Manisha Marwaha specialises in the law relating to children. Her expertise spans both public and private law, particularly where there are international issues arising. Manisha also has substantial experience representing parties in Judicial Review proceedings.
Manisha is ranked as a Legal 500 Tier 1 Leading Junior (2022-2025) and is described by the Legal 500 as being “highly persuasive, strong, determined, reassuring and serene. A very knowledgeable barrister.” She is further noted to hold “considerable experience in cases with an international aspect as well as representing vulnerable clients.”
Manisha has a strong reputation as an effective and persuasive advocate. She is regularly instructed at appellate level and at first instance where novel or complex points of law have been identified. Manisha is also highly regarded for her strategic approach in difficult cases and is accredited to question vulnerable and child witnesses in the Family Court.
Manisha also sits as a Recorder (part-time Circuit Judge) in the Family Jurisdiction and as a fee-paid Immigration Judge in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal.
Manisha is a specialist Children Law Barrister who practices in both public and private law proceedings. She has been ranked in the Legal 500 as a tier one leading family junior for a number of consecutive years and brings a wealth of experience and expertise beyond her year of call. Manisha has acted as both a led junior and leading junior and her work frequently has an international dimension involving child abduction, relocation, jurisdiction disputes and transfer issues. Manisha is recorded in the Legal 500 as having “solid experience in cases involving potential international relocation / abduction of children.”
Manisha regularly represents both public bodies and private individuals in complex proceedings and provides a wide knowledge base as well as determined and thoughtful representation at all levels of Tribunal. She has appeared in the Court of Appeal alone, appears regularly in the High Court and is regarded as a skilled advocate with a real flair for putting people at ease. Manisha has acted and continues to act for all parties including parents, grandparents, interveners,
children’s guardians, young people competent to instruct their own representatives and local authorities. Manisha has also been instructed on numerous occasions on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Home Department and also the Official Solicitor and accordingly has extensive experience with the most vulnerable clients.
Manisha is experienced in cases involving non-accidental injury, child death, sexual abuse, serious domestic violence, fabricated/induced illnesses, proceedings set in sensitive cultural contexts and in particular proceedings with an international element. In private law proceedings Manisha further has substantial experience of cases where there are domestic and international disputes as to jurisdiction and location, serious allegations of violence or abuse and parental alienation.
Manisha has extensive experience in representing and cross examining vulnerable parties, deploying detailed cross examination of expert witnesses and providing a rigorous analysis of medical evidence and electronic data. She further has experience of working with and without intermediaries and representing clients with various cognitive challenges. Manisha has also undertaken the FLBA Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Training, which further enhances her expertise and advocacy skills in cases involving vulnerable witnesses.
Manisha can provide specialist advice and representation at all stages, with particular emphasis on the following matters:
Practice Summary Manisha is a dynamic leading junior who is endorsed by the Legal 500 as a “Rising Star” with extensive experience in Public Law and Family Law. Drawing on her strengths and expertise from each individual practice area; Manisha provides an informed perspective on issues relating to the welfare and decision making for those that are incapable of doing so themselves. Manisha’s practice carries a strong focus on cases with a link between Children Law matters and Court of Protection work and in particular cases involving vulnerable young people making the transition into adulthood.
Manisha offers incisive advice whilst retaining a human touch and accepts instructions on behalf of family members, relevant person’s representatives, Local Authorities, healthcare bodies and the Official Solicitor in health and welfare cases and matters concerning serious medical treatment.
Manisha is experienced in acting in applications relating to personal welfare, challenges to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), cross border matters and use of the inherent jurisdiction where a vulnerable person has decision making capacity. Manisha has acted in numerous applications for Forced Marriage Protection Orders and Genital Mutilation Protection Orders for adults, including being instructed by the Official Solicitor on behalf of a protected person. Manisha’s experience makes her particularly adept at acting and advising in cases where a young person is transitioning from child social care to adult social care services.
Manisha also has extensive experience in matters concerning judicial review claims and is regularly instructed to advise in matters where the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has refused to commission a particular care package.
Manisha provides bespoke training to a number of Local Authorities and private client Solicitors. Manisha is happy to contribute to other events on request and can provide webinars, seminars and training for practitioners, mental health care professionals and third parties.
