A divorce can pose a significant risk to the stability of even the most robust owner-managed business, especially if critical safeguarding measures have not been taken. The article explores common business scenarios that may be impacted by a divorce, including where there are joint business owners, family businesses and early-stage startups, and sets out some practical suggestions of steps that can be taken to protect business assets in these circumstances.
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With deep expertise in private mergers and acquisitions (from both a buyer and seller perspective), equity fundraisings (including growth and private equity capital), joint ventures and strategic partnerships, corporate restructurings, and incentivisation schemes, Emily is a versatile transactional lawyer. She has a proven track record of successfully guiding clients through complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Emily advises clients in a broad range of sectors, with a particular focus on the retail & fashion and hospitality & leisure industries, advising global brands on strategic acquisitions, equity investments and general corporate advisory matters. Additionally, Emily advises ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients and their family offices on their investment and acquisition activities in the UK.
Emily’s experience includes an in-house secondment at the head office of a global entertainment, hospitality and leisure brand. During this time, she worked closely with stakeholders and commercial teams to support the company’s diverse investment portfolio, giving her invaluable insight into the practical, operational needs of businesses.
Emily’s expertise has been recognised by The Legal 500, where she is listed as a “Key Lawyer” for M&A. Clients commend her “exemplary prowess in corporate and M&A realms,” highlighting her ability to deliver outstanding results in high-stakes situations. Emily graduated from the University of Oxford with an MA in history before converting to law. Before joining Harbottle & Lewis in 2017, Emily trained at DLA Piper where she spent time on secondment in the Sydney office.
Emma is committed to exploring all options for her clients to ensure that they received a highly tailored approach that works for them and their family. This includes dealing with financial claims on divorce not only within court proceedings, but often outside of the court process entirely. This provides clients with greater privacy and control over the process, which is important to many, particularly individuals in the public eye.
Emma has a particular interest in and experience of complex high net worth financial claims, often with cross-border elements. This has involved cases with complex international and domestic trust and corporate structures in the context of divorce. Such cases regularly include issues relating to the value of a party’s interest in a trust and/or company, the liquidity of such assets and how these assets should be treated on divorce. Emma recently acted for the beneficiary of multiple offshore trusts and business owner in the reported cases of HO v TL [2023] EWFC 215 and HO v TL (Costs) [2023] EWFC 216.
Emma trained at Vardags before qualifying into their family team in April 2019. She joined Harbottle & Lewis in January 2022. Emma completed her law degree at Oriel College, University of Oxford. Emma has been described by counsel as wise beyond her years and a lawyer to watch. She is earning an admirable reputation, demonstrated by becoming a finalist for Family Law Associate of the Year at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards 2024. Emma is a member of Resolution: Emma Williams | Resolution. Resolution's members follow a Code of Practice that promotes a constructive approach to family issues and considers the needs of the whole family.