Ranking tables

Family/Matrimonial | UK

North West

Our Family/Matrimonial tables rank law firms and lawyers who deal with issues surrounding the inception and breakdown of personal relationships. This includes the creation of pre-nuptial, civil partnership and cohabitation agreements relating to financial and property assets, the resolution of divorces or separations involving financial and property disputes, and the handling of matters relating to children in the context of divorce or separation. Public law proceedings related to children in care may also be included, as may work relating to surrogacy and fertility law. All regions also feature a sub-table designed to highlight the leading family mediators in that region.

Rankings overview for Departments

S

  1. Carole Atkinson
    Carole Atkinson Weightmans25 Years Ranked
  2. David Pickering
    David Pickering JMW Solicitors LLP23 Years Ranked
  3. Christine BarkerWard Hadaway LLP
  4. Richard BargeAaron & Partners LLP
E

  1. Ros Bever
    Ros Bever Irwin Mitchell17 Years Ranked
  2. Amanda McAlisterMcAlister Family Law
U

  1. Lara Tucker Irwin Mitchell5 Years Ranked
  2. Rose-Marie Drury
    Rose-Marie Drury Mills & Reeve LLP9 Years Ranked
  3. Hannah SaxeBrabners LLP
  4. Leanne InstrallBrabners LLP
  5. Rachel BenettStephensons

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Hall Brown Family Law
    1
    Hall Brown Family Law
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked

    Hall 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.

  2. JMW Solicitors LLP
    1
    JMW Solicitors LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked

    JMW 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 cases and matters related to fertility law and surrogacy.

  3. Weightmans
    1
    Weightmans
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 1 | 2 Years Ranked
    Weightmans 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.
  4. Brabners LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. Hill Dickinson LLP
    2
    Hill Dickinson LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked

    Hill Dickinson is well known for advising clients on financial and children issues related to divorce and separation. Its specialist expertise includes advising on cohabitation, pensions, trusts and parental responsibility issues, with additional experience in handling the negotiation of nuptial agreements. The team regularly advises clients domiciled outside of the UK and those with overseas assets. The firm has offices in both Liverpool and Manchester.

  2. Irwin Mitchell
    2
    Irwin Mitchell
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked

    Irwin 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.

  3. Mills & Reeve LLP
    2
    Mills & Reeve LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Mills & 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.
  4. 2
    MSB Solicitors
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked

    MSB Solicitors is a respected family law practice in Liverpool handling matrimonial finance disputes as well as public and private children cases. The team advises high net worth individuals on divorce proceedings, cohabitation disputes and prenuptial agreements. It is regularly involved in public care proceedings and international abduction cases, and also takes on cases involving children with complex medical issues and alleged non-accidental injuries.

  5. Slater Heelis (Part of Lawfront)
    2
    Slater Heelis (Part of Lawfront)
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Slater 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.
3

Band 3

  1. Maguire Family Law
    3
    Maguire Family Law
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Maguire Family Law is a well-reputed boutique with key bases in Altrincham, Wilmslow and Knutsford. The team advises high net worth and international clients on finance matters, including divorce settlements and wealth protection agreements. It also has significant experience acting on children law issues, including residence and contact, and is acknowledged for its expertise in international abduction and relocation cases.
  2. Susan Howarth & Company Solicitors
    3
    Susan Howarth & Company Solicitors
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked

    Susan 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 and divorce proceedings.

  3. Aaron & Partners LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 3
  4. McAlister Family Law
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 3
  5. Stephensons
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Aramas Law
    4
    Aramas Law
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked

    Aramas 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.

  2. Farleys Solicitors (Part of Lawfront)
    4
    Farleys Solicitors (Part of Lawfront)
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked

    Farleys 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 disputes over child arrangements orders and in care proceedings.

  3. Harrison Drury
    4
    Harrison Drury
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked

    Harrison 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 Alcock
    4
    Poole Alcock
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked

    Poole 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.

  5. Burnetts
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4
  6. Ward Hadaway LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 4
5

Band 5

  1. Clarke Willmott LLP
    5
    Clarke Willmott LLP
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 5 | 1 Years Ranked

    Clarke Willmott is a Manchester-based practice with experience advising clients on nuptial agreements, financial remedy proceedings and modern family and surrogacy matters. The team often acts for multi-national and high net worth individuals.

  2. Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall
    5
    Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 5 | 1 Years Ranked

    Woodcocks Haworth & Nuttall has a number of offices in the Manchester area and across Lancashire. The firm's family team handles divorce and financial remedy proceedings, along with private children work, for a diverse client base that includes high net worth individuals. It can advise on cases with highly complex elements, such as business, tax and property concerns.

  3. HM3 Legal
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 5
  4. Kuits Solicitors
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 5
  5. Sinclair Law Solicitors
    Family/Matrimonial
    2026 | Band 5