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7 March 2013

If you or a member of your family need legal advice on divorce, separation, children, pre and post nuptial agreements and inheritance disputes you should speak to Ellinas before making any major decisions. She will give you clear and practical advice, guide you through the process, give you the options available and advise you on the consequences. Where possible she will help parties broker an agreement, but if litigation is inevitable she is decisive and tenacious.

Ellinas specialises in high-net-worth divorces and cases involving family run businesses. She also represents clients in the media and banking industry.

Recent experience
Ellinas recently acted for a client in their divorce from a high-profile media celebrity. The couple wanted to keep the process as amicable as possible mainly for the sake of their two teenage children. At the same time the client wanted to be sure she was getting a fair settlement. They signed up to the Collaborative process, which meant they had to agree not to go to court. Five roundtable meetings later they had reached an agreement on all issues. This is the process US actor Robin Williams used.

She recently represented the wife of an international banker. The case started with a jurisdictional ‘race’. Emergency injunctions freezing bank accounts within 24 hours quickly followed to avoid assets being removed from the jurisdiction. Court proceedings were issued and a settlement was reached without the need for a final hearing.

She has acted for a father who wanted a test to establish paternity. Once it was confirmed that he was the father he wanted to remain fully involved in the child’s life. Following contested hearings the father obtained a joint residence order and now the child has significant and regular staying contact with his father.

Ellinas also acted for a lady who lived with her partner for 30 years although they never married. She thought she was a ‘common law wife’ and that she had rights if they were to separate. Several years later the gentleman died following a brief illness and although he had made provision for her in his will, the will was old and had not been updated and the bequest to her was now a very modest figure.  A successful claim was made under the Inheritance Provision for Family and dependants Act of 1975 to make proper provision for her.

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