1 Crown Office Row, Brighton

Adam Smith has been a family law specialist for over 30 years. He is head of the family team in Brighton, and Co -Chair of the Sussex Family Justice Board, responsible for seeking to improve family Justice both locally and nationally. Adam has a very high profile in local and national policy making. Adam specialises in cases that involve complex medical evidence (including child death) allegations of sexual abuse, factitious illness and cases involving conflicting medical evidence. He also has experience in private law cases involving parental alienation, and intractable contact disputes.

Anogika Souresh

Call: 2018 Anogika accepts instructions across a range of Family Law and Court of Protection matters. Children (Public Law) Anogika regularly appears in care proceedings, acting for Local Authorities, Guardians, parents and grandparents. She has also been instructed on behalf of the police on disclosure matters in care proceedings. Anogika is regularly instructed in complex multi-day final hearings. She has appeared in proceedings involving domestic abuse, mental health concerns, substance misuse, neglect, and non-accidental injury. Anogika is also instructed to appear in FDAC proceedings. She is frequently instructed in emergency hearings, including ICOs and EPOs. Anogika has appeared in proceedings involving children and the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Anogika regularly appears in the High Court. She has acted in cases involving the Official Solicitor when there have been issues of capacity to litigate. She is often requested on cases involving issues of capacity. Children (Private Law) Anogika represents both Applicants and Respondents in private law cases at all stages of proceedings, including applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. She has been instructed in cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse. She has represented vulnerable clients and clients requiring an interpreter and is skilled at representing clients for whom English is not their first language. Anogika speaks Tamil fluently. She has represented parents in internal relocation cases. She has also acted in adoption proceedings. Anogika has appeared in multi-day fact-findings and final hearings. She has also undertaken appeals. Anogika has been instructed on complex private law disputes, including those being heard in the High Court. In addition, Anogika accepts instructions to represent clients in children arbitration. She has undertaken training in Children Arbitration from Julie Stather, MCI Arb, who co-authored the paper to IFLA proposing the extension of the arbitration scheme to children matters. Court of Protection Anogika welcomes instructions across the full range of Court of Protection proceedings. She has acted in cases in which both mental capacity and best interests are in dispute. She has been instructed in hearings involving issues of residence and care. Anogika has a broad property and affairs practice, and regularly acts in applications for the appointment and removal of deputies. She regularly advises on applications for the appointment or displacement of Nearest Relatives. Anogika also acts in deprivation of liberty challenges.

Aviva Le Prevost

Aviva Le Prevost is an experienced Family Law Practioner. She specialises in all aspects of public and private law concerning children. In public law children work, Aviva is experienced primarily in the representation of parents and children and has also represented local authorities. Aviva is often involved in complex proceedings involving disputed medical evidence and serious allegations of sexual abuse. In private law children Aviva covers all aspects, from contact and residence disputes to declarations of parentage, leave to remove from the jurisdiction and wardship.

Bruce Tregoning

Bruce Tregoning is an experienced Family Lawyer. Since joining Chambers in 2009 Bruce has developed a wide ranging practice in the Family Courts including the High Court, throughout Sussex, Kent, Surrey and London.

Christopher Rice

Christopher Rice has practised in London and Sussex since his call in 1991 and specialised in family law for most of his career. His practice now incorporates all aspects of family law both in both private and public law matters.

Claire Fox

Claire Fox is a family practitioner, with particular interest and specialism in Public Law Children matters. Claire is often instructed on multi day final hearings and fact-finding hearings across the range of court levels on behalf of local authorities, parents, grandparents and guardians in care and adoption proceedings including contested leave to oppose adoption cases. Claire has appeared in the Court of Appeal acting on behalf of the children and has conducted appeals from decisions at final hearings in the High Court.

Clare Ciborowska

Clare Ciborowska is a specialist family practitioner. Clare accepts instructions in private law children applications, care proceedings, Female Genital Mutilation proceedings, Injunctions and Wardship proceedings. Clare has completed the specialist advocacy training at Keble College, Oxford and is a skilled advocate.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller is the current Deputy Head of One Crown Office Row’s Brighton annex. He has been a barrister practising family law since 2005 and practises in all areas of family law, with a focus on financial remedy cases. Daniel is well known for his tenacious approach in court and during negotiations, and his calm and reassuring ‘client care’ skills. He is regularly praised for his readiness to provide assistance throughout the litigation process, often at short notice.

