Our Family Lawyers
Charlotte is dual qualified to advise on Australian and English family law. She is a lawyer, mediator and collaborative practitioner, assisting clients who face complex financial, property and parenting issues arising from separation and divorce.
After a decade at top tier London firm, Family Law in Partnership, Charlotte joined Pearson Emerson, bringing a wealth of international experience.
Charlotte enjoys the variety that being both a family lawyer and mediator brings to her practice and strongly believes these skillsets complement each other. As a family lawyer, she advises clients in contested court proceedings as well as through amicable negotiations. As a family mediator she works with couples to reach agreements with mediation taking place either alongside or outside of the court process.
Charlotte advises on all family law matters including:
jurisdiction disputes for clients able to initiate proceedings in multiple countries
financial settlements involving valuation of business interests, properties, superannuation and investments, tax issues, treatment of trusts, child support and spousal maintenance.
binding financial agreements
asset protection including freezing injunctions
parenting issues involving child arrangements
relocation/abduction of children within Australia or abroad to Hague or non-Hague Convention countries
Many of Charlotte’s clients are international. She has an appreciation of the legal and practical requirements in different jurisdictions, and a strong network of contacts worldwide. Following her successful legal practice in London, many of Charlotte’s clients have links to England. Charlotte speaks French and her clients will often have links to France. She is familiar with matrimonial property regimes in European countries.
Charlotte is instructed by owners (or their partners) of businesses and property portfolios with assets based in different jurisdictions, within complex corporate or trust structures. Having previously worked as a corporate lawyer, Charlotte draws on her knowledge of company and property structures when reviewing disclosure within the divorce context. She also supports separating parents in relation to child arrangements and permission to relocate with children, within Australia and internationally.
Charlotte is ranked as a Next Generation Partner in the UK legal directory, Legal 500. Feedback includes: ‘Charlotte Symes is a superb family lawyer - she has outstanding judgement, works very hard and has a steely determination. Clients love her - and for good reason.'
Charlotte is also ranked as a Recommended Family Lawyer in the Spear’s Family Law Index of advisers for high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients.
A graduate of Cambridge University, England, Charlotte has an MA in French and German.
