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Partner, Head of Family
0161 836 8998
0790 023 3942
cara.nuttall@brabners.com
She’s highly experienced in children and modern families law and specialises in child abduction, child relocation and surrogacy. As a qualified Children Arbitrator, Cara can adjudicate on a wide range of matters relating to children.
Cara has been continuously ranked in top legal directories for over a decade. She’s recognised for her "forensic and thorough" approach and "Rolls-Royce solicitor" status by Chambers and Partners and is "the go-to person for complex children's work with jurisdictional complications". She's also been spotlighted as a ‘Leading Partner’ in The Legal 500, which states that "the 'one in a million' Cara Nuttall is an expert in domestic and international children matters, as well as fertility and surrogacy law".
The Legal 500 has also cited Cara as having a "stellar reputation" and combining being a "compassionate lawyer with being a gladiator for her clients in court" as well as being "everything that a demanding private law client requires: intelligent, experienced and completely committed".
Cara further advises on all aspects of relationship breakdown — including divorce and financial matters — as well as cases with international elements and in respect of enforcement, including committal. She assists a diverse range of clients from various backgrounds who are based both in the UK and abroad.
Cara’s work involves complex and sometimes novel points of law. She has been involved in many significant decisions across both children and financial matters and is actively involved in efforts to review and reform the law where needed. This has seen her participate in regional and national family law committees like Resolution, Women in Family Law, the Child Abduction Lawyers Association and LGBT Family Law Institute, along with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on surrogacy. She frequently appears in the media to discuss family law issues and featured as legal advisor in the Channel 4 documentary ‘Strangers Making Babies’.
With a particular specialisms in complex domestic and international children law, modern family structures (including grandparents, step-families, extended families and platonic parenting arrangements) and building families through surrogacy, donation and co-parenting (platonic parenting) arrangements, Cara has extensive experience in cases that involve welfare concerns such as domestic abuse, substance and alcohol misuse and allegations of alienation. She has acquired Resolution specialist status for private law children matters and child abduction.
Cara features on the Pro Bono Recognition List 2025, which recognises lawyers who undertook 25 hours or more of legal pro bono work over the last year.
Cara joined us in 2023 and is based in our Manchester office.
“Cara is phenomenally knowledgeable about surrogacy and modern family work. She is probably the Rolls-Royce solicitor for private surrogacy matters. Her expertise in children's matters is second to none.”
Client feedback, Chambers and Partners 2026
“Cara Nuttall is an expert in domestic and international children cases, including abduction and surrogacy.”
The Legal 500 2026
“We’ll never forget the difference that Brabners made in this chapter of our lives. Jo-Anna Jellings and Cara Nuttall were beyond amazing — very skilled, insightful and empathetic. They worked collaboratively with different barristers to help us achieve the outcome we sought at every hearing. We hope that they can continue to impact many more people with the work that they do.”
Client feedback
“The 'one in a million' Cara Nuttall is an expert in domestic and international children matters, as well as fertility and surrogacy law.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Praised by clients as a ‘premier family law service', Brabners assists... on the full range of family issues, including complex financial proceedings and child matters. As a full-service firm, the group ensures cross-department collaboration with its renowned private client and commercial team and has extensive experience in matters with a multi-jurisdictional element.”
The Legal 500 2025
“Brabners has one of the North of England’s largest family law teams, with expertise across financial, children, international and fertility work.”
The Times Best Law Firms 2025
X v W & Anor [2025] EWFC 25
Parental order granted following an international surrogacy arrangement which brought up issues of international legality, public interest and consent. The judgment highlights the concern about a rising tide of potentially exploitative commercial agencies operating within international surrogacy.
HK v NK [2024] EWHC 1987 (Fam) (02 August 2024)
Permission granted for children to return to live in the UAE with their father after a unilateral retention in England and issues surrounding domestic abuse.
R and Y 2024 EWCA Civ 131
Consideration by the Court of Appeal of the way in which allegations and findings of domestic abuse were considered in the context for an application of return of children to the UAE.
Rothschild and Radziszewska v De Souza (Committal #3) 2024
Further applications for committal of husband and his mother for ongoing non-compliance with orders and undertakings.
Rothschild and Radziszewska v De Souza (Committal #2) 2021
Successfully resisted an appeal against an order which was said to depress the husband’s award below his needs on the ground of conduct (with costs).
Re Z (Parental Order: Child’s Home) 2021 EWHC 29
Granting of a parental order despite the physical separation of the family and welfare concerns raised by the local authority.
Re Z (Care proceedings: Surrogacy) 2021 EWHC 5
A rare instance of interplay between care and parental order proceedings, along with disputes as to habitual residence and jurisdiction.
Rothschild and De Souza (conduct and need) 2020 EWCA 1215
Successfully resisted an appeal against an order which was said to depress the husband’s award below his needs on the ground of conduct (with costs).
Re A (Surrogacy: s54 criteria) 2020 EWHC 1426
The court was persuaded to ‘read down’ the statutory requirements for parental orders on surrogacy in circumstances where the applicants wouldn’t otherwise have qualified for the order and addressing the definition of “has a home with”.
TT v CDS 2019 EWHC 3572
Financial remedy proceedings regarding deviation from equality and needs on the basis of litigation and general conduct.
Rothschild and De Souza (Committal #1) 2018
Secured a suspended committal for breach of undertakings (with costs).
Rothschild and Radziszewska v De Souza (Beneficial Interest) 2018 EWHC 1855
Resistance of third-party claims of beneficial ownership in respect to matrimonial assets (with costs).
R v R 2017 (Hague Convention: Wardship) EWHC 3709
Consideration of the interplay between Wardship and Hague Convention (Abduction) and habitual residence. Successfully secured the return of client’s children to the USA (with costs).
M v S and F 2017 EWHC 2176
Single parent surrogacy prior to the change in law, considering the inadequacy of the law after the breakdown of parental relationship.
Re V 2014 EWFC 58
Discussion of the approach taken by social services in circumstances of competing allegations of abuse between parents.
Re EP 2014 EWFC B136
Children proceedings involving the falsification of evidence and concerns regarding compliance with GMC protocols in respect to allegations of abuse (with costs).
Re S (Foreign Surrogacy) 2014 EWHC 2121
Consideration of an international surrogacy arrangement where the criteria for a parental order weren’t met and where there was uncertainty as to the identity of the second legal parent and surrogate’s marital status.
L v M (Stranded Spouse) 2012 EWHC 4299
Consideration of jurisdictional dispute in respect to children and findings of spousal stranding.
Re H (Contact) 2010 All ER 229
Successful appeal of an interim shared care arrangement in respect to a young baby, with costs.
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