“Liz Cowell has earned a reputation as one of the North West’s most respected family law practitioners, combining more than three decades of specialist experience with the rare perspective of both advocate and judge. Equally adept in high net worth financial disputes, international family matters and alternative dispute resolution, she is known for delivering clear, pragmatic guidance that helps clients navigate complex challenges with confidence. Her commitment to arbitration, judicial insight and practical problem-solving makes her a trusted adviser for families seeking effective solutions in an evolving legal landscape.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Liz Cowell is a highly experienced family lawyer, arbitrator and Deputy District Judge with more than 30 years of specialist practice in family law. Based in Manchester, she advises clients across the UK and internationally on divorce, financial settlements, children matters and complex family disputes.

Her practice frequently involves high net worth individuals, international assets, cross-border family issues and cases requiring strategic, practical solutions outside the traditional court process.

What Liz Cowell does

Liz advises on all aspects of family law, including:

• Divorce and separation
• High net worth financial settlements
• Spousal maintenance claims
• Child arrangements and parenting disputes
• International family law matters
• Overseas assets and cross-border financial cases
• Family arbitration
• Alternative dispute resolution
• No-fault divorce and modern family structures
• Complex financial remedy proceedings

She acts for a broad range of clients including business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs and international families, often dealing with significant assets located across multiple jurisdictions.

Why she stands out

After more than three decades practising exclusively in family law, Liz brings a rare combination of technical expertise, judicial experience and practical wisdom to every case.

As a long-serving Deputy District Judge, she offers clients valuable insight into how family courts approach disputes, helping them make informed decisions and focus on achieving realistic outcomes.

Liz is also a strong advocate of arbitration and other forms of private dispute resolution, helping clients avoid lengthy court delays and achieve faster, more tailored outcomes.

Her reputation has been built on combining tenacity with empathy, ensuring clients feel supported during some of the most difficult periods of their lives.

Expert in family arbitration

Liz is recognised as a leading advocate of family arbitration, believing it provides many families with a faster, more efficient and more flexible alternative to court proceedings.

As a qualified arbitrator, she has developed specialist expertise in helping separating couples resolve disputes through private adjudication, allowing families to retain greater control over the process and avoid court backlogs.

Her commitment to non-court dispute resolution reflects her practical and forward-thinking approach to family law.

International and high net worth family law

Liz regularly acts for high net worth individuals and international clients, particularly where assets are located overseas or where multiple jurisdictions are involved.

Her experience includes advising clients with:

• International property portfolios
• Cross-border financial interests
• Foreign business assets
• International divorce proceedings
• Complex maintenance claims
• Overseas enforcement issues

She practises locally, nationally and internationally, providing strategic advice tailored to the specific circumstances of each family.

Thought leadership and legal education

Liz is widely recognised as an educator within the family law profession and regularly delivers training and seminars for family lawyers throughout the UK.

She is the author of A Practical Guide to Spousal Maintenance, published by Law Brief Publishing, drawing on her extensive expertise in financial remedy cases.

She also authored a second book examining the history of divorce and the introduction of no-fault divorce, helping both legal professionals and the wider public understand one of the most significant reforms in modern family law.

Liz is frequently quoted in the national media, specialist legal publications, television and radio on developments in family law.

Career and appointments

Throughout her distinguished career, Liz has held partnership positions at some of the North West’s most respected law firms.

• Partner, McAlister Family Law
• Former Partner, Pannone LLP
• Former Partner, Slater and Gordon
• Deputy District Judge (Family), Ministry of Justice
• Family Law Specialist and Arbitrator

Her appointment as a Deputy District Judge reflects the high regard in which her expertise and judgment are held throughout the profession.

Professional memberships

• International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
• Institute of Family Law Arbitrators (IFLA)
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb)
• Resolution
• United Kingdom Association of Women Judges
• Manchester Law Society