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I am a recognised family law specialist with over 30 years experience of guiding clients through issues arising from the end of their relationship, whether separation or divorce, and advising on all issues relating to children. This routinely includes resolving the practical and financial arrangements of separation as well as pre and postnuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements. I also specialise in the law relating to art and cultural property and therefore have specialist knowledge of the treatment of luxury assets following the breakdown of a marriage.
My expertise is in handling high net worth and ultra-high net worth complex financial divorces often with an international focus often involving offshore trusts, business valuations, pre-acquired assets and private equity. I am known for taking a strategic and solutions focused approach to resolving disputes for my clients in a cost-effective way. I also have significant experience in helping clients with disputes relating to the children, including child arrangements, relocation whether internally or internationally, child abduction, adoption and international surrogacy. My approach in all cases is to achieve the best result for my clients in a cost-efficient way and will take a hard line when we need to and push to settle when we do not.
I am also qualified as both a commercial and a family mediator and have mediated on complex family matters including international relocation as well as issues relating to the ownership of important works of art. Non-Court dispute resolution is an essential part of my practice and enables me to settle cases privately, with empathy and in a way that enables clients to manage the process, which is not always possible in Court led proceedings. My clients range from entrepreneurs and captains of industry to homemakers and mothers who may not have equal access to the family funds despite their equal contribution to the marriage.
“Hetty has a wealth of experience and a wonderful manner with clients, opposing solicitors and counsel. Her approach is unfailingly outcome led”
“Hetty Gleave is very intelligent, experienced and has very good judgement about cases. She is very good at being practical and fighting a case when it needs to be fought”
“Hetty Gleave is a highly effective lawyer with unique qualities and intelligence, empathy and legal knowledge. She is particularly good at reducing complicated matters to simple statements of factual principle. She sees potential issues and the relevant legal role straightaway”.
Art has always been a passion and, in addition to my family practice, I also have significant expertise in the arena of art and cultural property law, particularly disputes relating to title, authenticity and illegally trafficked goods. I am a former member of the Treasure Valuation Committee, having sat on the Committee for ten years and acted as deputy chair. This puts me in a unique space when it comes to issues of valuation of art and luxury assets in a matrimonial case and, with senior associate Rebecca Christie, we have a built reputation for handling a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters both separately and within matrimonial proceedings. I am a founder member of Art Resolve the art claims dispute resolution service, which provides options for all out of Court solutions for settling disputes. Our clients include artists, collectors, auction houses, gallerists, museums and stakeholders.
“Hetty and Rebecca are a stellar team – dynamic, engaged and brilliant with clients”.
"‘Hetty Gleave and Rebecca Christie are a seasoned team of art lawyers with a wide range of skills from treasure trove to contemporary art.’
Accolades:
Reported cases
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Hetty is one of the most well-known and liked practitioners in the country. She is absolutely totally brilliant, tenacious and tough whilst having a lovely way about her.
Hetty is an outstanding lawyer with a huge range and depth of experience. She's savvy and smart, a great communicator and a delight to work with.
Hetty Gleave is an experienced and highly proficient family lawyer with an excellent sense of judgment.
Her practice covers all contracting issues, property issues, misappropriation - right across the board. She has acted for galleries, museums, art collectors, etc - she has good provenance, as they say in the area, and those clients keep going back to her.
Georgia Leach, Trainee, is a co-author on this article Art is a passion asset. Collectors may purch…
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From 28 June 2025, any art/cultural property being imported into the EU which was originally created…
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