About Us
Our team behind MBS Family Law.
Melanie Bataillard-Samuel
Director, Mediator and Collaborative Lawyer
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Since qualifying as a solicitor in 2007 Melanie has solely practiced family law. Her cases cover a wide variety of divorce matters, financial provisions arising out of the breakdown of a relationship and disputes involving children. As a dual French/British national, Melanie has always specialised in advising French expatriates on family law matters in England and Wales, usually in French. Melanie also regularly advises and works alongside law firms in France.
Melanie obtained a Bachelors degree from Bath University in French and Russian and a Masters degree from City University in Legal Translation. She speaks French and English fluently, and is also able to advise clients in Italian.
Melanie is committed to Resolution’s Code of Practice to resolve matters in a non-confrontational way. She has trained in mediation and is a Collaborative Lawyer, using these skills to negotiate the best possible outcome for her clients when this appropriate.
Melanie is actively involved in Resolution, the association of family justice professionals. She was formerly the Co-Chair of Resolution’s Innovation Group, inaugural Chair of its Wellbeing Committee and Secretary of the London Region Committee. She continues to sit on all three Committees and has sat on Resolution’s National Committee since 2018. In May 2023 Melanie became Resolution’s National Vice Chair.
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Emilie Helm
Consultant
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Emilie is a dual French and English national with over 15 years’ family law experience. As many of her cases have an international element to them, she has developed excellent relationships with family lawyers around the globe, in particular French speaking countries, which deliver additional value for her clients.
Emilie is known for providing compassionate, clear and holistic advice to clients in English and French on all aspects of family law including divorce, jurisdiction disputes, financial claims, children issues and pre/post nuptial agreements. A believer in the benefits of resolving family disputes in a harmonious, low-conflict way wherever possible, Emilie often settles cases out of court. However, where the case and circumstances lead down the path of litigation, Emilie is an expert litigator.
She is attentive to her clients’ needs and strives to understand her clients’ goals whilst finding workable solutions that meet the needs of the family as whole, both in the short-term and in the future. She is committed to supporting her clients and finding the best result for them.
What others say about Emilie:
“Emilie Helm is an extraordinarily talented lawyer. She's technically flawless and also conveys a professional empathy which is profoundly reassuring."
"Throughout the process I knew that I wasn’t alone and that I had the best team in the world behind me.”
Emilie has spoken at the TL4 HNW conference on nuptial agreements, created a French podcast in collaboration with French experts on some of the key differences between the English and French family law system and delivered French workshops, most recently at the French Family Law convention (Etats Généraux du droit de la famille et du patrimoine).
Prior to consulting for MBS Family law, Emilie worked at Clintons, Payne Hicks Beach and Family Law Partners. In 2022, she also qualified as a life coach.
Outside work, Emilie’s passions are her family, travel, classics, cooking and fitness (both physical and mental).
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Bérangère Kola-Sautai
French Avocat and English Barrister
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Bérangère is a French qualified Lawyer at the Paris Bar since 2015 and was subsequently called to the Bar in England and Wales in 2022.
Having grown up in an international environment has provided her with an extensive understanding of the life of expatriate families. This knowledge, combined with her legal studies in France and England, has provided her with skills and insight needed to advise international families.
From the start of her career in October 2015 Bérangère has been advising and representing French families in London in front of the French Court through her practice with LBK FrenchLaw.
Bérangère joined MBS Family Law in the autumn of 2022 but continues to represent her clients in France through LBK French Law, allowing her to provide an all-around service to French or binational families based in England and Wales or elsewhere.
Bérangère is known for putting her clients’ needs first and understanding how complicated family matters can be. Her practice is based on a collaborative approach where appropriate.
Bérangère is a native French speaker and is fluent in English.
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E-Mail: enquiries@mbsfamilylaw.com
Phone: +44 20 3818 7773
Rachael Adoo-Peters
Paralegal
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Rachael started working as a paralegal for MBS Family Law in September 2023, bringing with her experience gained at a distinguished commercial law firm. In her prior position, she contributed significantly to various teams, specialising in dispute resolution, corporate and commercial, immigration and employment. Having a keen interest in family law, Rachael made the move and joined MBS.
Rachael has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Birmingham and completed her Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at the University of Law in Guildford. Before embarking on her legal studies, Rachael worked in recruitment, gaining valuable experience in client professionalism and also developed a keen understanding of the importance of building strong professional relationships.
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E-Mail: enquiries@mbsfamilylaw.com
Phone: +44 20 3818 7773
Contact Us
If you are in need of expert legal assistance in family law matters, with a focus on cross-border issues involving France, Switzerland, or Monaco please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you every step of the way.