Darren Howe KC

Darren is a child law specialist who represents parents, children and local authorities across the whole range of children-related disputes. Darren specialises in complex cases at High Court level and above involving: Disputes as to the cause of catastrophic injuries and/or death of children, particularly cases that may involve complex and ‘cutting-edge’ medical and scientific evidence; Allegations of recent or historic sexual abuse; Allegations of Fabricated or induced illness; Darren has extensive experience in contentious private law cases involving allegations of parental alienation, intractable contact disputes, child abduction, domestic and international relocation. Darren advises public and private bodies concerning child protection duties.

David Reader

David accepts instructions across a range of areas of chambers’ work with a particular focus upon public inquiries, police law, inquests and immigration. David is a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel (‘C’ Panel).

Delia Minoprio

Delia Minoprio is a specialist family practitioner. She joined Chambers in January 2019 following a successful London practice at 42 Bedford Row. Delia accepts instructions in all aspects of family law children work. Both public law care proceedings and private family law matters. She acts for parents, children, local authorities and interveners and has appeared in court all over the country including the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. Delia has been instructed on cases relating to Non Accidental Injuries: fractures and bilateral subconjunctival haemorrhages and ‘pool of perpetrator’ fact findings in relation to serious sexual abuse. Delia has appeared as a junior in the High Court for long running cases involving issues relating to Factitious Induced Illness and Non Accidental Injuries.

Dinah Loeb

Dinah Loeb specialises in complex family litigation. With more than 20 years’ legal experience having qualified as a solicitor in 1990, as a mediator in 2002 and a barrister in 2004, Dinah is experienced across both sides of the profession so is able to support lay and professional clients through the litigation process. Dinah is experienced in all courts including the Court of Appeal, undertaking work on the South Eastern Circuit, Western Circuit and London. Dinah is qualified to take on direct access work.

Eleanor Battie

Eleanor has been specialising in family law since 2004. She has a wide ranging practice and is instructed in both private and public law matters in all tiers of the family court. Eleanor has a predominantly private law practice and, in particular, represents parties in high conflict cases. Eleanor has represented many parents in complex proceedings, which may also involve fact-finding hearings concerning allegations of domestic abuse or harm of the child and those where parental alienation has been alleged. Eleanor also represents children both in public and private law proceedings. Eleanor accepts instructions on a public access basis.

Francesca Wiley KC

Francesca practices at the very highest level in both Private and Public Law Children Act cases, particularly where there are profoundly serious allegations against the parties. Prior to joining the Family Bar, she specialised in Criminal and Human Rights Law and as a result, much of her work covers the crossover between the family and criminal jurisdictions. This includes very many cases where there is a need for fact-finding and consequential or concurrent applications and investigations in criminal proceedings. Francesca specialises in cases where clients or other parties have been accused of murder, attempted murder of their children or partners, sexual abuse, paedophile rings, trafficking, radicalisation, and other very serious offences. Such cases often require medical and factual cross-examination of the highest calibre.

Gavin Howe

Gavin predominantly practises in the field of Family Law: child protection work and financial remedy proceedings. He is regularly instructed by local authorities, by parents, and by Children’s Guardians. In 2013 Gavin qualified as a registered lawyer with the FA (Football Association) and represents professional footballers in all areas of contract negotiation and drafting.

Hope Spalding

Hope accepts instructions in both Public and Private Family Law matters. Hope is regularly instructed to represent vulnerable clients and is instructed in complex matters.

Jacqueline Roach

Jacqueline Roach’s practice covers the full range of public law children cases. Before coming to the Bar, Jacqueline worked in publishing and then in public relations running the Citizens Advice Bureau’s press office.

Jane Peckham

Jane Peckham is the Head of the Financial Remedies Team in Chambers and specialises in this practice area. She has a reputation for being hard working and approachable. She has been a Resolution trained family mediator since 2013; Jane has acted as a mediator in numerous family mediations including financial remedy disputes

Jeremy Cave

Jeremy Cave’s practice covers Financial Remedies (and financial provision for children), Trusts of Land (in the family context), Crime (with a particular specialty in Animal Welfare and Trading Standards) and Police Law.

Julie Stather

Julie has been practising in family law for over 20 years and was previously based in London. She is a qualified Family Law Arbitrator (for both children and financial matters) and Mediator. She trains expert witnesses and is a pupil supervisor. Julie is heavily involved in the Family Arbitration Scheme: she was a co-author of the paper proposing the extension of the scheme to children’s matters and has more recently presented an information evening to the Sussex Judiciary. She has hosted seminars for solicitors and Cafcass representatives throughout Sussex and writes regularly for legal periodicals about developments in the scheme. Julie accepts work from lay clients via Direct Access.

