Shakeela Bi
Legal Director
Shakeela is a legal director in Napthens’ family team and provides support in all areas of matrimonial work, including complex private law, children’s law, matrimonial finance, and Islamic divorce.
Her work often involves advising clients on a wide variety of issues, from domestic violence, international child relocation and forced marriages, to prenuptial agreements and financial disputes.
Recognised as an expert in Islamic divorces. Shakeela has a deep understanding of Sharia law and frequently assists clients from the Muslim community in relation to Sharia divorce, ensuring religious considerations are addressed alongside compliance with English family law.
Shakeela’s financial dispute cases often involve complex legal issues, such as how pensions can be retained or used to realise capital, business interests and identification of matrimonial and non-matrimonial assets.
She takes time to understand every client’s needs in very stressful situations, taking a firm, practical, and pragmatic approach to finding solutions tailored to client circumstances.
Shakeela is also listed in Chambers and Partner 2026 family/matrimonial guide.
Experience
- Represented a mother wishing to relocate to New Zealand with her children where there were significant allegations of domestic abuse made by both parents. Successfully defending the allegations and permission granted for the mother to relocate with the children abroad
- Regularly instructed in matters requiring findings of fact hearings involving social services and police investigations. Most recently, successfully representing a father where serious allegations of rape made and contact limited by the mother. Allegations unfound and relationship with the father gradually stepped up, leading to a joint live with order
- Advised a woman who had accumulated a valuable property portfolio and was to be married soon. As the financially stronger spouse, advising her to enter a pre and post nuptial agreement. In addition, made certain she received relevant advice from a corporate solicitor to ensure the company structure was protected, as a separate entity.
- Represented the first wife of a man who had legally married abroad under Islamic Law and had brought a financial claim against her in England. Defended the claims by her ex-husband that his second marriage under Islamic Law should not be recognised under English Law by successfully arguing his marriage was in fact recognised in the country the ceremony it had taken place and hence recognised under English law. This resulted in the husband being caught by the remarriage trap and unable to proceed with his financial claims
- Represented a sibling, as an intervenor, caught in a financial proceedings dispute with her brother and his former wife. Successfully defended and contested the asset transferred to her from her brother was an arm’s length transaction. Therefore, the wife had no claim to the property which she was seeking should be part of the divorce settlement.
Affiliations
- Member of Resolution
- Solicitor Advocate
Related insights
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