Balahl has a broad family law practice that encompasses child arrangements, fact-finding hearings, domestic and substance abuse, and parental responsibility matters.
He is based in London, though is instructed nationally in order to provide his clients with the very best service irrespective of geographic limitations. Balahl accepts instructions to advise and represent clients throughout proceedings from initial hearings and interim hearings all the way through to contested fact findings, final hearings and trials.
Balahl has a busy family practice and regularly appears in Court for a number of clients, representing both mothers and fathers in cases concerning child contact and custody issues. He is deeply empathetic around the emotional impact family matters bring about with his advocacy style being defined as “intense” in order to meet his clients’ objectives.
Balahl recently appeared in Court for a client in a deeply contested child arrangements matter where an expert’s opinion recommended the removal of the client’s child. Due to Balahl’s persuasive arguments, the expert’s opinion against his client was dismissed resulting in the child residing with his client.
Balahl has experience in the following areas of Family law and can be instructed to assist with such cases:
Example cases
PJ v. YS (2021), Reading Family Court- Balahl acted for a father who had been unlawfully deprived of seeing his child despite there being a Court Order granting him shared care. In persuading the Court that there was no lawful reason for preventing such contact, the Court Ordered that the mother should undertake unpaid work for her actions, in addition to finding that she had been in contempt of court.
GR v. JR (2021), Romford Family Court- Balahl acted for a Respondent father in defending an application for Enforcement of Child Arrangements. In what the Court described as very detailed and comprehensive submissions, and in relying on Re D (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1057, Balahl successfully managed to have the proceedings concerning the two older children dismissed due to the mother's longstanding absence in their lives.
MA v. PL (2021), Telford Family Court- Balahl acted for a mother in Child Arrangements proceedings against her former partner. Balahl was able to successfully persuade the Court against the Applicant's position of establishing ties between the children and their paternal family based on controlling and abusive behaviour.
AT v. JM (2021), Norwich Family Court- Balahl acted for a Respondent father in Child Arrangements Proceedings againt his former partner. Balahl was able to successfully persuade the Court that the report of a Social Worker was inherently biased against his client leading to the Court dismissing such evicence and permitting an independent Social Worker under Part 25 which meant his client's child would continue to live with him.
Personal Interests
In his spare time, Balahl likes to unwind watching classical British comedy and drama. Amongst his favourites are Only Fools and Horses, ‘Allo ‘Allo, Blackadder, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Two Ronnies, and Mind Your Language. Balahl has lived in North West London all of his life, and continues to live there with his family.
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