Sean McNally

My Approach

I have a constructive and realistic approach. I strive to avoid litigation/Court proceedings if at all possible. However I will not hesitate in proceeding with Court if it is in my client’s interests to do so. As a mediator and collaborative solicitor I utilise these skills to the benefit of my clients.

Area of Expertise

• All aspects of family law and divorce.
• Complex disputes involving children, including leave to remove cases, Special Guardianship and International Child Abduction matters.
• Medium to very high net worth financial cases to include work on pensions and trusts.
• Schedule 1 Children Act cases (finances).
• Cohabitation disputes.
• Civil partnership.

Recent Work

• Acting for a client in achieving a very unusual outcome by using a pension to preserve property.
• An extremely protracted children dispute based on serious allegations against my client which were unfounded.
• Acting on an internal relocation case.
• Mediating on financial disputes and arrangements for children.
• Defending an application where domestic violence alleged.

Professional Associations & Qualifications

• Recognised in The Legal 500 2027 Guide for Family - "Sean McNally is a beacon in the field of family law. He has both the depth and breadth of many years experience as well as the intellectual aptitude and strong legal knowledge to provide unrivalled service to his clients. Sean is efficient, effective and gets results for his clients quickly."
• Ranked in Band 3 for Family in Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2026 - "I would describe Sean as a no-nonsense solicitor who gives sensible and practical advice in the most straightforward manner."
• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 2026 for Family
• Recognised as a Notable Practitioner in Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2025 - "Sean has a no-nonsense, driven manner in cases. He gives sensible advice and deals with cases in a very cost-efficient way."
• Recognised in The Times Top 200 Law Firms 2020
• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 UK 2025 for Family Law - "Sean has excellent client handing skills, is a shrewd negotiator and possesses good judgment."
• Recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2024 for Family Law -  "Sean McNally’s wealth of experience is reassuring to clients and he offers pragmatic advice."
• Recognised in Chambers & Partners (UK 2023) for Family Law - "Sean is a very able lawyer."
• Recognised in The Legal 500 UK 2023 for Family Law -  have rightly been respected as leaders in their field for many years
• Recognised in the Chambers & Partners Guide UK 2022 as a collaborative lawyer and trained mediator with long experience in handling a wide range of family law matters.
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2022) for Family Law, described as “extremely knowledgeable with a robust yet pragmatic approach to cases.”
• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 (UK 2020) for Family Law.
• Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500 (UK 2019) - praised for being 'charming and charismatic' and a 'collaborative lawyer, who tries to cut through matters and avoid litigation'
• Ranked as a Notable Practitioner by Chambers & Partners UK Guide 2020 for being ' a very experienced, specialised practitioner who has an easy and patient manner with clients' alongside being ranked Band 2.
• Ranked as a leading practitioner by Chambers UK (2018) and 'Interviewees note that Sean McNally has a 'fantastic manner with clients' and add that he is 'absolutely unflappable'. He has a broad family practice and specialises in complex children cases.'
• Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 (UK 2017) being described as ‘eminently experienced’ and 'a firm and knowledgeable litigator’.
• Member of Resolution and twice Chairman of Dorset Resolution.
• Trained and qualified as a collaborative family lawyer in 2007.
• Became Partner of the firm in 2001
• Qualified as a mediator in 1997.
• Admitted as a solicitor in March 1991.
• Member of Phoenix Mediation.