Ranking tables
Family/Matrimonial | UK
North West
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
Band 2
Irwin Mitchell 1 Years Ranked
Mills & Reeve LLP 1 Years Ranked
Slater Heelis Limited 1 Years Ranked- Aaron & Partners LLP
- Hill Dickinson LLP
- MSB Solicitors
Band 3
Susan Howarth & Company Solicitors 1 Years Ranked- Maguire Family Law
- McAlister Family Law
- Stephensons
Band 4
Aramas Law 1 Years Ranked
Farleys Solicitors LLP 1 Years Ranked
Harrison Drury 1 Years Ranked
Poole Alcock 1 Years Ranked- Burnetts
- SAS Daniels LLP
- Ward Hadaway
Senior Statespeople
Carole Atkinson Weightmans23 Years Ranked
David Pickering JMW Solicitors LLP21 Years Ranked- Christine BarkerWard Hadaway
- Richard BargeAaron & Partners LLP
Star Individuals
Band 1
Abigail Bennett JMW Solicitors LLP6 Years Ranked
Alison Bull Mills & Reeve LLP20 Years Ranked- Andrew Newbury Hall Brown Family Law22 Years Ranked
Emma Collins Weightmans14 Years Ranked
Fiona Davidson Weightmans10 Years Ranked- James Brown Hall Brown Family Law12 Years Ranked
- Sam Hall Hall Brown Family Law11 Years Ranked
- Emma PalmerMSB Solicitors
- Helen MarriottBrabners LLP
- James MaguireMaguire Family Law
- Joanne RaisbeckHill Dickinson LLP
Band 2
Beverley Jones JMW Solicitors LLP10 Years Ranked
Elspeth Kinder JMW Solicitors LLP8 Years Ranked
Fiona C Turner Weightmans7 Years Ranked
Mark Heptinstall Slater Heelis11 Years Ranked
Michael Chapman JMW Solicitors LLP11 Years Ranked
Natalie Dickson Freeths LLP4 Years Ranked
Phillip Rhodes Irwin Mitchell6 Years Ranked
Roland Humphreys gunnercooke5 Years Ranked- Amanda McAlisterMcAlister Family Law
- Cara NuttallBrabners LLP
- Elizabeth HassallHM3 Legal
- Joanne RadcliffHill Dickinson LLP
- Sarah McCarthyHill Dickinson LLP
Band 3
Andrew Moore Mills & Reeve LLP10 Years Ranked
Antonia Love Farleys Solicitors LLP10 Years Ranked
Pauline McNamara JMW Solicitors LLP7 Years Ranked
Sarah Thompson Keystone Law2 Years Ranked
Sue Brookes Mills & Reeve LLP13 Years Ranked
Susan Howarth Susan Howarth & Company Solicitors2 Years Ranked
Vicky Poole Susan Howarth & Company Solicitors2 Years Ranked- Colin DaviesKuits Solicitors
- Fiona WoodMcAlister Family Law
- Lorraine SaundersAaron & Partners LLP
- Patricia RobinsonGorvins Solicitors
Band 4
Charlotte Beck Slater Heelis1 Years Ranked
Christopher Longbottom Clarke Willmott LLP4 Years Ranked
Georgina Chase Slater and Gordon Lawyers5 Years Ranked
Helen Stoller Poole Alcock2 Years Ranked
Katie Lowe JMW Solicitors LLP4 Years Ranked
Kim Aucott Slater Heelis8 Years Ranked
Nathaniel Groarke Irwin Mitchell6 Years Ranked- Niki Wilburn-Shaw Knights plc1 Years Ranked
Richard Barratt Poole Alcock2 Years Ranked
Ruth Kearns JMW Solicitors LLP2 Years Ranked
Samara Iqbal Aramas Law1 Years Ranked- Claire PorterSAS Daniels LLP
- Denise MoranMaguire Family Law
- Helen MillerStowe Family Law LLP
- Henry VenablesMaguire Family Law
- Jackie PriceStephensons
- Liz BottrillWard Hadaway
- Matthew TaylorStowe Family Law LLP
- Pippa TudorMSB Solicitors
- Simon Magner MawdsleyAaron & Partners LLP
- Victoria GethinStephensons
Up and Coming
Rachel Lim Weightmans1 Years Ranked
Rose-Marie Drury Mills & Reeve LLP7 Years Ranked- Amy HarrisBrabners LLP
- Hannah SaxeMcAlister Family Law
- Leanne InstrallBrabners LLP
- Rachel BenettStephensons
Star Associates
- Ellie WebsterHill Dickinson LLP
Associates to watch
Antonia Williamson Freeths LLP1 Years Ranked
Emily Finn Clarke Willmott LLP2 Years Ranked- Emma Benson Irwin Mitchell1 Years Ranked
Linzi Perriman Weightmans1 Years Ranked- Madelaine Hailey Hall Brown Family Law2 Years Ranked
- Caroline Hamilton-BarrettMSB Solicitors
- Emma ArmstrongBurnetts
- Helen DaviesDTM Legal LLP
- Jo-Anna JellingsBrabners LLP
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Hall Brown Family LawFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 1 | 1 Years RankedHall Brown has a recognised team of practitioners in Manchester experienced in handling all aspects of family matters, including high net worth financial issues as well as private children law. The firm's clients include high-profile personalities from the North West region who require advice on complex cases encompassing intricate business structures, investments and trusts. Hall Brown also advises on wealth protection issues and is skilled at managing matters which span multiple jurisdictions.
