Profile
Work Department
Position
- I am a Partner and Head of the Birmingham family team. My clients are based up and down the country and I am regularly instructed to deal with cases in London.
- I have an established practice representing people across a wide range of complicated financial claims on divorce, including business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs. This also includes a niche area advising in the context of third-party intervenor claims and professional footballers and their partners. I am also sought after for my expertise in wealth protection, including pre-nuptial agreements.
- I have a particular specialism in complex financial cases, in the UK and internationally. I am one of only a small handful of family lawyers that deals with complicated tax structures, overseas trusts and assets. I have delivered training to other family lawyers on these issues, including STEP.
- I’ve represented many parents in disputes about their children, including relocation locally and abroad. I am regarded as a complete expert in all cases involving alienation of children and fact find hearings in the context of mentally or physically abusive relationships, whether that be representing a victim or defending false allegations.
- Almost all of my cases come from recommendations. I place a high value on client care, which is shown in the volume of 5* Trustpilot reviews. I have also won multiple awards (IAFL European Lawyer Award 2016, Law Society Solicitor of the Year 2015, Jordan’s Family Law Team of the Year 2017, Birmingham Law Society – Excellence in Client Service 2019, Finalist – Partner of the Year 2023).
- I am also a trained and accredited collaborative lawyer, which is an alternative to the traditional process and provides clients with a different option to resolving issues out of court.
Memberships
Content supplied by Irwin Mitchell
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Irwin Mitchell's family team are growing an increasingly impressive reputation for modern families work and children work. They have an impressive and strong team who work collaboratively with counsel and are incredibly bright and ambitious.’
‘Dan Moreton is a rising star and definitely one to watch!’
‘Zahra Pabani - a force of nature! Second to none in her relationship building with clients. I have absolute trust in her skills, abilities, and desire to deliver a fantastic service. A leading partner! Mark Hands leads the Birmingham offering and has a very strong focus on raising the bar when it comes to the city being the centre of excellence for family law.'
‘Mark Hands gives sensible advice, but fights his client's corner and encourages appropriate dispute resolution. Sarah Balfour has an excellent reputation - dedicated, great technical knowledge, and wonderful manner with clients. Rachel Baker is highly competent and knowledgeable, proactive in moving matters forwards for her clients, responsive and sensible in her approach with other lawyers - also an excellent mediator.’
‘Sabrina Powell is a truly excellent lawyer who works hard to get the best outcome for her clients. The documentation she prepares for the court is of the highest standard, thorough and persuasive.'
‘I work mostly with Charlotte Clewes and Sarah Balfour. Sarah has a calm and focused approach, providing realistic advice and handling difficult cases with sensitivity. Charlotte has a bright and enthusiastic personality, a supportive manner with clients and a keen sense of strategy in extracting optimum client outcomes.’
‘Mark Hands is probably the best family law solicitor in country. He is stupidly clever, strategic, has excellent knowledge of the law, and has great client care skills. He is also extremely proactive and a problem solver.'