Kate Richmond

Kate is an experienced practitioner with a busy civil practice specialising in commercial and property work. She accepts instructions in Commercial, Property, Landlord & Tenant and Consumer Credit. Kate acts for a full range of clients including banks, insurers, utilities, finance companies, directors, shareholders, local authorities, and charities. She is commended for her considered approach to client care and commercial awareness. Kate is an accomplished trial advocate who also provides advice on a range of matters relating to property and contract. She is a trained mediator (ADR Group) and accepts instructions in civil and commercial disputes.

Katelyn Gottschling

Katelyn was called in 2016, and accepts instructions in all areas of children law. She has appeared before the courts at all levels up to and including the High Court, and has a particular interest in cases with an international element. Prior to coming to the Bar, Katelyn worked in the family department at a Band 1 firm (Public Law and Cross-Border Disputes), before joining another London-based Band 1 firm (Family/Matrimonial: Ultra High Net Worth). Katelyn assisted on a wide range of children cases before the High Court, spanning public, private and international law. These include Re L (A Child) [2017] EWHC 3707 (Fam) and RJ v Tigipko [2019] EWHC 448 (Fam). Katelyn has completed the FLBA Vulnerable Witness training programme.

Kirsten Japp

Kirsten joined Chambers in July 2017 and specialises in family law. She welcomes instructions in all Children Act and Family Law Act proceedings, acting for parents, Guardians, intervenors and Local Authorities. Before coming to the Bar, she worked as a paralegal for a national firm of solicitors in their family department and then in Project Management at Ernst & Young (EY).

Kriston Berlevy

Kris has 20 years of specialist experience practising in both regulatory crime and non-crime. Kris has very significant expertise in local authority prosecutions in all regulatory areas which include false accounting, benefit fraud, environmental protection act and building regulations cases. Kris has a recognised expertise in taxi licensing appeals and alcohol licensing. He appears for both appellants and respondents in planning enforcement appeals and public inquiries, statutory appeals in education law, traffic commissioner work and inquests. He represents the Chief Constable in any number of civil applications and is Direct Access approved. Kris also takes instruction prosecuting and defending animal welfare cases and has done so over many years. Affable, knowledgeable and easy to get on with, Kris is an excellent advocate of choice.

Laura Bayley

Laura is a specialist in family law and represents children, parents and local authorities in both private and public law cases. She trained and practised in London for more than 10 years before moving to Sussex. Laura also represents applicant and respondents in injunctive proceedings. In addition, Laura delivers lectures and training seminars on public and private law topics to social workers, solicitors and other professionals.

Leo Cogin

Leo Cogin’s practice is in family law. He accepts instructions in all areas of law concerning children including private and public law. He has represented clients at all levels of tribunal from the family proceedings court to the Court of Appeal.

Lloyd Thomas

Lloyd joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2022 after successfully completing pupillage here in Chambers. He is building a civil practice and accepts instructions in general civil law matters. Lloyd regularly appears in the County Court in procedural hearings and trials on both the small claims and fast tracks. He also accepts paperwork instructions to advise and draft documents in a range of civil matters including personal injury and breach of contract actions. Prior to joining chambers Lloyd worked at the Serious Fraud Office as a paralegal on fraud and bribery / corruption investigations. He also spent time as a volunteer at Wealden Citizens Advice, providing assistance to the public on a range of issues.

Mark Sheppard

Mark joined chambers as a tenant in October 2023 after completing pupillage, and accepts instructions across a range of chambers’ civil practice areas. He is regularly instructed to represent clients across a wide range of Courts, including appearing as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal. Prior to commencing pupillage, Mark worked for the Bar’s pro bono charity, Advocate, as a caseworker. He has also worked as a Court Clerk at the Royal Courts of Justice, clerking small claim & fast track trials. Mark ranked first in his year on the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy, being awarded the Derek Wood QC prize for best overall performance. He also achieved the highest mark in the Examination-in-Chief & Cross-Examination final assessments. Whilst completing his degree, Mark undertook a year of professional training which included a semester studying abroad in New Zealand.

