Hannah Marshall

Overview

I am a Managing Associate in the Michelmores Family team.

I specialise in international Family law disputes. I am a Resolution accredited expert in child abduction matters and financial remedies.

I have frequently acted for clients in 1980 Hague Convention (through my membership of the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) panel of solicitors) or Inherent Jurisdiction proceedings, concerning children who have been removed to and from England and Wales. I assist applicants in obtaining orders returning abducted children to their care. I also assist respondents in defeating applications for return orders.

I act for clients who are stranded abroad and are victims of Transnational Spousal Abandonment. I have a track record of securing the repatriation of British children to England and Wales, in wardship proceedings, reuniting them with their parents.

My clients are often divorcing and/or having their finances dealt with in a foreign jurisdiction. Often there is a dispute about where the court proceedings should take place. Regularly my cases overlap between children and High Net Worth money disputes.

Many of my cases involve allegations of domestic abuse. I act for clients who are survivors and clients who are alleged perpetrators, including allegations of parental alienation. I am sensitive and empathetic in handling these matters; adopting an approach that ensures the child’s best interests are always prioritised.

I also advise on international adoption matters, together with Modern Family law issues, including surrogacy and legal parentage disputes. Often these cases involve different jurisdictions.

I am ranked as an Associate to Watch in the Chambers and Partners ‘Family/Children Law: International Abduction, Adoption & Surrogacy – UK wide’ category. I am also a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500, mentioned in the ‘Family: Children (London) and Family: divorce and financial remedy (London)’ category.

Until recently I sat on the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU) panel of solicitors. In 2022 I won the Young Family Solicitor award at the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards. I am active member of Resolution and I was Secretary for the London committee for many years.

Outside of work I enjoy travelling abroad and experiencing different cultures. Before starting my legal training I worked in Hong Kong and volunteered in Kenya and Tanzania.

Recent experience

Acting for a mother in Inherent Jurisdiction (wardship) proceedings concerning cross-applications by the parties for one child to be returned to England and Wales (from Egypt) and for the other child to return to Egypt (from England and Wales): AB v CD & Ors Neutral Citation Number[2025] EWHC 1563 (Fam)

Acting for a mother in Inherent Jurisdiction (wardship) proceedings and successfully obtaining an order for (retrospective) permission for the child to relocate to Dubai: A v B [2025] EWHC 764 (Fam) (07 March 2025) ;

Acting for a father in 1980 Hague proceedings and successfully obtaining an order for the child’s return to Lithuania: ZXR (Abduction: Hague Convention ( Lithuania) [2024] EWHC 64 (Fam) 

Successfully repatriating a British child from Afghanistan and two British children from Pakistan in Inherent Jurisdiction (wardship proceedings). Their mothers were found to be victims of Transnational Spousal Abandonment.

Acting for a father in Inherent Jurisdiction (wardship) proceedings and securing a generous settlement agreement for the child to spend time with him frequently both in Thailand and England, long-term.

Acting for the Irish Health Service Executive in complex Court of Protection proceedings concerning the placement of vulnerable adults in this jurisdiction: Health Service Executive of Ireland v Ellern Mede Moorgate [2020] EWCOP ; Health Service Executive of Ireland v SM [2024] EWCOP 60;

Acting for a father in proceedings concerning the interplay between asylum claims and children proceedings, including disclosure of documentation: H (A Child) [2019] EWHC 1509 (Fam) ; R v Secretary of State for the Home Department (Disclosure of Asylum Documents) [2019] EWHC 3147 (Fam) ; R v Secretary of State for the Home Department (No.2) 2020 EWHC 1036 (Fam) ; Re H. (A Child) (Disclosure of Asylum Documents) [2020] EWCA 1001 ; R v G (Disclosure of Fact-Finding Judgment to SSHD) [2022] EWHC 367 (Fam) (31 January 2022)

Acting for the International Centre for Family Law Policy and Practice (intervenor) in a landmark case concerning the impact of a child’s asylum status in 1980 Hague convention proceedings: G (A Child : Child Abduction) [2020] EWCA Civ 1185 ; G v G [2021] UKSC 9 (19 March 2021)

Acting for a father seeking the return of his child in 1980 Hague Convention proceedings: (S (A Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 923 (17 July 2020))