Natalie is a lawyer in our highly successful family team, advising clients on all aspects of family law, particularly, divorce, separation, financial settlements and associated issues concerning children arrangements.
Natalie is an Accredited Resolution Specialist in Complex Financial Remedies and Cohabitation. She is committed to adopting a non-confrontational approach and she aims to resolve issues amicably without going to court. However, if necessary, Natalie is confident when court proceedings are required and boasts a robust approach to ensure the best outcome for her clients.
Clients find her extremely approachable and she is known for her determination and ability to achieve the best results.
Natalie was named a Rising Star and recognised as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 2020 rankings.
Expertise
Natalie has extensive experience in the division of assets when couples separate, whether they are married, in a civil partnership or co-habiting. She represents a wide range of clients including business owners, high profile and wealthy individuals and she regularly deals with mid-high value cases in divorce and financial matters.
She also assists individuals at the outset of their relationship and is experienced in preparing pre-nuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements.
Natalie specialises in international relocation cases. She supports clients whether they are the parent seeking the court’s permission to permanently relocate the children to another country or the parent opposing relocation. She has a particular interest in representing parents locked into fraught and highly contentious child arrangement disputes.
She is a member of Jurismus, an international network of lawyers in Europe and Worldwide to assist with cross-border/Expat divorce and international children matters.
Natalie studied law at the University of Sheffield and then obtained a distinction in her LPC at the College of Law in London. She trained and worked in London for five years before moving to St Albans. She joined Debenhams Ottaway in December 2016.
In Touch
Natalie is:
- a member of Jurismus
- a member of Resolution and the Hertfordshire Law Society
- a member of Women in Business Network
- the events coordinator for YRes Hertfordshire.
Natalie Lester's news
Arbitration award appeals – a welcome change in family law?
A recent breakthrough in family arbitration, following the outcome of the Haley v Haley case, means an award can now be appealed if certain criteria is met. This development is…
COVID-19: Guide to applying to court for a variation of a maintenance order
If you find yourself at the paying end of a maintenance order, you may now be in a situation where you no longer have the income to afford the monthly…
Proposing this Valentine’s Day? Why you need a Pre-nup…
Whilst prenuptial agreements (also known as Pre-Nups) are not nearly as fun to think about as wedding cakes or honeymoons, they can help you avoid financial issues later in life….
Did you know there is no such thing as a ‘common law marriage’? It seems a fairly widespread belief that if you live with your partner for long enough, you…
Top tips for successful co-parenting over the festive season
Christmas is notoriously difficult for families who are no longer living together. It can become a time of dread and fear, disappointment and confusion at cancelled arrangements and children not…
-
I just want to say a very big thank you for your time, patience, help and support. You have made what was an unbearable situation over the last 15 months, bearable.
-
Thank you for all your help and getting me through it.
-
Thank you for all your friendly advice and quick action on my behalf.
-
Thank you Natalie for your exceptional service, quick turnaround and continued support in this family matter.
-
Thank you again for all of your efforts in resolving my case. It was a really difficult time for me then, one of which I didn’t think would end.
I honestly wouldn’t be where I am now without all of your hard work. Thank you.
-
I cannot thank you enough for all you have done. Your support, guidance, professionalism and all the rest has been invaluable in getting me through this. So, really thank you so much.
-
Thank you very much for your support through the last couple of years. I have appreciated your sage advice and even more your efficiency which has been such a boost for me. No sooner had I made a decision or sent something to you than you had acted on it and informed me of the outcome. You made a difficult time in my life much easier than it could have been.