Shortlands

Meet our team

Shabana Walayat

Director & Head of Family Law

Shabana is a co-founder of Shortlands and a highly experienced family lawyer with over 30 years of expertise in all areas of family law. She advises clients in the UK and internationally, on complex financial and children matters.

Austin Chessell

Solicitor (Family)
Accredited Mediator (Family)

Austin has been a member of Shortlands since 2008 and has developed extensive expertise in family law, specialising in children and financial matters. He works closely with clients to provide clear, practical advice and representation, helping them navigate complex legal issues with confidence while remaining focused on achieving positive outcomes for families.

Alastair Geoffrey Dobbie

Solicitor (Commercial)

Alastair has worked at Shortlands since 2016, specialising in complex commercial, corporate, company and Chancery matters, with a particular expertise in high-value financial disputes and property claims. He advises businesses, investors and individuals on challenging commercial and contractual issues, restructuring, insolvency-related matters, and urgent litigation.

Sabina Masimova

Solicitor (Family)
Sabina has been a member of the Shortlands team since 2023, advising and representing clients across all aspects of family law, with a particular focus on divorce, financial remedy proceedings and child arrangements.

Wentworth Gurney

Solicitor (Private-Client)

Having worked at Shortlands since 2018, Wentworth specialises in Private-Client, advising individuals and families on a broad range of matters including non-contentious and contentious probate, wills, trusts, deputyships, lasting powers of attorney, and tax planning.

Wajiha Shah

Legal Assistant to Shabana Walayat
Wajiha has been a member of the Shortlands team since 2016, playing a central role in the day-to-day management of the firm’s practice. She works closely with Shabana, assisting with all aspects of family law matters from initial consultations through to their conclusion.

Zahra Bami

Paralegal (Family)

Zahra has worked at Shortlands Solicitors since 2025. She works closely with Shabana, supporting clients across a wide range of family law matters. Her role includes assisting with case preparation, drafting legal documents, preparing court bundles, liaising with clients and third parties, and helping to ensure matters progress efficiently from start to finish.

Hadia Hafizi

Accounts Manager
Hadia is an ACCA-qualified Accounts Manager who has been at Shortlands since 2019. She is responsible for overseeing the firm’s financial management, ensuring its finances are managed efficiently, accurately, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements.

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