Matthew Heywood

Matthew Heywood is a well regarded leading junior. He is known for his high ranking ability in court as an advocate in the most complex and testing of cases where he routinely leads junior counsel. He has a wide ranging practice and is instructed in both private and public law matters in all tiers of the family court. Matthew provides seminars in chambers and online. He is also instructed by Local Authorities in the most complex public law cases. Matthew is also instructed in cases that involve extradition, human rights and international law. He prosecutes and defends at all levels including the High Court & Court of Appeal. He has been instructed in the most serious and heavy weight of cases including murder, arson, large scale conspiracy and serious complex white collar crime (including bribery and corruption).

Matthew Withers

Matthew Withers has a busy civil practice and regularly accepts instructions in general civil law matters but he has particular experience in employment and property, with clients citing his diligence and technical knowledge, along with his personable and calm manner coupled with his analytical approach.

Michael Walker

Michael Walker has a busy civil practice and regularly accepts instructions in general civil law matters but he has particular experience in property, commercial, professional negligence and personal injury.

Natasha Isaac

Natasha accepts instructions in all areas of family law including financial remedies, divorces and domestic abuse as well as care proceedings and private law applications involving children. In addition, Natasha has a particular interest in cases involving children with specialist healthcare needs and cases with religious elements.

Nicola Logan

Nicola Logan joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2022, following the successful completion of her pupillage. Nicola accepts instructions in both Private and Public Family Law as well as Financial Remedy matters. Prior to joining the Bar, Nicola worked as a paralegal at a specialist Family Law firm assisting mostly in Private Children and Financial Remedy matters. Nicola has also volunteered as a mentor for Sussex pathways meeting with offenders both inside Lewes prison and in the community, as well as with the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group meeting with individuals detained in Brook House. Nicola is currently chair for East Sussex YRes.

Nigel Taylor

Nigel Taylor is an experienced family law advocate. His practice includes public law care proceedings, private law matters and financial disputes. He is an accomplished advocate and an experienced negotiator, passionate about getting the best outcome for his clients. He has an expert understanding of local procedures in the family courts in Sussex, Surrey and Kent as well as being thoroughly familiar with the Central Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.

Paul Ashwell

Paul Ashwell offers expertise across the full range of commercial and property law, including probate and planning. He is recommended as a Band 1 practitioner by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He lectures frequently on the development of law in his practice areas.

Pauline Troy

In 1989, Pauline qualified as a solicitor and has practised exclusively in the field of family law since. Then in 1996 Pauline was accredited by the Law Society as a member of the Children Panel authorised to represent parents and children in public law proceedings. Over the years, Pauline undertook increasing amounts of advocacy as a solicitor, and in 2007 was awarded Higher Rights of Audience by the Law Society and has now fully embraced this skill by transferring to the Bar in October 2011. Pauline is therefore a dual qualified practitioner in that she remains on the roll of solicitors but now practises as a barrister. Pauline’s experience covers the full range of child protection cases including the most serious matters involving homicide within the family, sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, neglect, domestic violence, substance misuse and mental health difficulties. She has developed a particular expertise in the law relating to children, especially children and their families in the context of public law care and adoption proceedings. In addition to her children’s work in the public law field, Pauline has considerable experience of the law arising from alternative family structures, especially in the gay community, and families created by surrogacy or donor insemination arrangements.

Pegah Sharghy

Pegah Sharghy is a specialist financial remedy practitioner. Pegah’s core practice is firmly bedded in all aspects of financial dispute on relationship breakdown with a particular interest in unraveling complex financial arrangements and hi-lighting undisclosed assets. Solid experience in conducting challenging and high value cases. Valued by clients as approachable, pragmatic and robust when required.

Rachael Claridge

Over the last 20 years, Rachael Claridge has developed a practice in all aspects of family law, with particular regard to those involving child protection issues. Rachael is a Resolution trained family mediator and is regularly involved in training and seminars for a number of Local Authorities and in the Chambers seminar programme. She is happy to consider training for other individuals / organisations.

Rachel Baker

Rachel accepts instructions across a range of civil and Court of Protection matters. With her extensive experience in a range of courts and tribunals and having previously had a busy criminal practice, Rachel has strong advocacy skills as well as the attention to detail and analytical skills required in her paperwork practice. Rachel has a deserved reputation for her friendly but professional and thorough approach as well as her excellent client care and the ability to put even the most nervous and vulnerable of litigants and witnesses at ease. She acts for a full range of clients including companies, educational institutions, insurers, local authorities, the police and charities.

Rachel Gimson

Rachel is an experienced Family Law practitioner, representing parents, children and Local Authorities in Public and Private Family Law proceedings.

