Four Brick Court Chambers

Barrister 

David Bannocks was called to the Bar in 2002. His work includes all aspects of family law involving children. He has appeared at all levels of the Family Court, with ongoing cases in the High Court and recent cases in the Court of Appeal.

Practice overview 

Public Law, Care and Adoption

David acts for local authorities, parents, grandparents, and children’s guardians. He appears in the most complex of cases involving non-accidental injury, addiction, mental health, allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, domestic violence, neglect, international placements and adoption, deprivation of liberty, etc.

Private Law

David has extensive experience representing parties with disputes about where children will live, contact, and all section 8 proceedings, as well as special guardianship applications and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. He is regularly instructed to represent parents, Rule 16.4 guardians and interveners in fact-finding, disposal, and appeal hearings. He is routinely involved in cases which contain issues of implacable hostility and domestic violence.

Direct Public Access

As a qualified direct access barrister, David will accept instructions from members of the public in suitable cases. He is able to quickly build rapport with clients and guide them through the complexity of the court process. He gives clear legal advice and undertakes all aspects of court negotiation, advocacy, and the drafting of legal documents.

David considers client care of central importance and knows that people involved in family cases may be experiencing one of the most testing and stressful times of their lives. His caring and friendly manner will reassure the client, and this is balanced with strong and realistic advice so that the client is prepared for the outcome.

When representing professional clients, David is known for his strong support, robust and practical advice, and tenacity in the most complex testing cases.

Recent Cases

Representing a local authority in long running, complex and ongoing proceedings involving international assessments, a previous abduction to Somalia and recently an appeal to the Court of Appeal (C and D (Children), Re [2019] EWCA Civ 1692 (03 October 2019). Representing children though a children’s guardian, in a long running case involving issues of deprivation of liberty, specialist educational provision and care plans hotly contested by the parents one of whom was a non-English speaking litigant in person. The case involved numerous interim applications due the volatility and unpredictability of the parents. Representing a local authority in ongoing proceedings involving assessments in the UK and Poland, the management of a volatile and potentially dangerous parent and the management of contact and assessments. Representing a local authority in proceedings involving a fact-finding in respect of very serious domestic violence, considerable disclosure issues and placement of the children with a non-resident father and in subsequent ongoing proceedings involving a further child. Recent experience of contested remote and telephone hearings during the COVID 19 crisis.

Family Law Bar Association Middle Temple

University of London, Theology (BA) (1985) University of Durham, Theology (MA) (1994)

Law Conversion: University of Westminster, Graduate Diploma in Law (2000)

Law School: Inns of Court School of Law (2002)