Irwin Mitchell

Mark Hands

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.

Zahra Pabani

Partner

Clare Wiseman

I am a Family Law partner with over 30 years’ experience, having recently relocated from the Midlands to the South Coast of England. I deal with all aspects of family law - both domestic and international - including financial matters, cases involving children and cross-border disputes. I regularly act for high profile public and private sector individuals, entrepreneurs, and sports personalities. I am, a member of the prestigious International Academy of Family Lawyers - being one of only a few English Fellows based outside of London. I am also a member of ‘Reunite’ ( the leading UK charity specialising in child abduction).  I regularly attend domestic and international conferences and am head of International Family Law at Irwin Mitchell. I have vast experience of alternative dispute resolution in family cases by way of round table meetings, private FDRs and am an experienced collaborative family law practitioner and Resolution member. I am also a tenacious litigator, when required, featuring in reported cases at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal such as Kingdon V Kingdon and Brack V Brack. I have a particular interest in the ongoing review and analysis of our existing law and sit on the Centre For Child and Family Law Reform Committee - The Centre is sponsored by The Law School of City University of London. The Centre’s purpose is to scrutinise existing family law and to facilitate reform where appropriate.

Sarah Balfour

I am a partner at Irwin Mitchell, specialising in divorce and related financial matters, and private law issues relating to children. I act for a range of clients and offer practical, commercially focused advice. I have a particular interest in litigation involving family Trusts. I’m a vocal advocate of pre- and post-nuptial agreements and I’m regularly instructed to prepare these. I’m also instructed by clients who have separated and wish to hold their spouses to nuptial agreements they’ve signed, as well as those seeking to challenge them. My clients range from those with inherited family wealth to others who have built up assets during their lifetime. I also sit on Irwin Mitchell’s Later Life Group and act for older and elderly clients. I understand the issues faced by those marrying or separating in later life and was key in developing the firm’s Later Life Relationships proposition. I’ve written extensively on family law issues and have delivered training seminars to other professional advisors. In relation to children matters I take a sensitive and child-focused approach. I work on cases involving the National Youth Advocacy Service and children’s guardians, and regularly instruct independent social workers and other experts. I act in cases of internal and international relocation and those involving parental alienation. Whatever a client’s circumstances, my focus is on getting the best result I can.