How to protect your pre-marriage wealth - lessons from a landmark Supreme Court divorce judgment
Protecting premarital wealth: Supreme Court confirms tax-motivated asset transfers aren’t subject to sharing without clear shared use or marital intent.
Yvonne Mullen
PartnerYvonne is a highly experienced attorney, having practised as a barrister in Ireland for 12 years before being admitted in the Cayman Islands in 2015. Her experience spans a wide range of family and civil law disputes, with specialist expertise in high-value matrimonial matters and complex child welfare cases.
Regarded as one of the most skilled attorneys in this field in the Cayman Islands, Yvonne represented parties in 2020 in the highest-value matrimonial case ever heard in this jurisdiction (MS v FS, Gunn J (Acting), 28 April 2020 and 4 June 2020), and also handled one of the most complex child custody and parental alienation cases to date (X v Y, 2020 (2) CILR 838).
Since joining Hampson and Company in 2021, Yvonne has continued to act in high-profile matters before both the Grand Court and the Court of Appeal (AW v AH, Court of Appeal, 17 March 2022), including the multi-jurisdictional enforcement action of a Swiss Supreme Court divorce valued at $125 million (Ovaskainen, Financial Services Division, Ramsay-Hale CJ 21 June 2023; 29 December 2023; 12 September 2024). She currently awaits judgment in a seminal case expected to clarify what constitutes a vitiating factor in a post-nuptial agreement.
Yvonne is widely recognised for her expertise in prenuptial agreements, providing clients with clear, practical advice to protect their interests while maintaining trust within their relationships. She has considerable experience drafting and negotiating agreements in high-net-worth and cross-jurisdictional matters, combining legal precision with a sensitive, constructive approach.
Yvonne continues to grow and strengthen our leading family law department. She is an accredited mediator and accomplished negotiator, drawing on her extensive legal experience and practical insight to meet clients’ needs and resolve their matters efficiently and cost-effectively.
Insights by Yvonne Mullen
When is conduct of the parties relevant in Cayman Islands Divorce Proceedings?
In Cayman Islands divorce proceedings, misconduct like infidelity or violence rarely affects financial settlements — unless it’s exceptional, obvious, and has a direct financial impact.
Getting Divorced in the Cayman Islands
Divorce often raises fundamental questions about core family issues, including finances and children.
Mediation in Divorce and Family Matters
As attorneys in divorce and family matters we are frequently asked by our clients, “what about mediation?” and “can it help me in my divorce or maintenance application.”