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 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.