Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE
Solicitor · Founder of SKB Law · Family Law Strategist · Educator · International Practice
Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE is a solicitor, author, and one of the most distinctive voices in family law — working across client practice, professional education, and sector leadership.
Lawyer of the Year Yorkshire Legal Awards · Lawyer of the Year Modern Law Awards
Host of Top 10 UK Divorce Podcast – Family Matters with Sarah
Author of Understanding Your Rights – An Essential Guide to the Nikah Nama
MBE for services to the community
Meet Our Founder
About Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE
Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE is a family law solicitor, founder, author and educator with over 25 years’ experience helping people make clear decisions during some of the most significant moments of their lives.
She leads SKB Law, supporting clients across England & Wales and internationally — specialising in complex financial settlements and cross-jurisdictional matters.
Her route into law wasn’t conventional. A chemistry degree and a career in agrochemicals came first — a background that shaped her analytical, structured approach to complex problems. Early in her legal career she served as Force Solicitor at West Yorkshire Police, building the judgment and composure she brings to difficult cases today.
Sarah also works beyond her own practice — with firms, training providers, and legal educators — to raise standards, improve accessibility, and build capability across the sector.
Areas of Focus
Training & Speaking Topics
“The most useful thing I can offer a room full of lawyers isn’t more law. It’s a different way of thinking about the people we’re here to serve — and what it actually takes to serve them well.” — Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE
Sarah delivers keynotes, workshops, and masterclasses for firms, institutions, and professional bodies. Topics include:
- Building the Client-Centred Family Law Practice Designing services and client journeys that work for both firm and client — practically, commercially, and ethically.
- Nikah, Religious Marriage and English Law Practical guidance on Nikah, Mahr, religious-only marriages, and the cultural context that shapes how clients experience family proceedings. Essential for any firm advising South Asian or Muslim clients.
- International Family Law in Practice Jurisdiction, cross-border assets, and advising families whose lives span multiple legal systems — with cultural fluency built in.
- The Future of Family Law Practice A broader conversation on who the law serves, who delivers it, and how the profession needs to evolve to remain relevant and trusted.
- Mentoring and Career Development for Early-Stage Lawyers Building capability, confidence, and a clearer path into practice — with particular focus on lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds.
Delivered as keynote, half-day workshop, masterclass, or advisory session. Available in-person and online.
Enquire about training or speaking
Insights & Media
Discover Our Podcast - Family Matters
‘Family Matters: Real Divorce Stories from the South Asian Community’ is your go-to podcast for straight-talk on divorce and separation. Join Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, an award-winning lawyer, as she unpacks what divorce really looks like in our community. Voted Top 10 in the UK, this podcast isn’t afraid to dive into the tough stuff. Whether you’re in the thick of it, know someone who is, or just curious about the topic, Sarah’s here with stories, advice, and a bit of legal know-how. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s relatable. This podcast does not replace legal advice.
Author & Educator
Author of Understanding Your Rights: An Essential Guide to the Nikah Nama
A practical, accessible guide for couples, families, and community leaders, explaining how religious marriage contracts can interact with English law. It outlines where legal recognition may differ from religious expectations, the common areas where misunderstandings arise, and the steps people can take to protect their rights early — with clarity, sensitivity, and real-life examples.
Supporting Legal Growth
Education, Mentoring & Advisory
Alongside her legal practice, Sarah works with partners who want to think differently about family law — how it’s taught, how it’s practised, and who gets to build a career within it.
SKB Law Academy Mentoring and skills development for aspiring and early-stage legal professionals. Focused on building capability, confidence, and a clearer path into practice. → Learn more
Aura Network A professional community for South Asian women in law, launched at the House of Lords. Built to address representation, opportunity, and belonging across the legal sector. → Learn more
Sarah also contributes to conversations on modern legal practice, access to justice, and building ethical client-centred firms — through speaking, advisory work, and invited collaborations with institutions and practices internationally.
Awards & Influence
Recognition & professional impact
- Yorkshire Legal Awards — Lawyer of the Year (2023)
- Modern Law Awards — Lawyer of the Year
- Business Power Awards — Professional of the Year (2025)
- Law Society Excellence Awards
- MBE for services to the community
- Innovation and client-centred practice recognition – Clio Reisman Awards
