Meet Zubair Dharamsi, Partner and Head of Our Family Law Team
Zubair Dharamsi has spent his career at Rose & Rose, working his way from paralegal to Partner and, today, Head of our Family Law Department. Along the way, he has built genuine depth in some of the most complex areas of family law, including international financial remedies under Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Zubair regularly receives warm praise from clients through independent reviews and testimonials, including a recent recommendation on ReviewSolicitors:
“I had an excellent experience working with Zubair Dharamsi and couldn’t recommend him highly enough. From the outset, Zubair was knowledgeable, attentive and reassuring, making the whole process feel straightforward and well managed. His communication was excellent, and he always made sure I understood what was happening and what to expect next. What particularly impressed me was the level of care and attention he gave throughout. He combines a high level of legal expertise with a warm, down-to-earth manner that immediately puts you at ease. I felt genuinely valued as a client and confident that everything was being handled properly. A fantastic service from Zubair and the team at Rose & Rose Solicitors LLP, and I would happily recommend them to friends and family.” – Anonymous.
In our latest Staff Spotlight, we catch up with Zubair to talk about his journey from paralegal to Partner, the areas of family law he finds most interesting, the advice he would give to anyone considering separation or divorce, and what makes a good family lawyer in his eyes.
You And Your Role at Rose & Rose
What’s your name and job title at Rose & Rose?
Zubair Dharamsi, Partner, Head of Family Dept.
How long have you been part of the Family team here?
Too long; I am part of the furniture.
In one or two sentences, how would you describe what the Family team does?
Excellent work; we change lives, and sometimes for the better…
What made you want to work in family law, rather than another area?
It happened by accident; I got moved here.
What’s kept you here at Rose & Rose?
Saphel Rose, Partner at the firm.
Your Expertise and the Work You Do
Which areas of family law do you work on most often? (For example: divorce and matrimonial matters, financial settlements, child arrangements, cohabitation and TOLATA, pre and post-nuptial agreements, civil partnerships, domestic violence, dog and pet ownership disputes.)
All of the above.
Is there a particular type of family work that you find especially interesting or that you’ve built real depth in?
Part III of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Family law has changed a lot in recent years, from no-fault divorce to greater awareness of cohabitation rights and civil partnerships for same-sex and opposite-sex couples. What’s been the most positive change you’ve seen, and what still needs to move?
The no-fault divorce. The law on pet custody needs to improve.
Pet and dog ownership disputes are becoming a bigger part of family separations. What tends to be the most misunderstood part of these matters?
That animals are considered as chattels in law.
What’s the biggest misconception clients have about the family law process?
That you always need to go to court.
Your Journey into Law and Your Qualifications
What did you study, and where?
Law, Kingston University.
What was your route into qualifying, or into your current role?
Paralegal to Partner.
Was there a specific moment, mentor or case that pushed you towards family law?
Saphel.
Are you a member of any professional bodies or accredited by any relevant schemes? (For example, Resolution, The Law Society Family Law Panel.)
Yes, Resolution who are committed to promoting a constructive approach to family issues that considers the needs of the whole family. You can visit their website to find out more about their Code of Practice.
Day-to-day Life at Rose & Rose
Walk us through what a typical week looks like for you.
No two weeks look the same, which is what keeps the job interesting rather than draining. One week might be dominated by financial disclosure and expert reports, the next by preparing for a hearing or sitting across the table in round-table negotiations. The unpredictable weeks, where something moves fast and you have to think on your feet, are usually the ones I find most satisfying, not despite the pressure but because of it.
What’s the most rewarding part of the job?
Seeing a client go from crisis to a settled, workable future. People come to me at one of the worst points in their life, often frightened and unable to see past the next few weeks, the reward is helping them get to the other side with a clear outcome and, just as importantly, their dignity intact.
What’s the most challenging?
The early stages, before anything is agreed or ordered. That’s when clients are making decisions (about where they live, about time with their children), under real emotional strain, often before they’ve had time to think clearly. Getting arrangements for children right at that stage matters more than almost anything else in the case, and it’s where good advice has the most impact.
What do you think sets the Rose & Rose Family Law team apart from other firms in the way it looks after clients?
Responsiveness that’s actually delivered, not just promised. Clients get direct access to me, not a rotating cast of juniors. I’m the person who answers the phone and the person in the room. In family law, where clients are often anxious and need reassurance quickly, that continuity is what client care actually looks like in practice.
Advice For Others Following a Similar Path
What advice would you give to a paralegal, trainee or student considering family law as a career?
Build real relationships with barristers, clerks and other solicitors early; you learn more from how they handle a case than from any textbook. Read the journals and the law reports properly, not just the headnotes. And go to court whenever you can, even when it’s not your case; watching advocacy is how you develop your own.
If someone starting at Rose & Rose asked you what makes a good family lawyer, what would you say?
Clarity, consistency and communication, in that order. Clients need advice they can actually act on, not hedged options; they need a lawyer who doesn’t change position depending on the day; and they need to hear from you before they have to chase you. Get those three right, and the technical skill takes care of itself.
Advice for Clients
If a client is thinking about starting divorce or separation proceedings but hasn’t yet taken the first step, what’s the one thing you would want them to know?
Take advice before you take any other step. Before you move out, before you agree anything informally, before you say something you can’t unsay to the other party. Early advice doesn’t commit you to proceedings; it just means whatever you do next is a decision, not a reaction.
Cohabitation reforms are on the way, but a longstanding relationship still isn’t legally recognised in the way many couples assume. What do you wish more unmarried couples understood before something goes wrong?
There’s no such thing as a “common law spouse” in England and Wales, however long the relationship or however much has been built jointly. Without marriage or a cohabitation agreement, one partner can walk away with next to nothing regardless of contribution or need — that gap between assumption and legal reality is where the real damage happens, usually right when someone can least absorb it.
What’s the most common concern clients raise with you, and how do you reassure them?
Cost, almost always, closely followed by “how long will this take and what will happen to my children in the meantime.” I deal with it by giving a realistic cost estimate and process timeline at the outset and revisiting it at every stage, rather than letting uncertainty sit in the background unaddressed.
A Bit More About Zubair
What were you like at school, and which subjects did you enjoy most?
Not interested in studying. Languages!
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work?
Travelling the world, experiencing new cultures.
If you weren’t a lawyer, what do you think you’d be doing?
A software engineer, taxi driver, or an accountant.
What is something about you that colleagues might be surprised to learn?
That I love cooking.
What would you say to someone considering Rose & Rose, whether as a client or as somewhere to build their legal career?
It is a great place to work and a great firm to help you through your issues.
Interested in Working with Zubair or Joining the Team?
If you would like to speak to Zubair or another member of our Family Law Team about a divorce, separation, financial settlement, child arrangement or other family matter, please visit our Family Law page or get in touch through our contact page or by emailing info@roselegal.co.uk. You can also read more about Zubair on his Meet the Team profile.
If you are interested in building a career in law and joining the Rose & Rose team, please visit our Careers page for current opportunities.
