Researcher faces 'ruin' if heiress wins pre-nup ruling
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A university researcher faces "financial ruin" if his former wife, an heiress said to be worth £100m, wins her battle to have prenuptial agreements recognised in the UK, the Supreme Court heard.
Nicolas Granatino took his case to the court after appeal judges slashed his divorce settlement from more than £5m to £1m, saying "decisive weight" should be given to the agreement signed before he married that he would make no claims on Katrin Radmacher.
Nicholas Mostyn QC, representing Mr Granatino, said that when Mrs Justice Baron originally decided the case in the High Court in 2008, she said the prenup agreement was void but not irrelevant, and its existence had reduced her award to the husband. This was £4.7m, plus money to buy a home in Germany to care for their two children, and payments of £35,000 a year for each child.
If his appeal is dismissed, Mr Granatino must pay back maintenance from his former wife together with court the costs. Mr Granatino, 38, is a biotechnology researcher at Oxford University. He was divorced from his wife, a German heiress to a paper company and reputed to be one of the richest women in Europe, in 2007. The hearing continues.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments