Profile description
Family Law
Balahl has a busy family practice and regularly appears in Court for a number of clients, representing both mothers and fathers in cases concerning child contact and custody issues. He is deeply empathetic around the emotional impact family matters bring about with his advocacy style being defined as “intense” in order to meet his clients’ objectives.
Balahl recently appeared in Court for a client in a deeply contested Child Arrangements matter where an expert’s opinion recommended the removal of the client’s child. Due to Balahl’s persuasive arguments, the expert’s opinion against his client was dismissed resulting in the child residing with his client.
Balahl has experience in the following areas of Family law and can be instructed to assist with such cases:
- Contact and Residence (Child Arrangements Orders)
- Prohibited Steps Orders
- Specific Issue Orders
- Non-Molestation Orders
- Occupation Orders
- Domestic Abuse
- Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Fact-finding Hearings
- Parental Responsibility
- Applications to Enforce orders
Example cases
PJ v. YS (2021), Reading Family Court- Balahl acted for a father who had been unlawfully deprived of seeing his child despite there being a Court Order granting him shared care. In persuading the Court that there was no lawful reason for preventing such contact, the Court Ordered that the mother should undertake unpaid work for her actions, in addition to finding that she had been in contempt of court.
GR v. JR (2021), Romford Family Court- Balahl acted for a Respondent father in defending an application for Enforcement of Child Arrangements. In what the Court described as very detailed and comprehensive submissions, and in relying on Re D (A Child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1057, Balahl successfully managed to have the proceedings concerning the two older children dismissed due to the mother's longstanding absence in their lives.
MA v. PL (2021), Telford Family Court- Balahl acted for a mother in Child Arrangements proceedings against her former partner. Balahl was able to successfully persuade the Court against the Applicant's position of establishing ties between the children and their paternal family based on controlling and abusive behaviour.
AT v. JM (2021), Norwich Family Court- Balahl acted for a Respondent father in Child Arrangements Proceedings againt his former partner. Balahl was able to successfully persuade the Court that the report of a Social Worker was inherently biased against his client leading to the Court dismissing such evicence and permitting an independent Social Worker under Part 25 which meant his client's child would continue to live with him.
Landlord and tenant
Balahl acts for Landlords, Tenants, and Estate and Lettings Agents in both an advisory and representative capacity dealing with a number of property-related issues and disputes. In recent months, Balahl has had a number of successes in the Courts such as successfully obtaining a Mandatory Injunction on behalf of a Tenant who was unlawfully evicted from her property resulting in the Court ordering her return to the property. Balahl acted for another Tenant whose property was unlawfully occupied by a Landlord and was ordered, on a without notice basis, to vacate the property. Balahl successfully set-aside that Order on Application and had the entire claim against his Tenant client dismissed. Balahl has experience in the following areas of Landlord and Tenant and can be instructed to assist in such:
- Possession Proceedings and Eviction
- Injunction Applications
- Unlawful Evictions
- Squatters
- Forfeiture
- Leaseholder Service Charge Disputes
- Nuisance and harassment claims
- Breaches to Quiet Enjoyment
- Disrepair
- HMO and Licensing
Contractual Disputes
Balahl has acted for both Claimants and Defendants in a variety of contractual and money claims in an advisory and representative capacity. He is utilised by Solicitors and lay clients to assist in the interpretation of contracts and ambiguous clauses and offers expert advice when considering the efficacy of litigation. Balahl offers professional and honest advice which at times results in matters being settled out-of-court in order to reduce the costs burden on clients, but equally well-placed to provide representation in contested trials.
Balahl has experience in the following areas of Contractual disputes and can be instructed to assist in such:
- Consumer Rights
- Goods and Services Disputes
- Debt and Money claims
- General Breach of Contract
- B2B contracts
Housing Law
Balahl spent over a decade in the Public Sector working within a number of different capacities for a Central London Local Authority. In his time there, Balahl predominantly dealt with matters pertaining to Public Housing including applications for Council Housing, assignments of tenancies, and enforcement action such as possession proceedings and civil injunctions. Balahl acts in both an advisory and representative capacity in assisting Tenants and applicants for Council / Social Housing. He is able to advise on the merits of pursuing an application for Council / Social Housing and considers matters such as medical and family composition issues. Balahl has experience in the following areas of Housing and can be instructed to assist in such:
- Statutory Reviews (s.202 Reviews)
- Section 204 Appeals in the County Court
- Representation at Appeal Hearings
Property Disputes
Balahl is very adept in all manner of property disputes and regularly advises property owners and other interested parties concerning disputes around their property. Balahl has worked closely with other professionals such as Chartered Building Surveyors and Local Authority Planning Officers in order to identify the best solutions for his clients. Balahl has experience in the following areas of property disputes and can be instructed to assist in such:
- Boundary Disputes
- Party Wall Disputes
- Adverse Possession Claims
- Easements
Shariah Law
Balahl has several years’ experience in all matters pertaining to Shariah law, having advised Mosques, Islamic Centres, Imaams, and the general Muslim community for a number of years. As an observant Muslim himself, Balahl knows all too well the need for Shariah compliant legal services and utilises his wealth of experience to achieve his clients’ desired outcomes. Balahl has experience in the following areas of Shariah law and can be instructed to assist in such:
- Family and Child Arrangements
- Wills and Inheritance
- Mosque Disputes
- Charity Disputes
- Community Disputes
- Commercial including usury-free Transactions
- Matters of Islamic Jurisprudence
Hobbies
In his spare time, Balahl likes to unwind watching classical British comedy and drama. Amongst his favourites are Only Fools and Horses, ‘Allo ‘Allo, Blackadder, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Two Ronnies, and Mind Your Language. Balahl has lived in North West London all of his life, and continues to live there with his family.
