Building Trust With Clients In High-Stakes Divorce Cases

Representing a client in a high-stakes divorce requires far more than command of the law. These matters often involve complex financial issues, intense personal dynamics, and significant reputational concerns. In this environment, trust is the foundation of a strong attorney-client relationship. Without establishing trust, it is difficult for a client to rely on your judgment, accept your advice, or have you assist in making decisions that move their case toward resolution.

Discretion is equally essential and in fact, part of the trust that develops. High-profile individuals expect, and deserve, absolute privacy. They must see you as someone who understands the sensitivity of their circumstances and who will take all measures necessary to protect their information.

Challenges in High-Stakes Divorce Matters

Before considering how trust is built, it is helpful to understand what makes these high-stakes
matters unique.

1. Complex Assets
   These cases often involve complex asset structures such as closely held businesses, layered executive compensation packages, international accounts, trusts, and other sophisticated financial issues. Demonstrating that you understand these structures and that you have the proper professionals in place, whether financial experts, tax experts, real estate appraisers, etc., will put the client at ease and build confidence that you are equipped to handle their matter.
2. Heightened Emotions and Loss of Control
   Divorce is emotional for everyone, but public figures, executives, and high-net-worth individuals often experience an acute sense of losing control. A calm, steady attorney who can provide perspective, manage expectations, and defuse conflict becomes indispensable.
3. Confidentiality Risks and Reputational Exposure
   Clients with notoriety, wealth, or public positions worry about leaks, scrutiny, and embarrassment. Demonstrating that you take confidentiality seriously, from how you store and transmit information, to limiting access to information, to discrete communication, helps establish credibility which ultimately leads to trust.

Building Trust

Once you demonstrate that you understand the challenges evident in high-stakes divorce matters, you can work to build trust with your client. Some of the most important ways of doing so are to ensure that the client understands that you will be discrete with their information and protect their privacy. The client will also come to learn that you will be honest and straightforward with your advice. Telling a client what they want to hear when you know the opposite is true, simply works to erode trust not foster it. Similarly, providing realistic timelines gives the client important metrics on how long it may take to reach resolution. Finally, helping clients maintain perspective and showing some compassion will let them see you as a trusted advisor.

In terms of privacy and confidentiality, it is critical to let clients know explicitly the safeguards you have in place to protect their information. Explain your ethical obligations, describe your internal protocols, and reassure clients that their matter will not be discussed with anyone outside the core team. If a confidentiality agreement is necessary to protect information, do what is in your power to assure one is in place. High-stakes clients want to know that their information is protected.

While high-stakes clients are often decisionmakers themselves, they will appreciate you providing a direct, genuine analysis of their matter. They may not always like your assessment, but candor and honesty is what ultimately helps them build confidence in your judgment. Avoid sugarcoating outcomes, timelines, or risks.

Clients often push for immediate action or rapid results. Giving them accurate expectations, despite what they want to hear, prevents greater frustration down the road. Overpromising may feel helpful in the moment, but it erodes trust when deadlines are not realistic or outcomes differ than what was anticipated.

Taking time to truly listen to clients and understand their goals is just as important as tackling the necessary tasks in a case. Clients who feel understood will feel more comfortable in relying on your advice and will look to you to provide stability and strength in navigating resolution during this time when they are feeling particularly vulnerable. And when setbacks happen, as they often do, your role is to focus the client on their long-term goals rather than immediate frustrations. This steady, strategic guidance reinforces that you are the person who can carry the client through this volatile process.

Conclusion

Building trust in a high-stakes divorce case is not accomplished in a single act but is part of an ongoing practice. It requires a combination of legal skill, discretion, candor, emotional sensitivity, and consistent communication. When clients believe that you understand their financial realities, respect their privacy, and truly listen to their concerns, they will rely on your judgment even during the most difficult moments. Their trust in you that develops is what allows you to guide them through a complex and deeply personal process toward a stable and satisfactory resolution.

Originally published by Martindale-Avvo.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.