Solicitor, Public Family Law Team
Sheetal is a Solicitor in the Family Law Team in Luton and joined Machins in April 2016 as a trainee on secondment, before going on to qualify as a Solicitor.
She completed the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Law School having previously studied for her LLB Law and Diploma in Professional Practice at Nottingham Trent University.
Prior to joining Machins, Sheetal worked as a Paralegal with a North London firm where she went on to secure her training contract.
Sheetal is experienced in representing parents, grandparents, extended family members, and intervenors in care proceedings involving issues such as neglect, substance misuse, and complex non-accidental injuries. She frequently acts for vulnerable clients, including those with mental health challenges and learning difficulties, and has a strong track record of supporting individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Sheetal is also well-versed in working with clients who require interpreters, advocates, or intermediaries to ensure effective communication and access to justice.
Sheetal is known for her empathetic approach and commitment to building strong, trusting relationships with her clients, ensuring they feel supported and clearly informed throughout the legal process.
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The Family Court has ordered that two children who were wrongfully removed from Italy by their mother must be returned to their father in Rome. The father and mother had married in 1998 and their eldest son was born in England in 2008. The family moved to Italy in 2011 and their youngest son was
The Court of Appeal has rejected a local authority’s plan to have a two-year-old girl placed for adoption. The girl, referred to in court as LC, had two older brothers, aged eight and seven. The mother had learning difficulties and mental health issues. There were concerns that the children had suffered neglect, had been exposed
A mother has successfully challenged a decision to place her baby up for adoption, because the judge dealing with the case didn’t take the necessary time and care. The case involved a mother who gave birth to her baby at the age of 16. The local authority accommodated them in a mother and baby placement
A mother has been allowed to change her son’s middle name despite an objection from his father. The case involved a boy who at birth was given two forenames by the parents and registered with both. He was most commonly known by his first name but the father used both and said that he favoured
A father has been unable to enforce a court order for contact with his children because no official body was prepared to provide supervision. The case involved a father and mother who had two children in England. They moved to Estonia in 2008, but in 2013, the mother returned to England with the children. The
A mother has been told she can only have contact with her son six times a year instead of the 12 times that she wanted. The case centred on the care of an eight-year-old boy. His parents had separated after the mother alleged that she had suffered domestic abuse by the father and his family.