Grandparents — how to reinstate access to grandchildren through the courts
Our family law team represented the paternal grandparents of three young children where contact had been stopped by the children’s parents.
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Family, Children & Relationships
Our experienced family law solicitors guide you through life's critical, stressful and unexpected moments.
Family law can be complex, wide ranging and sensitive. It not only requires an expert legal eye, but also a compassionate, empathetic and professional approach.
Our experienced family law solicitors specialise in issues like divorce, child arrangements and fertility, as well as financial matters like pensions and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.
Backed by over 200 years of heritage and experience, our family law team offers practical advice that’s tailored to your personal circumstances.
We work with a wide range of individuals and families from all types of backgrounds. We also discreetly and efficiently handle cases on behalf of high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
No matter your needs, our experienced family law solicitors are here to achieve the very best possible outcome for you.
Our award-winning family law team — recognised in The Times Best Law Firms, The Legal 500 and top-tier ranked by Chambers and Partners — is a pioneer at the forefront of many fast-developing areas of law, including around modern families, surrogacy and alternative dispute resolution (ADR — also known as non-court dispute resolution or NCDR).
Talk to us by giving us a call on 0333 004 4488, sending us an email at family@brabners.com or completing our contact form below.
“After a ten-year ordeal — spanning separation, divorce, child custody and financial disputes... The outcome is everything I'd hoped and prayed for — not just for me but for my girls, my future and the chance to finally move forward... [I prayed] for God to hand-pick not just any legal counsel but His very best for my case. And He chose YOU.”
Client feedback
Clear, transparent family law advice when you need it most
We advise on a wide range of contentious family matters. Our experience helps us to find the solutions you need to reach a conclusive agreement and peace of mind.
Our warm and welcoming offices in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Lancashire provide comfortable settings for sensitive discussions.
We also advise on international family matters — including those around cultural and religious backgrounds — and are supported by our trusted network of lawyers, professionals and translators across Europe and beyond.
Led by experienced children and modern families law expert Cara Nuttall, our family team is among the largest in the North and holds a top-tier ranking in highly regarded legal directories. Members of our team are Resolution-accredited specialists, recognised leaders in their fields for financial, children and fertility law work and members of numerous organisations and committees that champion change and best practice. We also have qualified arbitrators, collaborative lawyers and 'one lawyer, one couple' specialists.
Our expertise is often called on by the media, including for radio, TV and press.
Meet the team
“Joe Ailion [has] a depth of understanding and empathy rarely seen in a solicitor... His honest and straightforward advice, coupled with a genuine warmth, created a sense of security for our family during a tumultuous time. For us, Joe is not just a solicitor — he’s a beacon of hope and reassurance.”
Anonymous family law client
Recognised by 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
“Brabners is noted for its expertise in wealth protection, financial remedy, children, international and fertility work.”
The Legal 500 2026
“Brabners is easily the premier family law service in Liverpool, Manchester and the surrounding area. They have enormous strength in depth and their first-rate lawyers cover the most serious and complex matters.”
Legal 500 2025 client feedback
“Brabners continues to draw superb praise from a range of clients... The "talented" team competently handles complex divorce and financial remedy cases, often managing a plethora of foreign and business assets as well as trusts and pensions.”
The Legal 500 2024
“[Brabners] offers the best financial remedies advice and private children act dispute representation. They are attentive to detail, very passionate and crucially objective, so they advise thoroughly and sensibly.”
Family law client, The Legal 500 2024
Accredited, experienced family law solicitors
Examples of how we support our clients
Cohabitation law & TOLATA — what to do when your ex makes a claim on your jointly owned property
Our client sought advice from a specialist family lawyer regarding a property dispute following the relationship breakdown of an unmarried couple.
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Creating a ‘fair’ pre-nuptial agreement for engaged business owner
Our family law team advised an engaged business owner to create a prenuptial agreement to protect her business in the unlikely event of a future divorce.
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Protecting an entrepreneur’s business interests during acrimonious divorce proceedings
Our family law team helped a young entrepreneur to reach a suitable financial settlement in highly contested court proceedings following his divorce.
