Sebastian Burrows

Specialisms

Sebastian specialises principally in divorce and the dissolution of civil partnership and the division and sharing of high-value assets. These regularly involve successful family businesses, property and pension portfolios and City bonus structures.

Sebastian represents clients in all aspects of family law, including applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Special Guardianship Orders and in drafting prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements. His work also encompasses unmarried separations and the appropriate division of property.

Sebastian is a Resolution accredited specialist in complex financial remedies and Children Act cases.

Approach

Sebastian’s focus is on supporting clients by providing an empathetic and constructive alliance.

Training & employment

Sebastian studied at the University of Reading and qualified as a barrister in 2002. He worked for a leading City of London firm before converting to become a solicitor in 2007. He has specialised in family law throughout his career and practised in Essex since 2006 becoming a Partner in 2017.

Sebastian is now Managing Partner at Stowe Family Law’s Essex and Kent offices, which covers Bishop’s Stortford, Chelmsford, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells.

Notable cases

Sebastian has acted in high net worth divorces which have included implications under DOTAS (Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes) Legislation.

He has extensive experience of Children Act cases involving drug and alcohol abuse by mothers and fathers, domestic violence and non-compliance with Court Orders.

Sebastian has represented grandparents in obtaining Special Guardianship Orders in circumstances of parents’ suffering from severe drug and alcohol addiction.

He has also represented clients in resisting and applying for permission to remove children from the jurisdiction to live abroad.

Legal 500

Sebastian has been recommended by the Legal 500 since 2016 as ‘practical, realistic and personable’, ‘pragmatic and sensitive’ and ‘excellent, intelligent and thoughtful’.

“I have been instructed by Seb Burrows for many years, in both private children, TOLATA 1996 and matrimonial finance matters and he is very able and an excellent lawyer and strategist. Seb has an excellent reassuring bedside manner, and is not afraid to litigate where correspondence has reached an impasse. His papers are very well prepared, and he is bright, intuitive and very good at achieving excellent results for his clients. Having trained as a barrister, he is able to conduct his own advocacy and does so very successfully and persuasively. His case analysis is clear and his instructions succinct and to the point. He is definitely one to watch.” – Legal 500, 2021

“Sebastian Burrows has been faultless in every aspect of dealing with my case. He has advised me in a professional, knowledgeable, supportive way: always with consideration of the emotive and sensitive situation that I am dealing with. I cannot recommend him highly enough.” – Legal 500, 2021

“I could trust them, implicitly, with the most emotionally difficult situations. The solicitor I used (Sebastian Burrows) honestly gave the best advice, the most honest cautions and was always able to help with every worry.” – Legal 500, 2021

“Stowe has only recently launched in Essex, and it is very capably headed-up by Sebastian Burrows. I have been instructed by Seb for many years, in both private children, TOLATA 1996 and matrimonial finance matters and he is very able and an excellent lawyer and strategist.” – Legal 500, 2021

“Professional, sensitive, knowledgeable, transparent, delivering an efficient service on-budget. Advising when necessary at a moment’s notice without hesitation or delay. Sebastian and his team are a great example of a family law practice exemplifying and delivering just and ethical family law.” – Legal 500, 2021

Outside of work

Sebastian’s free time is spent with his family of five, often exploring Essex with their two Labradors. He is a Rugby fan and keen cyclist.

Sebastian is Chair of Resolution Essex and a School Governor.