Alexandra Hirst

Senior Associate
Family

+44 (0) 20 7079 8247 email Alexandra download vcard

Noted as an "Associate to Watch" in Chambers HNW 2022 & 2023 and a "Rising Star" in Legal 500 2022 & 2023, Alexandra is a member of the Firm's leading family team.

Experienced in representing clients in relation to divorce and the resolution of financial issues, she advises on cases involving substantial sums with complex asset structures (often conducted in the High Court). Her clients come from a wide range of professional backgrounds including media, finance, the arts and sport.

She is expert at drafting and negotiating agreements which regulate the distribution of assets on the breakdown of relationships, to include pre- and post-nuptial agreements for spouses and cohabitation agreements for unmarried partners.

In addition to her specialist knowledge of complex financial litigation, Alexandra also advises parents in respect of disputes concerning the care of and financial provision for their children. She has experience of acting for parents who are seeking to move with their children to another part of the country or to another jurisdiction. She is also a fluent French speaker.

Clients praise her for her expertise beyond her years and her empathy.

“Alexandra is impressive, she retains a sense of perspective at all times, and is able to defend her client’s best interests in a calm and measured way”

Chambers HNW 2023

“With an amazing grasp of the details of cases, tactical awareness and knowledge of the law”

Legal 500 UK 2023

“She is always thoroughly well prepared and her work product is impeccable”

Chambers HNW 2022

Areas of Practice

Family & Divorce, Divorce, Financial Claims in Divorce, Children, Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements, Living Together Agreements, Divorce with a Private Business, Trusts & Divorce

Track Record

Acting for the wife in the case of WM v HM [2017] EWFC 25 and Martin v Martin [2018] EWCA Civ 2866, involving arguments relating to pre-marital wealth and special contribution

Acting for the husband in a long-running case conducted in the High Court where the majority of the family assets where held in complex trust structures

Acting for the husband, a successful entrepreneur, in a case involving complex arguments as to when the parties separated and the valuation of the family business

Acting for the wife, who was the financially stronger party, in a very short marriage case. The husband sought a substantial lump sum payment but settled his claim on the basis of no payment or transfer of assets to him

Acting for a third party company in Schedule I proceedings alongside corporate advisors. A charge was placed on the father’s shares in a company as security for outstanding maintenance payments. The charge was lifted to enable the company to proceed with a significant transition event and an alternative form of security was found to protect the mother

Acting for the financially weaker spouse in a same sex marriage and obtaining a significant financial award for the client in circumstances where the other spouse asserted that there was no claim

Advising a large Family Office in relation to a long term strategy for wealth protection for future generations, in the event of relationship breakdown or divorce

Negotiating a pre-nuptial agreement on behalf of a multi-millionaire heiress in order to ring-fence pre-marital dynastic assets

Securing a negotiated settlement on a favourable clean break basis on behalf of a husband client, preserving a family business based in Mayfair

Awards & Rankings

Chambers HNW, Associate to Watch, 2022 & 2023

Spear’s Family Law Index, Recommended, 2021 – 2023

Chambers UK, Associate to Watch, 2021 – 2023

Legal 500, Rising Stars, 2022 & 2023

Family Law Awards, Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year – Shortlisted, 2019

EprivateClient Top 35 Under 35, 2017

Publications

Tolley’s Estate Planning, Family law chapter

Memberships

Resolution

Franco-British Lawyers Society

Education & Qualification

University of Cambridge

Qualified as a solicitor in 2014 and trained with Boodle Hatfield