Hunters bolsters family law team with the appointment of two new experts

We are delighted to announce that Alex Brereton and Dr Maria Wright have joined Hunters as Partner and Senior Associate respectively, further strengthening our rapidly growing family department.

New partner Alex is a rising star in the family law world, having been listed in eprivateclient’s Top 35 under 35 list for 2022/23, and referenced in The Legal 500’s 2023 Guide. As a specialist in high net worth (HNW) and ultra-high net worth (UHNW) matrimonial finance claims, he is experienced in cross-jurisdictional work involving complex asset and income structures.

Whilst primarily focusing on the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, Alex is also experienced in child arrangement proceedings, including those with international elements.

Maria’s appointment as a Senior Associate, marks her widely welcomed return to private client family law practice.

Maria joins Hunters from her role as Senior Legal Advisor for the charity Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB). She is a renowned expert in the field of international children law, including abduction, wardship jurisdictional disputes, recognition and enforcement of orders concerning children, relocation, as well as cases involving issues of forced marriage, and honour-based violence and child protection. She specialises in the 1996 Hague Convention and has undertaken an MSc and a PhD on the operation of private international law in care proceedings in England.

Henry Hood, Senior Partner and head of the family department, commented: ‘Over the past week, we have welcomed Senior Associate, Dr Maria Wright, and Partner, Alex Brereton, into the Hunters family department. I am simply delighted at their arrival and we are eager to explore what we can achieve together.

‘As Legal Counsel to the Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) and with the recent publication of her doctoral thesis on the operation of international law on children’s proceedings in England, Maria is at the forefront of the law on the international movement of children.

‘Alex, in turn, has been at the heart of a number of ‘big money’ High Court cases. Alex’s expertise will build on our existing specialism in this area, and we are really excited at what the future holds with each of them in our team.’