You’ve been carrying this for a while now.

Maybe it’s a marriage that’s unravelling. Maybe someone you love has passed, and no one in the family can agree on what comes next. Maybe you’ve been wronged, and you’re not sure anyone will take your case seriously.

You need someone who understands that behind every legal matter is a person — a family — trying to find a way through.

That’s what we do.

At Usman & Partners, I work with people who value resolution over conflict, dignity over drama, and lasting outcomes over quick wins. My approach is mediation-first — because most disputes don’t need a courtroom. They need a conversation, guided by someone who knows the law and respects the people in the room.

How I Work

Mediation

A structured, private process where you and the other party work toward agreement — with a trained neutral guiding the conversation. Faster, quieter, and more dignified than court.

Family Law

Divorce, custody, matrimonial assets, and joint petitions — handled with care for everyone involved, especially children. I help families separate without destroying what matters most.

Wills, probate, letters of administration, and estate disputes. Losing someone is hard enough. I handle the legal side so you can focus on your family.

Estates

Who I Am

I’ve been a lawyer for 15 years.

I was admitted to the High Court of Malaya and the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in 2011. I’ve appeared before the Magistrates’ Court, Sessions Court, High Court, and the Court of Appeal. I hold a BICAM mediation certification, I’m a trained Collaborative Practice lawyer, and I’m a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals.

But credentials only tell you what I can do. Let me tell you how I do it.

I listen before I advise. I look for resolution before I reach for litigation. And I treat every person who walks into my office — regardless of which side they’re on — with respect.

Early in my career, I handled everything from criminal defence to human rights cases. I co-founded the Sabah Human Rights Centre because I believed then — and still believe — that the law should protect people, not just processes.

Over the years, my practice has narrowed. Not because I can’t do other things, but because I’ve learned where I do my best work: with families navigating transitions, and with people who have been overlooked by the system.

I founded Usman & Partners in 2015 in Kota Kinabalu. Today, the firm operates on an appointment-only basis from our office at Suria Sabah.

Why Mediation First

Most people assume that hiring a lawyer means going to court.

It doesn’t have to.

Litigation is adversarial by design. It puts families on opposite sides of a courtroom and asks a judge — someone who met you an hour ago — to decide your future. It’s slow. It’s expensive. And it often leaves everyone, especially children, with scars that take years to heal.

Mediation is different. It’s a private, structured conversation where both parties work toward an agreement they can live with — guided by a trained neutral. You stay in control. You make the decisions. And because you helped create the outcome, it’s far more likely to hold.

I chose to build my practice around mediation because I’ve seen what happens when families go to war in court. I’ve also seen what happens when they choose a different path. The difference is profound.

That said — I know how to litigate. When mediation isn’t possible, or when a fight is genuinely necessary, I don’t shy away from it. But I will never take you to court just because I can. Only because I should.

How We Work

Every matter is different. But my approach stays the same.

I start by listening. Before I give you advice, before I draft a single letter, I need to understand your situation — not just the legal facts, but what matters to you. What you’re afraid of. What you’re hoping for. That conversation shapes everything that follows.

One: You reach out

Send me an email describing your situation in as much or as little detail as you’re comfortable with. I will respond personally. No assistants, no auto-replies. If I can help, I’ll let you know. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you that too.

Two: We meet

Our first conversation is about understanding — your situation, your priorities, and what a good outcome looks like for you. This can happen in person at my office in Suria Sabah or over Zoom.

Three: I give you a clear path forward

No jargon. No uncertainty. I’ll explain your options, the likely outcomes, the timeline, and what I recommend — and why. You make the decision. I execute it.

Four: Resolution, not warfare

Where possible, I pursue mediation or negotiated agreement first. It’s faster, more private, and produces better outcomes for everyone — especially families with children. If we need to go to court, we go to court. But we don’t go there first.

The Process

Areas of Practice

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation for any kind of dispute
Collaborative Practice for Family Law
Negotiation
Out-of-Court Settlement
Discernment Legal Counselling (To Determine Best way to Resolve Dispute for all parties concerned)

Family Law

Marriage (Cross-border)
Divorce (Joint Petition and Single Petition)
Restraining Order
Custody, Guardianship, Adoption
Other Interlocutory Applications
Matrimonial Asset Division

Estate

Wills
Estate Planning
Estate Administration
Probate and Letters of Administration

Judicial Review

Select litigation in judicial review and human rights matters

How We Communicate

All correspondence is by email or scheduled meetings — in person or via Zoom.

All client emails are replied within one business day.

Begin The Conversation

If you’re going through something difficult and you’re not sure where to start, that’s OK.

You don’t need to have all the answers before you reach out.

Just tell me what’s happening, and I’ll let you know how I can help.

All enquiries are treated with strict confidentiality.

Email: michelle@usmanandpartners.com

Office: By appointment only

Contact Form

Our office

Address

8-1, 8th Floor, Suria Sabah

No. 1, Jln Tun Fuad Stephens

88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Hours

By Appointment Only