Hetty Gleave

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I specialise in family law, including divorce and separation, financial proceedings, pre and post nuptial agreements and all issues relating to children. I also specialise in the law relating to art and cultural property.

My expertise is in handling high net worth and complex financial divorces often with an international focus and involving offshore trusts, business valuations, pre-acquired assets and issues of non disclosure. I also have significant experience in helping clients with disputes concerning children, including child arrangements, residence, abuse, abduction and adoption.

Relationship breakdown is never easy and my clients expect matters to be dealt with efficiently and with sensitivity. My aim is to deliver realistic advice that achieves the best results in a cost efficient way and I 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 and issues relating to the ownership of works of art. I was one of the founding members of Art Resolve, the art claims dispute resolution service, which provides options for all out of court solutions for settling disputes.

Art has always been a passion and I also have significant expertise in the area 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 10 years.

Outside work I enjoy visiting galleries and art exhibitions. I am also a keen cook and fair weather cyclist and walker, preferably to a nice country pub. As a Northerner at heart, I enjoy cold water swimming and (very) occasionally take a dip in the Hampstead Ponds.

Accolades:

The Legal 500 UK 2025 – Art and Cultural Property - 'Leading Partner'

Contact Hetty

Advising on the impact of significant inherited wealth in financial remedy proceedings following a long marriage.
Advising on a financial settlement following a long marriage which included a variety of assets classes including retail and farming incomes. Valuations were a key issue.
Advising on a Pre Nuptial Agreement to protect dynastic family wealth in the event of separation.
Representing a client in financial remedy proceedings where assets were located in three jurisdictions and allegations of non disclosure were made, but held to be unfounded at a final hearing.
Representing a parent in child arrangement proceedings following allegations of serious harm against the child, which were held to be unfounded. Parental alienation was an issue.

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Hetty Gleave is an experienced and highly proficient family lawyer with an excellent sense of judgment.
Legal 500, 2025

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.
Chambers UK, 2025

Hetty Gleave is absolutely fantastic. We felt that she was personally invested in the success of our case which gave us a lot of confidence. She was also always available and gave us great advice and was super well prepared.
Legal 500, 2024

Hetty Gleave is a highly respected and experienced family lawyer. Poised and considered in everything she does, she brings a calm and experienced approach to even the most fraught cases. An excellent family lawyer.
Legal 500, 2023