How non-disclosure became the defining battleground of HNW divorces
The Spear’s Survey of leading family lawyers reveals the key concerns of HNW and UHNW individuals when faced with divorce negotiations
Maria Scotland spoke to Spear's Magazine as a leading family law barrister specialising in high-end/ big money financial remedy applications. Maria is often instructed in multi-jurisdictional cases, involving International clients and clients with out-of-jurisdiction assets, in particular in the Middle East.
Maria discusses the issue of establishing what entitlement amounts to for a party in divorce proceedings:
"The process of establishing what that entitlement amounts to, however, is not straightforward. ‘By the time lawyers and experts have acquired sufficient evidence to quantify the assets, the financially stronger party may well have restructured things, meaning the weaker party is always playing catch-up,"
Maria Scotland, a barrister at 5 St Andrew’s Hill.
Read the article in full here, published on 10 June 2026.
Maria is recognised in Spears' 500 Guide (2023 & 2024): as a Top Recommended Family Law Barrister within the exclusive guide. Maria is also an author at Spears', with her recent article on Divorcing in Dubai: Should wealthy Expats worry about new UAE family laws? can be accessed here.
Maria is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners in family law (including divorce & financial remedy). She is one of the leading family law juniors and is the joint head of the Family Team at 5SAH.
Maria is a qualified arbitrator in financial matters and an accredited civil mediator.
