Karim Assaad

Karim joins Aria Grace bringing over 15 years of experience as a leading family law practitioner. Renowned for his strategic thinking and tenacious advocacy, Karim specialises in representing men, fathers, husbands, and high-net-worth individuals in complex divorce, financial remedy, and Children Act cases. His meticulous approach safeguards his clients most valuable assets: Children, Businesses and Wealth. While Karim primarily represents men, his deep understanding of their strategies gives women a unique advantage, delivering decisive results for all his clients.

Known for anticipating challenges and crafting bespoke strategies, he has handled numerous complex cases, some of which have become leading authorities in various areas of practice in family law including in the calculation of maintenance awards in financial remedy proceedings and in the transfer of residence of children from one parent to the other. The Legal 500 (2019) recognised him as someone who “works tirelessly for his clients” underscoring his relentless commitment to success.

More about Karim

Karim’s tailored innovative strategies, meticulous preparation and dedicated availability ensure his clients receive unparalleled support. His expertise in navigating intricate financial disputes and sensitive child arrangements matters, strengthened by his forward-thinking and often outside of the box solutions provides his clients with cutting-edge legal solutions tailored to their individual needs.

Karim is very often consulted by clients for second opinions where everything previously tried and tested has failed and he often finds a way to achieve results which were not thought possible by the client’s previous legal advisors. He also specialises in appeals from the Family Court where unjust decisions have often been overturned in favour of his clients.

Recent work

Karim provides exceptional, results-driven representation for clients seeking stability and justice during life’s most difficult moments.

• HU v SU [2015] EWFC 18: Represented Father in High Court proceedings, successfully achieving the transfer of residence of all four children from Mother to Father based on findings of emotional harm. The case also resulted in a rare wasted costs order against the opposing solicitors, underscoring Karim’s ability to challenge procedural misconduct and secure justice for his clients.
• Graham-York v York & Ors [2015] EWCA Civ 72: TOLATA and Equity of Exoneration: Represented unmarried female partner in leading Court of Appeal case establishing key legal principles in cases between unmarried couples and where the burden of a mortgage lies in the event the legal and beneficial owner of the property deceases and is survived by their cohabitee partner who themselves have no legal interest in the property.
• O’Dwyer v O’Dwyer [2019] EWHC 183: Represented Husband in Complex Financial Remedy Appeal: Successfully appealed decision in a high-value financial dispute, establishing a leading authority on how spousal maintenance is calculated. The case clarified principles on the division of capital and income, ensuring a just and equitable outcome for the client while preserving future income streams.
• Bitcoin and Hidden Assets in Divorce: Represented Wife in divorce proceedings involving undisclosed cryptocurrency holdings. Successfully traced Bitcoin assets and ensured their inclusion in the financial settlement, securing a fair division of marital property for the client.
  Multi Year Children Act Proceedings: Represented Father in significant case involving appeals to the High Court and judicial recusals, successfully securing long-term arrangements and protecting the father’s parental rights.
• Judicial Recusal in Financial Remedy Dispute: Represented Husband in complex financial remedy case. Successfully appealed a Circuit judge’s refusal to recuse himself at the end of a 5 day final hearing. The appeal was allowed by the High Court, securing a rehearing before a new judge and achieving a favourable settlement for the client.