Zira Hussain

Zira has practised exclusively in family law for over 20 years and has extensive court experience.  Her areas of practice are private and public law children, financial remedies, domestic abuse, forced marriage and honour based violence.

Zira is a fearless, tenacious, conscientious and hardworking barrister.  She is known as a fighter and is a strong advocate.  She is renowned  for her thorough preparation and detailed knowledge of case papers.  She combines strong client care skills with robust and effective advocacy.  Zira has a reputation for always going the extra mile. 

Private Law Children

Zira has extensive experience in conducting hearings relating to all aspects of private law children proceedings including child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders and specific issue orders.  Zira represents mothers, fathers, grandparents and other family members.  Zira also represents children through their Guardian ad Litem.  Zira has a particular interest in applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction and applications under the Hague Convention.

Zira has been involved in cases involving complex cultural and jurisdictional issues.  She has conducted lengthy finding of fact hearings in these cases.  Zira is sought after counsel for findings of fact hearings due to her dynamic cross examination skills.  Zira has interest in cases involving religious upbringing of children.  She was led by a Silk in a complex case where the court was being asked to determine the religious upbringing of a child Re N (A Child: Religion: Jehovah’s Witness) 2011 EWHC 3737

Financial Remedies

Zira undertakes all types of work relating to resolving financial issues between divorcing couples.  She represents husband, wives and intervenors in proceedings in the Family Court and the High Court. 

Zira has experience in dealing with straightforward to complex financial remedy cases including applications under s37 Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, third parties claiming beneficial interests in matrimonial assets, land and foreign property and maintenance pending suit applications.

Zira has experience of dealing with cases involving variation and capitalisation of maintenance, applications to set aside consent orders, appeals in financial remedy proceedings and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989.  Zira has experience in cases involving consideration and drafting of pre nuptial agreements.  She was instructed to draft a pre nuptial agreement for a premier league professional footballer. 

Zira is well placed due to her experience in the field of private law children matters to deal with those cases where issues of child arrangements are tied up with the issue of what orders the court should make in respect of the former matrimonial home.

Zira welcomes instructions at the early stages of the proceedings and would wish to see a case through from the First Directions Appointment to Final Hearing in order to provide informed and focused representation at every stage in the proceedings.  She will advise realistically, practically and negotiate a settlement where it is in her client’s interests to do so.  She will always advise on commerciality of proceedings

Zira is ranked in the Legal 500 for both Financial Remedy and Children work. Legal 500 states the following:

2026:

'Zira is tenacious, empathetic and really fights for her clients.'

'Zira's strengths are her attention to detail, keeping calm when discussions and advocacy becomes heated and reassuring clients as to what the key issues in the case are. She supports both the client and solicitor in difficult cases, and is on hand both before and after a hearing.'

2025:

‘A practical barrister and persuasive advocate who is incisive in cross examination’

‘A very personable junior, organised and has a great manner with clients’

2024:

‘Zira is utterly unflappable. She is a stalwart advocate who remains self assured in court’

‘Zira has an exceptional grasp of the facts in a case. Her advocacy is conducted with meticulous preparation’

‘The tenacious Zira Hussain has experience in advising on pre – nuptial agreements’

2018 “She has a great bedside manner with clients”

2019 “Very enthusiastic and a dynamic cross examiner”

Zira was shortlisted for the Family Law Award at the Yorkshire Legal awards 2021, 2022 and 2024. The Yorkshire Legal Awards is the pinnacle of professional excellence, showcasing the best and brightest lawyers, practices and firms the region has to offer.

Zira won the Family Law Award at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2022.

Zira was also shortlisted at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2024 in the category of Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year.

Zira was shortlisted at the prestigious Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards 2022 in the category of Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year. The Family Law Awards have firmly established themselves as a highly prestigious event, celebrating the success and achievements of family lawyers and the vital contribution that they make to society.

Zira was nominated by then Legal Services Commission for inclusion in the prestigious Muslim Women Power List 2009. The list was run and devised by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission in partnership with The Times to commend achievements of Muslim women at the top of their profession or on their way to the top and aimed to highlight their contribution to the socio-economic society.

Zira was also nominated for the European Muslim Women of Influence List 2010. Finalists were announced at a gala event in Spain which tied in with the EU Presidency.

Zira has featured in her former university’s marketing and promotional materials. Zira was featured in the Eastern Eye as an inspirational woman. Zira has also featured in a digital magazine as an empowered woman.

Zira accepts instructions to sit as a Private FDR Judge.

Re N ( A Child: Religion: Jehovah’s Witness) 2011 EWHC 3737

E: clerks@broadwayhouse.co.uk

T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600