foreseeable and unforeseeable scenarios. We were able to discuss these in Russian, which enabled the client to express herself more fully in her instructions.
