Practice Areas
Marisa specialises in complex private law children and financial remedies cases, particularly international cases and those involving multiple businesses, family trusts, and third-party interests, including Schedule 1 and applications. She is a qualified arbitrator (finance) and also offers her services as a neutral evaluator at Private FDRs.
Her international expertise extends to issues of cross border personal status – marriage, divorce, gender, parenthood or parental responsibility and international adoption. She also represents parties in child abduction cases. She has particular experience in jurisdictional disputes, and regularly advises where there are competing jurisdictions. Marisa has provided expert evidence as to English family law to overseas courts in a number of cases. She is a fellow of the IAFL.
She has additionally developed a niche practice in fertility law, donor conceived children, and surrogacy and is co-author of “Children and Same Sex Families: A Legal Handbook” aimed at family lawyers, professionals and people in same sex relationships (published by Jordan Publishing in March 2012). She regularly acts in High Court matters concerning recognition of parental status.
A tenacious advocate when she needs to be, known for her clear advice, attention to details and creative, pro-active approach to negotiating settlement. Clients particularly welcome her calm and collected approach.
Professional Memberships
• Family Law Bar Association (FLBA)
• CIArb
• IAFL
• Associate Member of Resolution
• Advocate panel member
• Family Law Institute
• Registered as a direct access barrister under the Bar Council’s Direct Public Access scheme
