Overview
Laura Hallahan is a Senior Associate in the Family Law team at Payne Hicks Beach.
She advises individuals on all aspects of family law, including divorce, financial settlements, children matters and cohabitation disputes. She is particularly experienced in complex and high-value cases involving international elements, sophisticated asset structures and sensitive family issues.
Known for her calm, pragmatic and detail-focused approach, Laura works closely with clients to achieve constructive resolutions wherever possible, while providing robust representation in litigation when required.
Laura is experienced in drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements, particularly with a view to ring-fencing parties’ pre-marital, trust and inherited assets upon marriage.
In addition to Laura’s financial practice, she advises on children matters, including disputes regarding contact, residence and relocation. She is adept at dealing with cases where there are allegations of domestic abuse, including allegations of alienation and coercive and controlling behaviour.
Expertise
Laura specialises in:
- High-net-worth divorce
- Complex financial remedy proceedings
- International family law disputes
- Children law and parenting disputes
- Domestic abuse and protective injunctions
- Cohabitation and relationship planning
- Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements
- Family disputes involving trusts and inherited wealth
- Sharia law and Islamic family law issues
- Family litigation involving complex business valuations
- High-profile and reputation-sensitive family issues
Reported Cases
- BS v CL [2025] EWFC 215 – valuation and division of business assets
- BR v BR (No.2) [2025] EWFC 88 – valuation and division of business assets
- TI v LI [2024] EWFC 163 (B) – cross-border jurisdiction dispute
- Y v Z [2024] EWFC 4 – financial provision for children of unmarried parties and the “Millionaire’s Defence”
Qualifications & Accreditations
Laura read Law at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge. She qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and worked at a boutique family law firm before joining Payne Hicks Beach in 2021. She was promoted to Senior Associate in 2024.
Awards & Accolades
- The Legal 500 UK 2027: Recommended Key Lawyer in the categories: Family: Children and Family: Divorce and Financial Remedy.
- The Legal 500 UK 2026: Recommended Key Lawyer in the categories: Family: Children and Family: Divorce and Financial Remedy.
- The Legal 500 UK 2025: Recommended Key Lawyer in the category of Family.
The Legal 500 UK 2024: Recommended Lawyer in the category of Family.
Citywealth Future Lawyers Awards 2022: Bronze award for Family Lawyer of the Year – Associate.