1 JMW Solicitors LLPFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 1 | 1 Years RankedJMW Solicitors has an impressive presence in the North West, with key offices in both Manchester and Liverpool. The team possesses noted expertise across a broad spectrum of complex family matters, handling high-value financial remedy cases involving pensions, businesses and trusts, as well as prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. It is also adept at children law, including international abduction cases and matters related to fertility law and surrogacy.
1 WeightmansFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 1 | 1 Years RankedWeightmans has a strong presence in family work in the North West, with key offices in both Manchester and Liverpool. It is especially well known for its strength in wealth protection and cohabitation matters as well as for skill in private children cases. It works closely with its private client and property teams and is often involved in cases with significant international and trusts elements.
Band 2
2 Irwin MitchellFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 2 | 1 Years RankedIrwin Mitchell is highly regarded in the Manchester market for its work in major financial remedy proceedings for high net worth individuals. The firm is also called upon for its expertise in private children law matters, including Schedule 1 applications, child relocations and adoption issues. Irwin Mitchell is active in wealth protection matters, regularly assisting clients with prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and is adept at handling matters with significant cross-border aspects.2 Mills & Reeve LLPFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 2 | 1 Years RankedMills & Reeve has a strong reputation for handling complex wealth protection and financial remedy cases for high net worth clients. The Manchester family team ably handles litigation, mediation and collaborative law matters and works closely with the firm's corporate and private client teams to provide a fully rounded service. It remains active on international children matters, including relocations to foreign jurisdictions, and also offers advice on fertility and surrogacy law.2 Slater Heelis LimitedFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 2 | 1 Years RankedSlater Heelis offers family law services from offices in Manchester and Cheshire, advising on financial remedies and child residence and contact issues. It also regularly handles wealth protection agreements and inheritance claims. The team is skilled at alternative dispute resolution methods, including collaborative law, arbitration and mediation, as well as being well equipped to handle cross-border cases concerning non-UK residents and overseas assets.
Band 3
3 Susan Howarth & Company SolicitorsFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 3 | 1 Years RankedSusan Howarth & Company is a Northwich-based firm with particular experience in children matters. It frequently acts on child arrangements orders and care proceedings, and is experienced in advising on cases concerning relocation, abduction and assault. The team is also adept at assisting clients with financial remedy proceedings.
Band 4
4 Aramas LawFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedAramas Law is a Manchester-based boutique with a branch office in Abu Dhabi. The firm handles a broad range of family law issues, including divorce proceedings, children law, and both pre- and postnuptial agreements. Its significant international expertise allows it to specialise in complex matters involving multi-jurisdictional families.4 Farleys Solicitors LLPFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedFarleys Solicitors is a respected Blackburn-based practice noted for its experience advising clients on the financial aspects of separations, frequently assisting with financial remedy proceedings. It is also active in children law matters, representing clients in child arrangements order cases and care proceedings.4 Harrison DruryFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedHarrison Drury has a strong practice across Lancashire and Cumbria, with key offices including Manchester, Preston and Kendal. It is sought after for its wide breadth of expertise in family law, which includes financial remedy and child arrangements stemming from divorce, as well as wealth protection matters such as prenuptial agreements. The firm represents a broad base of clients including notable and high net worth individuals.4 Poole AlcockFamily/Matrimonial2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years RankedPoole Alcock is a notable Chester firm with a strong family law practice. The team handles both financial remedy and child law matters related to divorce and separation proceedings, including cases where substantial assets and complex business interests are involved. It also has notable expertise in agricultural divorces.