Department profile
Brabners

Family/Matrimonial

UK Guide 2026 : North West


Brabners

Rankings

About

Provided by Brabners

Brabners Family Team is one of the largest in the Northwest; it is well known and highly respected. We operate nationwide dealing with clients and assets in a range of locations including the UK, USA, UAE, China, Europe, New Zealand, Russia and the Far East.

We are best known for representing high net worth individuals where there are complex asset structures such as businesses, trusts or pensions. Typical clients are business owners, sports / media personalities, lottery winners, land and estate owners and beneficiaries of trusts.

Our client base is such that we understand and work with individuals in complex situations by the nature of their role, their business, their asset base and family circumstances. We provide extensive advice in relation to divorce, financial settlement on divorce and disputes arising on the breakdown of cohabiting relationships which is tailored to the needs, complexities and demands of such individuals.

Our work is increasingly proactive and preventative. We frequently deal with wealth protection work involving multi-jurisdictional assets.

We also specialise in acting for parents in private law children matters where there are complicated issues of alcohol / drug addiction, allegations of abuse, implacable hostility, change of residence and international relocation. 

We offer the full spectrum of family services including ADR for clients who wish to avoid the traditional court process (Helen Marriott, arbitrator & Joanne Radcliff, collaborative law).

Industries (19)

  • Banks
  • Chemicals
  • Commercial & Professional Services
  • Construction & Materials
  • Consumer Product Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Financial Services
  • Food & Drink Producers
  • Government
  • Healthcare
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Media
  • Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
  • Private Clients / Individuals
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Sports
  • Travel & Leisure
  • Utilities

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - North West

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Brabners offers well-regarded family teams in both Liverpool and Manchester with expertise in financial remedy cases and the negotiation of nuptial agreements. The firm frequently represents high net worth individuals and professional sportspeople in matters that involve complex business or trust structures, or international elements. Brabners also advises on private law children matters, including cases involving relocation and abduction issues, and regularly works with the firm's private client team.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team has an extremely high skill set across the family team, especially in relation to complex and multi-jurisdictional children matters.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • They were robust around the red lines, but they always sought to achieve our overall aims in a cordial and amicable manner in order to keep things progressing positively.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Brabners provide a high-quality client care service.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Brabners give the best client service; there is no one better.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • They are certainly top-tier in Manchester and the North West region.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Helen Marriott
    Band 1Helen Marriott

    Helen Marriott

    Helen Marriott is based in Liverpool and has a strong reputation for her work representing high net worth individuals in divorce proceedings and other financial disputes.

    • Helen has deep experience, including with emotionally fraught situations and conversations.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Helen is extremely capable, organised and knowledgeable, while also being pragmatic and very down to earth.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Band 2Cara Nuttall
    Band 2Cara Nuttall

    Cara Nuttall

    Cara Nuttall centres her practice on children work, with experience handling difficult international abduction and relocation cases. She also has niche expertise in matters relating to fertility procedures and surrogacy.

    • Cara is the go-to person for complex children's work with jurisdictional complications. Her reputation is hard-won and well deserved.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Cara is forensic and thorough; if I needed to create a dream team from scratch, she would be in it.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • She is phenomenally knowledgeable about surrogacy and modern family work.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Cara is phenomenally knowledgeable about surrogacy and modern family work. She is probably the Rolls-Royce solicitor for private surrogacy matters.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Her expertise in children matters is second to none.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Band 4Amy Harris
    Band 4Amy Harris

    Amy Harris

    Amy Harris has notable expertise in financial remedy proceedings for individuals with high-value and complex assets.

    • Amy has a fabulous reputation around Manchester. She is practical, methodical and very pleasant to deal with.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Amy is very personable and client-focused. She has also built an extremely competent team.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Up and ComingHannah Saxe
    Up and ComingHannah Saxe

    Hannah Saxe

    Hannah Saxe has notable expertise in children matters, including experience advising on adoption and surrogacy cases.

  • Up and ComingLeanne Instrall
    Up and ComingLeanne Instrall

    Leanne Instrall

    Leanne Instrall has notable experience representing clients in financial remedy proceedings and private law children matters. She is based in the firm's Manchester office.

    • Leanne is excellent; she is highly experienced in her knowledge of the law, very commercial in her approach and she provides really clear communication.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Leanne knows the cases back to front and she gives good advice to the client. She treads that path of being collaborative, but also being able to be more litigious when needed.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Leanne was very clear, proactive and gave me every confidence in her advice.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
  • Associates to watchJo-Anna Jellings
    Associates to watchJo-Anna Jellings

    Jo-Anna Jellings

    Jo-Anna Jellings is based in Manchester and has growing experience in handling a range of complex children law and matrimonial financial matters. She also has specialist knowledge of fertility law.

    • I can't recommend her enough; she will cut through a lot of the excess, and her level of client service is really excellent.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Jo-Anna is sensitive to the needs of the client and good at refining issues. She is just a really positive presence.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK
    • Jo-Anna is excellent, committed and caring.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at Brabners (6)

North West

Members

Provided by Brabners

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