Practice Summary Manisha is a sought after junior for complex inquests and public inquiries and has been instructed on behalf of a wide range of interested persons. Manisha regularly appears in matters involving government departments (including the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice) as well as Local Authorities. Manisha is instructed frequently and specifically in Article 2 jury inquests concerning the death of prisoners in custody and further those involving public sector duties, powers and allegations of misconduct.
Whether making submissions to a coroner as to the proper scope of an inquest, or putting questions to witnesses including expert witnesses; Manisha’s professional but personable and considerate manner enables her to effectively represent the varying concerns of a range of different clients. She is well known for her calm and reassuring manner when meeting clients in difficult and sensitive situations.
Manisha is recommended for her knowledge, sensitivity and tactical approach. She is ideally placed to advise and represent interested persons in the most complex of cases. Manisha is also experienced at handling judicial review proceedings resulting from coroner’s decisions.
Inquest Work:
Attorney General’s Regional Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown Chair and Panel Member for Education Admission Appeals, Bradford
Family Law Bar Association Court of Protection Bar Association Administrative Law Bar Association Society of Asian Lawyers North Eastern Circuit
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne – LLB (Hons) Nottingham Law School – Bar Vocational Course
Legal 500 [2025] – Family Law Leading Junior (Tier One) – “Manisha is highly persuasive, strong, determined, reassuring and serene. A very knowledgeable barrister.”
Legal 500 [2024] – Family Law Leading Junior (Tier One) – “A thorough and well prepared Barrister who provides clear advice that is proportionate and sensible.”
Legal 500 [2023] – Family Law Leading Junior (Tier One) / Administrative Law and Human Rights Leading Junior (Tier One) - “Manisha Marwaha has a forensic and detailed approach and is a supportive advocate for lay clients.”
Legal 500 [2022] – Family Law Leading Junior (Tier One) - “A patient, robust and determined junior. Very knowledgeable and forensic.”
Legal 500 [2022] – Public Law Leading Junior (Tier One) – “Manisha is extremely professional, prompt and courteous. She is very thorough in her preparation.”
Legal 500 [2021] - “A strong advocate, able to easily establish a relationship with lay clients putting them at ease.”
Legal 500 [2021] – “Manisha is extremely professional and prompt. She has an excellent manner with clients and is well liked by clients who she represents.”
Legal 500 [2021] – “Manisha approaches matters with attention to detail, a thorough knowledge of the immigration system and a straight forward approach with clients.”
Legal 500 [2020] - “Manisha Marwaha has considerable experience in cases with an international aspect as well as representing vulnerable clients.”
Legal 500 [2019] - “Manisha Marwaha has solid experience in cases involving potential international relocation / abduction of children”
Legal 500 [2018] - “Very personable and diligent; clients like her”
Legal 500 [2018] - “An Immigration Law Specialist”
Levitt Scholarship – Lincoln’s Inn
Winner of the Times / Herbert Smith National Advocacy Competition
Notable Cases
Legal 500 [2023] – Family Law Leading Junior (Tier One) – “Manisha Marwaha has a forensic and detailed approach and is a supportive advocate for lay clients.”
Legal 500 [2021] – “A strong advocate, able to easily establish a relationship with lay clients putting them at ease.”
Legal 500 [2019] – “Manisha Marwaha has solid experience in cases involving potential international relocation / abduction of children.”
Legal 500 [2018] – “Very personable and diligent; clients like her.”
Manisha sits as a Recorder (part-time Circuit Judge) in Family and also as a fee paid Immigration Judge in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the First Tier Tribunal.
Manisha continues to provide specialist webinars and in house training on matters concerning international family law. Manisha provides this service for a number of educational providers and professional clients. Manisha is happy to contribute to other events and publications on request and can provide webinars, seminars and training for practitioners as well as third parties including legal and childcare professionals.
Manisha is happy to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients, in appropriate cases, under the Direct Public Access scheme. Manisha can offer a variety of services from the provision of initial advice on the merits of a case and the undertaking of drafting work, to representation at court hearings.
Manisha spent four months working as a Human Rights Advocate in the north of India for a ground roots organisation dealing with numerous issues including the rights of children. Her work quickly gained her relevant experience in dealing with vulnerable individuals engaged in highly sensitive matters. Such matters included serious violence and abuse being administered against children and women within villages and police stations. Manisha also conducted seminars and workshops for State Police and Local Bar Associations whilst in India.