Richard Ager

Richard has a very strong reputation in all the area of Children (Public) Law, representing local authorities, parents, grandparents, children, interveners and guardians. Richard’s experience includes acting in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, including historical sexual abuse, non-accidental injury and fabricated induced illness. He has considerable experience of cases of placement of children abroad. Richard is instructed on behalf of parents, children and extended family members in the full range of applications. These include difficult cases of implacable hostility, shared care arrangements, internal and external relocation, special guardianship and fact-finding hearings regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and children giving evidence.

Sarah Hunwick

Sarah joined Chambers in September 2024 from a leading common law set and specialises in public law proceedings relating to children. She acts for local authorities, parents, children, and other family members. At the start of her career Sarah also practiced criminal and civil law, giving her a breadth of other experience to draw upon when approaching new cases. Sarah has a growing reputation as a fastidiously prepared advocate who is determined to achieve the right result for her clients. She has adapted to a fully paperless way of working and is attending remote, hybrid and in person hearings.

Scott Storey

Scott Storey’s practice has a focus on Court of Protection proceedings, public law and human rights, police law and inquests.

Simon Sinnatt

Simon Sinnatt is the current Head of One Crown Office Row’s Brighton Annex. Simon is a property law specialist, practising primarily in Sussex, London and the South Coast, acting for developers, local government and private clients.

Simon Parra-Chokier

Simon is a civil barrister accepting instructions nationwide for preliminary hearings and trials, as well as advisory and drafting work. His expertise includes property, landlord and tenant, commercial, credit hire and personal injury law. In addition, he has an expanding practice in consumer credit law, regularly representing claimants in unfair relationship cases under section 140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, including “PPI” mis-selling and “PCP” motor finance secret commission cases. Simon is commercially minded, amiable and persuasive. He is also bilingual in Spanish. Prior to being called to the Bar, Simon was a financial services paralegal, a personal injury litigation assistant, a judicial assistant and appeared as a junior advocate in civil rights proceedings overseas.

Stuart Wright

Stuart Wright is our Head of Civil Litigation and an ADR Group Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator. Stuart has a dedicated civil practice and has received consistently strong independent directory ratings. He is regularly instructed in a range of common law matters with particular expertise in property law, professional negligence, and commercial disputes. He provides in-house lectures for Local Authorities and firms of solicitors in his specialist areas. Whilst predominantly practising throughout the south east, he travels nationally when required.

Susan Healey

Susan has wide ranging experience in all aspects of Public Law acting for Parents, Grandparents, Local Authorities, Official Solicitor and Guardians. She also has experience in all aspects of Private Family Law acting for both applicants and respondents. Susan accepts instructions in injunctive proceedings, often involving serious domestic violence and abuse. She has appeared in proceedings concerning Non-Molestation, and Occupation.

Tara Celikoz

Tara is a highly experienced family law practitioner. She was called to the Bar in 2007 and completed her pupillage in Sussex. Although continuing to practice as a tenant from the chambers where she had successfully completed her pupillage in 2008, Tara was much later invited to practice as In-House Counsel with family law Solicitors firms in Sussex. This extended Tara’s already extensive family law skills in advocacy to include responsibility for running her own significant family public and private law caseload.

Tim Hussein

Tim’s background is in both criminal and family law but his practice has been exclusively in family law both public and private for the last 20 years. He undertakes a substantial amount of advocacy training for those hoping to join the Bar and is a Pupil Supervisor.

Timothy Bergin

Tim is a highly experienced family barrister with over 30 years’ experience at the Bar. Specialising predominantly in all matters concerning children’s welfare, with emphasis on child protection, Tim is regularly seen at the family courts in and around Sussex and London representing parents and guardians in complex care cases. In addition to public law, Tim has a strong reputation for representing parents in private law proceedings, in particular cases involving allegations of domestic abuse.

Vanessa Long

Vanessa regularly appears in care proceedings representing local authorities, parents and children at both contested and directions hearings, including emergency hearings, ICOs, CMHs, IRHs and Final Hearings. Vanessa has experience of dealing with allegations of neglect, physical and emotional harm, substance misuse and domestic violence amongst others. Vanessa represents both Applicants and Respondents in private law cases at all stages of proceedings, including applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. Vanessa has particular experience in cases involving allegations of abuse and domestic violence between partners and against children and is able to advise parents on the procedural steps to be taken in such cases, including advice as to whether separate Fact Finding hearings are appropriate during proceedings. Vanessa accepts instruction from Applicants and Respondents in relation to applications for both non-molestation orders and occupation orders.

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