Hanisha Patel

Hanisha Patel is a well-established child and family law practitioner, undertaking a range of both public and private law cases.

Private Law

Hanisha advises and represents clients on all aspects of private children law matters. Hanisha has particular experience in cases involving parental alienation, implacable hostility, fabricated illness, domestic abuse/controlling and coercive behaviour and physical and sexual abuse. Hanisha has built a strong reputation for advocacy and her ability to put her clients at ease. Her attention to detail in the most complex cases and her ability to effectively cross-examine stems from her initial years of practice as a criminal barrister.

Public Law

Hanisha has significant experience dealing with cases involving allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse, often with numerous medical experts. She is instructed to act on behalf of parents, guardians and local authorities.

Hanisha has a strong interest in representing vulnerable women in particular and has been instructed on behalf of the police, local authorities and applicants themselves in respect of Forced Marriage Protection Orders. She has dealt with complex issues involving mental capacity in vulnerable adults and criminal allegations on behalf of child victims of forced marriage. Hanisha has published numerous articles in Family Law Journal, Journal of Family Law and Practice and Solicitors Journal and has provided training to the police, local authorities and NGO’s including Women’s Aid. Hanisha is a Judge for the True Honour Awards organised by the Iranian and Kurdish Women’s Rights Organisation and recently took on the role as Director of the Girls Human Rights Academy.

Hanisha is the chair of the Association of Asian Women Lawyers and leads various events including collaborations with City Sikhs, City Hindus and Asian Women Means Business. She recently represented the Association of Asian Women Lawyers at the Palace of Westminster on ‘Inspirational Journeys of Women shaping careers, Business and society’ where she spoke about her work as a barrister and the support needed for vulnerable victims especially in cases related to abuse within the Asian community.

Hanisha is a Droop and Sir Thomas More Scholar of Lincoln’s Inn and she is actively involved in the work of the Inn especially with their Pupillage Foundation Scheme and Scholarship Scheme.

She won the Barrister of the Year Award 2025 at the Next 100 Years Inspirational Women in Law Awards and is a Finalist for the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026.

Hanisha is qualified to accept instructions directly from clients and is registered under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme, meaning that members of the public who seek specialist advice can come direct to her.