Marisa Allman

Overview

Marisa has practised exclusively in family law since 1998 and is joint Head of the Family Team. She joined Zenith chambers in 2010 following 10 years at the bar in Leeds in order to specialise in financial and private law children matters. Marisa is the pro-bono champion for Zenith Chambers. 

Marisa deals confidently and regularly with financial remedies cases, particularly involving complex business structures and family trusts, and is known for her clear advice and creative, pro-active approach to negotiating settlement. Alongside being a tenacious advocate, Marisa was one of the first barristers outside London to train as a Collaborative Lawyer, and has now trained as a Mediator with the Family Mediators Association. She is sought after to mediate high net worth divorce cases.

She advises regularly in cases involving child abduction, being only a handful of barristers on circuit with expertise in this area. Marisa’s international expertise makes her a popular choice with solicitors for both financial and children matters involving foreign jurisdictions. She has in-depth working knowledge of the Brussels regulations, and cross-jurisdiction recognition and enforcement.

In addition to her experience in foreign jurisdiction matters, Marisa has developed a niche practice in fertility law 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 continues to train solicitors around the country in this area, as well as acting in a number of high profile cases.

Marisa is available to provide training and seminars in all areas of her practice. She regularly accepts instructions directly from members of the public as well as via solicitor referrals, and is happy to receive direct enquiries via her email address from people seeking advice, representation or guidance as to the most appropriate form of dispute resolution.