Member Spotlight: Cara Nuttall, Head of Department within Family at Brabners

1. Introduce yourself

I’m a Partner, and Head of Department within the Family team at Brabners.  I’m also a qualified arbitrator in children law. I’ve always worked for firms here in Manchester, (though I have cases all over the country and clients based nationally, and internationally), and I love the legal and professional community here.

My own specialisms focus on cases with an international element, complex children work, parental abduction and building families (such as through surrogacy and donor conception, and disputes about parenthood), but across the whole team we undertake a broad spectrum of family law, including HNW and UHNW divorce, financial settlements and wealth protection work (pre-nups and post-nups).  I’ve always been passionate about making the law work for the people it serves, so I’m constantly involved in committees, and reform discussions, and involved in cases looking at how boundaries can be pushed, to do that. One of our current projects is to look at how family law can better cater for the additional needs of neurodivergent parents and children.  I’m also fortunate that Brabners has a huge commitment to pro bono work, so I get to undertake several cases a year for people who would otherwise not be able to obtain representation, despite being in incredibly difficult situations. Away from my own discipline, I am one of the Training Partners at the firm, and I immensely enjoy helping the early careers team here identify and support new talent.

Outside of work, most of my free time is spent trying to work out what episode of any particular programme an animated 2-year old means by “NOT this one, the OTHER one with the train,” and eating sugary treats.

2. Career highlight

I have been incredibly fortunate to work on some fascinating cases, for some inspirational individuals over the years, so it’s really hard to even shortlist, nevermind identify one. Particular ones include victory in the Court of Appeal in Rothschild and De Souza, a case which for the first time made it clear that where a person’s conduct is sufficiently poor, it can justify a financial settlement which arguably does not meet their needs, and the “Re A” surrogacy case, in which the court was persuaded to read down statute to be Human Rights Act compliant, expanding thed definition of “has a home with” which allowed legal parenthood to be granted in circumstances that would not previously been possible.  Both cases have been extensively cited in others since, and it’s been particularly interesting to discuss them with students who have studied these, and other cases our team has undertaken, as part of their degree and legal studies.

On a personal level, I had a client who had been in an incredibly abusive and controlling relationship, and came to us as a shell.  After intense litigation, we stayed in touch, and the messages as to how she went on to live her best life personally and professionally, in the years that followed, were a joy to receive. The other was achieving reunification and legal parenthood for a father through surrogacy whose surviving baby had been taken into care, and at one stage, the local authority involved had refused to refer to or acknowledge as ‘father.’  The wording of the letter they sent me after they were settled back home about the lasting impact the team had on their lives will always stay with me.

3. Name three words that describe your personality

Determined, passionate, and loyal

4. What’s the best thing about pro-manchester

It’s such a supportive and enthusiastic environment for forming and furthering meaningful professional relationships, and there’s something for everyone.

5. What are your priorities for 2024

With a toddler who survives on very little sleep, 3 ‘Christmases’ to organise and host, and the inevitable Christmas contact conflicts to resolve, I’m inclined to say survival! Work-wise, it’s been a great year for the team, and after a year of such hard work, I want to make sure we are in a position for everyone to get as much rest and time off over the festive period as they can.

6. What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?

I think transport is a key issue.  Manchester is a central hub for so much and for so many, yet getting to and from everywhere else and physically connecting with other locations is costly and problematic, too much of the time.  I think as for most places now, access to justice is also at critical levels and needs to be addressed, before it breaks down completely.

7. Favourite meeting place in Manchester

With the aforementioned toddler in tow, “ nice” places have been a rare treat for me as of late, but I love trying new places when I can.  I am fortunate to have a professional food critic and chef as a friend, who I can occasionally tag along with to sample newly-opened venues.  Going for the familiar though, I do love a cocktail at Schofields.

8. Are their any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet

One of the things I love most about family law is that you get to know all people, from all walks of life, and you can inevitably learn from them all.  Family law issues affect everyone, and touch on every aspect of life, from innermost personal relationships to every type of business, asset and law, so every connection has relevance.  As may be apparent from my answers generally, if there’s one thing I can do, it’s talk…

Get In Touch (optional)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07900 233942

LinkedIn: Cara Nuttall