Family/Matrimonial
UK Guide 2025 : West Midlands
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
0870 1500 100About
Provided by Irwin Mitchell
We continue to offer the full range of Family Law services and act for a wide variety of clients from ultra–high-net-worth individuals to business owners and professionals. We pride ourselves on offering excellent advice and service and have been praised for offering London quality advice for regional prices.
Our client base includes -
• Entrepreneurs;
• landed gentry;
• Affluent female market;
• highly skilled professionals;
• sports professionals;
• CEOs;
• spouses and partners of multi-millionaires; and
• Vulnerable clients who have received large PI settlements
We have two new service lines.
• Mediation – we serve our clients nationally dealing with all aspects of family law.
• Counselling and Coaching – we have an in-house coach/counsellor and provide free initial sessions to all our clients.
From a referrer perspective we have created two new programmes –
• Intermediary programme – we ensure we have the knowledge and connections required in the marketplace to give clients a seamless transition to the next professional of their choosing
• Priority Client Programme – we work with certain organisations providing support to employees going through a family difficulty and support in preparing wills and considering tax planning.
We are also the sole legal partner for Sports Media World.
Chambers Review
Irwin Mitchell has an outstanding family practice in Birmingham with an impressive bench of highly respected practitioners. It offers the entire range of family law services, frequently acting for high net worth individuals. The team handles high-value prenuptial agreements and financial remedy matters, as well as cases involving overseas assets, trusts and corporate interests. The group has additional expertise in international pensions law. Its members also represent clients in complex Children Act proceedings.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Client service is strong, as is the knowledge across lawyers at all levels. They take a team approach on all cases so you don't just deal with one person."
"They have a very experienced team and inspire confidence that they are giving the best advice."
"The team as a whole is incredibly strong and cohesive. They are phenomenal in how they work their cases and I feel confident speaking with anyone from the firm."
"I have been very impressed by Irwin Mitchell, particularly in very difficult, long-running cases. They are really excellent, thoughtful and good at managing clients expectations."
"Client service is strong, as is the knowledge across lawyers at all levels. They take a team approach on all cases so you don't just deal with one person."
"They have a very experienced team and inspire confidence that they are giving the best advice."
"The team as a whole is incredibly strong and cohesive. They are phenomenal in how they work their cases and I feel confident speaking with anyone from the firm."
"I have been very impressed by Irwin Mitchell, particularly in very difficult, long-running cases. They are really excellent, thoughtful and good at managing clients expectations."
Notable Practitioners
Mark Hands has a broad practice encompassing complex financial mandates and children matters. He is highly skilled in handling cases with international aspects including property portfolios and tax issues.
"Mark is practical, sensible and thinks outside the box."
"Mark Hands is one of the best finance solicitors in Birmingham. Clients really like him but opponents also respect him; he has a sensible and pragmatic approach."
"Mark is the Rolls-Royce of solicitors in this area of law; clients love him. He is as good as it gets anywhere."
"Mark is a superstar of financial remedy in Birmingham. Clients like him, there is no ego and he is down to earth."
"A hugely talented solicitor - clients go to him because he is incredibly trusted in this space."
Sarah Balfour frequently acts on financial proceedings including prenuptial agreements and ancillary relief, with additional experience in Children Act matters.
"Sarah is a standout for me - she is always a pleasure to work with."
"Sarah Balfour is the best children's solicitor in the Midlands. She is hugely experienced, incredibly balanced and sensible."
"She obtains amazing results due to a combination of her strategy and her ability to work effectively with counsel and to get clients to invest everything with her. She works enormously hard."
Zahra Pabani excels in handling high net worth matrimonial finance disputes that feature complex business, trust and pension arrangements. She also advises on private children matters.
"Zahra has been excellent in all my contact with her, both in her working directly on my case and in referring me to colleagues for additional help."
"Zahra Pabani is one of the A-listers of the Birmingham family law market."
Rachel Baker primarily handles matrimonial finance matters, including wealth protection agreements and ancillary relief. She is also knowledgeable in Children Act applications and is an accredited family mediator.
"Rachel has very strong knowledge and is very thorough and detailed."
"Rachel is the person you want on a complicated finance case."
Marie Kilgallen routinely provides counsel on financial issues arising from divorce proceedings, including those concerning business assets and complex property structures. She has notable experience of advising high net worth individuals.
"Marie deals with quite complex matters and has high technical knowledge."
"Marie Kilgallen is absolutely excellent - she is highly experienced and has a very good way with clients."
Ranked Lawyers at
Irwin Mitchell
West Midlands