Fatima Ismail joined 1KBW as a Pupil in October 2023 and is currently under the supervision of Katy Chokowry.
Prior to commencing pupillage, Fatima worked with a specialist family law team dealing mainly with high-net worth clients. Whilst at that firm, she also assisted the commercial litigation team with a case involving a large public entity operating in the Middle East.
Fatima worked as a Judicial Assistant in the Family Division of the High Court of England and Wales. She assisted Mr Justice Mostyn, Mrs Justice Theis, and Mrs Justice Judd in matters involving matrimonial finance, schedule 1 proceedings and children work, often with cross-border and complex trust issues. Fatima’s role included producing legal analysis, providing commentary and opinions on cases, and assisting with small segments of judgments.
Alongside developing her professional skills, Fatima is heavily involved with Bridging the Bar, a charity aimed at enhancing social mobility at the Bar. This involvement was sparked when Fatima was awarded a place on the first internship programme at the UK Supreme Court, where Fatima spent time with Lord Lloyd Jones. Fatima continues to be involved in the capacity of a Pod Leader and Mentor.
At university, she was selected to represent Leiden University in the National Dutch rounds of the Jessup Moot. Fatima then coached the Gray’s Inn team between 2020 and 2021. She also volunteered at the Citizen’s Advice Bureau for two years to provide clients with written advice.
Awards and Scholarships
- Ann Goddard Pupillage Scholarship (Gray’s Inn) – 2024
- Prince of Wales Scholarship (Gray’s Inn) – 2020
- Residential Scholarship (Gray’s Inn) – 2020
- Lutfia Rabbani Foundation Scholarship (Leiden University) – 2020
- Excellence Scholarship (BPP) – 2020
- Career Commitment Scholarship (BPP) – 2020
- Stowe Family Law Prize (University of Bradford) – 2019
Education
- BPP, Barrister Training Course. (2021)
- Leiden University, LL.M. (2020)
- University of Bradford, LLB (First) (2019)
Professional Memberships
- The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
- Family Law Bar Association
- Bridging the Bar
Publications
- ‘Through the Eyes of a Child – Report from the World Congress 2021 – 8th Family Law & Children’s Rights Conference’ Andrea Watts and Fatima Ismail (2021) Issue 4, International Family Law Journal.
- ‘Family Justice Council: Should the Age of Majority be Reduced to 16?’ Fatima Ismail, Sam Prout, Anna Khalfaoui (March 2022) Family Law Journal.
Languages
- Arabic (Fluent)