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International surrogacy in a war zone — securing a Parental Order in the UK
Our family law experts secured a Parental Order for a same-sex couple who traversed war zones to bring their child — born via surrogacy — home to the UK.
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Representing an international footballer in financial proceedings for his child
Our family law experts represented a high-profile international footballer in court proceedings concerning financial support for his child.
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Securing a financial settlement for an international divorcee
Our family law experts secured a property transfer for a client who divorced abroad and wasn’t granted a financial settlement as part of her divorce.
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“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.”
Client feedback, Chambers and Partners 2026
“They are certainly top-tier in Manchester and the North West region.”
Client feedback, Chambers and Partners 2026
“Brabners give the best client service; there is no one better.”
Client feedback, Chambers and Partners 2026
“The team has an extremely high skill set across the family team, especially in relation to complex and multi-jurisdictional children matters.”
Chambers and Partners 2026
“You’ve been a brilliant advisor and exactly what who I needed given the magnitude of issues I’ve faced. I appreciate the humanity in which you approached me and your ability to read exactly when I needed reassurance alongside pointed advice. It kept me afloat during an impossible time. I’m not sure what the other side looks like yet but I’m hopeful and so eager to get there. Thank you for getting me here and changing my outlook on life.”
Client feedback
“Danielle [Hutchinson], from the moment you and Brabners took on my case, your dedication, strategic thinking, dealings with a challenging other side and unwavering support were incredible. As a team, you've not only secured my future — you've helped to rebuild my life.”
Client feedback
“I appreciate very much all your help, time, support and hard work and everything you did for us... Your service is excellent and has been for many years with my family.”
Anonymous family law client
“Thank you for being so understanding. I had wanted to stay away from lawyers as I (wrongly) felt this would lead to nothing other than inevitable confrontation and things beginning to spiral out of control. How wrong I was — it was a real pleasure to meet someone who listened to the wishes of their client and is determined to resolve this as quickly and painlessly as possible.”
Anonymous family law client
“I am really happy with the outcome and glad that me and the boys can finally put this behind us and move on in life with a structured approach to seeing their mum. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the Brabners team. I would recommend your professional services to anyone.”
Anonymous family law client
“Leanne [Instrall]’s support and advice was always greatly appreciated. I always particularly liked how she put the needs of the children at the fore of her advice. The peace of mind this order has given me is invaluable.”
Anonymous family law client
“I just wanted to say thank you [Joe Ailion] for absolutely everything. You’ve been a brilliant adviser and exactly who I needed given the magnitude of issues I’ve faced. I appreciate the humanity in which you approached me and your ability to read exactly when I needed reassurance, alongside pointed advice. It kept me afloat during an impossible time. I'm not sure what the other side looks like but I'm hopeful and so eager to get there. Thank you for getting me here and changing my outlook in life.”
Client feedback
Related insights
Child contact arrangements at Christmas — 6 top tips for separated parents
We share some top tips to help families to co‑parent amicably and organise child contact arrangements during the festive period.
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O v C sparks calls to reopen family law cases involving unregulated experts
We explore the recent judgment in O v C and what it means for those involved in children cases — both today and in past proceedings.
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The Times Best Law Firms
We're thrilled to have been commended in three separate categories in The Times Best Law Firms 2026.
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A guide to financial remedy proceedings
We explore how financial remedy proceedings work, what the court takes into account and the steps involved.
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Good Divorce Week — building a support network to achieve an amicable separation
For Good Divorce Week, we explore how emotional support and legal guidance work together to reduce conflict and uncertainty.
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Navigating divorce during menopause — legal, emotional & financial considerations
We explore the biological realities of menopause and the impact that it can have on divorce settlements and financial claims.
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The importance of a Pension Sharing Order & how to enforce one
The importance of a Pension Sharing Order, the process for implementing one and the remedies available if one party fails to engage in that process.
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Should you have an NDA when getting divorced?
NDAs are becoming more prevalent in divorce proceedings, especially for high-profile individuals or where sensitive information is concerned — but do you need one?
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Potanina v Potanin — the importance of jurisdiction in international divorce cases
International divorce cases are highly complex and the choice of jurisdiction can make a significant difference to financial outcomes.
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