I’m a partner in Debenhams Ottaway’s highly regarded family law team. I’m here to help you with all aspects of family law, including divorce, separation, financial settlements, and child arrangements. I also specialise in surrogacy law, offering expert guidance to intended parents and surrogates throughout the process, both in the UK and internationally.

I’m recognised in the Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2025, Chambers UK and The Legal 500, the leading guides to the best lawyers in the UK. I’ve also been named one of Citywealth’s Top 100 Private Client Lawyers. My clients find me extremely approachable, and I’m known for my determination and ability to achieve the best results.

Expertise

I have extensive experience in the division of assets when couples separate, whether they are married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting. I help a wide range of clients, including business owners, high-profile individuals, and those with significant wealth. I regularly deal with mid-to-high value cases in divorce and financial cases and assist individuals at the outset of their relationships, preparing pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and cohabitation agreements.

I also specialise in international relocation cases, supporting clients whether they are seeking the court’s permission to permanently relocate their children to another country or opposing such relocations. I have a particular interest in representing parents involved in highly contentious child arrangement disputes.

When it comes to surrogacy, I can help with the legal implications of having a child using a surrogate and take you through the steps required to enable you to acquire full parental rights for your child. If you decide to go down the international surrogacy route, I can help with completing all the applications needed to bring your child to the UK as quickly as possible.

I studied law at the University of Sheffield and trained and worked in London for five years before moving to St Albans. I joined Debenhams Ottaway in 2016, was promoted to senior lawyer in 2021, and became a partner in 2023.

In Touch

Through various networks, I’ve built strong relationships with other professional advisers, ensuring my clients have access to a wide network of support.

As a member of Jurismus, an international network focused on cross-border/expat divorce and international children advice, I’m well-connected with lawyers worldwide so I can help clients with international assets.

I am also an accredited Resolution specialist in complex financial remedies and cohabitation which means I have been independently recognised for my expertise and experience in handling this type of work and for my commitment to resolving issues in a constructive and cost-effective way.

  • Natalie is very knowledgeable, friendly, very pleasant and professional.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide

  • Natalie Lester is a commercially aware lawyer who is a joy to work with.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide

  • Natalie Lester is great at what she does. She is a safe pair of hands.

    Chambers High Net Worth Guide

  • Natalie Lester has been fantastic. I have found her so reassuring and knowledgeable. I’ve been confident throughout the process that she is working hard to achieve my desired outcomes with resolution at the heart of the decision making, all whilst giving very good advice.

    Chambers and Partners

  • Natalie Lester has been excellent as my divorce lawyer. She has been thoroughly professional throughout the process. I have found her to be very approachable and she has shared her expertise with compassion and warmth. Natalie was always resolution-focused and helped to keep perspective in the negotiations. I am very grateful for her help and advice and would not hesitate to recommend her.

    The Legal 500

  • Thank you again for all your support and help in this matter. Your professional, calm, structured and pragmatic manner was very much what I needed throughout the process.

    Client

  • 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.

    Client

  • 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.

     

    Client

  • 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. You made a difficult time in my life much easier than it could have been.

    Client

  • I just wanted to say thank you for your assistance on my recent divorce proceedings.  Extremely helpful, professional and I am very happy with the result.  Thank you again.

    Client

  • Natalie was very personal, empathetic and understanding. I felt that she really cared through the difficult journey and had my best interests at heart whilst always maintaining a high level of professionalism.

    Client

  • Natalie Lester is excellent. She understands the psychology of cases very well and uses this to shape cases in ways that optimises client outcomes. It also helps her maintain excellent trusting relationships with difficult clients in difficult cases whilst at the same time ensuring that they are able to make fully-informed strategic decisions.

    The Legal 500

  • Natalie Lester is incredibly dedicated, she listens to my points of view and provides sound and fair advice She is always calm and kind even under pressure and in difficult circumstances. I have no hesitation in recommending her to others seeking a family law solicitor.

    The Legal 500

  • Natalie Lester is exceptional at looking at the bigger picture, linking seemingly separate matters together to ensure we have a holistic strategy to move forward with. I cannot recommend her highly enough

    The Legal 500

  • I am impressed with Natalie Lester’s thoughtful and unflappable approach, her willingness to seek advice on difficult matters and her pragmatism. Natalie is intelligent, resourceful, practical and very able. Natalie deals with mediation professionally, carefully, calmly and ably and brings about a sensible compromise.

    The Legal 500

  • Natalie has been exceptional in her support and advice. She clearly sets out her guidance and my options, taking a holistic view of the circumstances to provide quality advice.

    Chambers UK

  • I have no hesitation in recommending Natalie to anyone going through divorce proceedings. She is patient, understanding, fair, practical and tenacious.

    Chambers UK

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