Field Court Chambers

Barry McAlinden

Barry McAlinden is a family law specialist. He deals with a range of cases concerning children in the public and private law jurisdictions. These include: care and supervision orders adoption orders secure accommodation orders child assessment orders & child arrangements orders parental responsibility orders contact activity orders prohibited steps specific issue orders, and financial remedies upon divorce or in respect of children. He appears regularly in cases concerning the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, cases with an international element and cases of serious harm, but also appears in all tiers of the Family Court. He is joint head of chambers’ family law group.

Christine Cooper

Christine Cooper’s practice covers the full range of social and welfare issues. She regularly appears in judicial review and Court of Protection proceedings involving vulnerable adults. These cases often involve complex questions about capacity, deprivation of liberty and damages for persons kept in care homes unlawfully. She also represents claimants seeking damages for human rights breaches, including in the UK Supreme Court in Williams v London Borough of Hackney [2018] 4 All ER 396. Christine spent almost 2 years on St Helena as Crown Counsel for Community Care. During her time there, she gained substantial experience of claims alleging breaches of duties owed by the state to children and vulnerable adults. She is often instructed in matters concerning the property and affairs of the elderly and people with disabilities. Frequently these involve public and private law issues where property ownership impacts upon the duties of public bodies. Christine is an acknowledged expert in the field of charging for local authority residential care and community care services and acts for and against local authorities and care providers. She is also regularly instructed in disputes between local authorities and NHS bodies about funding for care. Christine is one of the authors of LexisNexis looseleaf Finance and Law for the Older Client. She also contributed to Dementia and the Law, writing the chapters on ‘property and affairs in the Court of Protection’ and ‘funding for care services’.  

Christopher Stirling

Christopher Stirling practises in the fields of matrimonial finance, property law, probate and inheritance and commercial law. He specialises in matters involving complicated assets and involving aspects of company, property and trusts law. Christopher is often instructed in matrimonial cases that involve property disputes with third parties – intervener proceedings. Christopher also regularly advises and drafts ante and post nuptial agreements and separation agreements for married and unmarried parties. As part of his civil practice Christopher is often asked to advise in relation to claims of professional negligence in respect of matrimonial proceedings. In 2023, he represented a husband in his successful application to enforce a final financial  remedy order invoking the controversial Thwaite jurisdiction. H v W [2023] EWFC 120 He wrote 2 chapters in the 2nd edition of Cohabitation Claims published by Resolution in April 2019. He is currently working on chapters for the 3rd edition.  

Clare Cullen

Clare Cullen is a civil and public law practitioner who specialises in housing, property and local government. She advises and represents public and private clients including local authorities. Clare began practice at a specialist housing set and has appeared in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court. Her expertise includes: Possession claims (including Art.8 and Equality Act 2010 defences) Anti-social behaviour Homelessness and allocations Subletting Succession Unlawful eviction Harassment Disrepair Service charges Selective and HMO licensing, rent repayment orders and civil penalty appeals.  

David Brounger

David Brounger represents commercial and residential landlords and tenants in all manner of landlord and tenant disputes from possession claims to commercial lease renewal cases, from leasehold enfranchisement cases in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal to restrictive covenant disputes. He has extensive experience in advising and representing parties in probate and related claims including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, and claims involving proprietary estoppel issues. David also undertakes more general land law and trusts work including rights of way, boundary disputes, proprietary estoppel, ToLATA cases, constructive and resulting trusts and adverse possession.  He successfully represented the appellant in the Court of Appeal in the 1st reported cases on the effects of the Land Registration Act 2002 on overriding interests and the meaning of “actual occupation” for the purposes of that Act.

Eleanor Sibley

Eleanor Sibley practises in public and civil law, with an emphasis on cases concerning mental capacity, deprivation of liberty, social care and health care. Eleanor is regularly instructed to appear in the Court of Protection on behalf of people who lack capacity (through the Official Solicitor and other litigation friends), local authorities, and family members. She has significant experience of welfare applications, including cases concerning deprivation of liberty, residence, social and health care, medical treatment, contact, and disputes about capacity. She also acts in and advises on cases concerning property and financial affairs. In October 2018, Eleanor was junior counsel for the respondent in the Supreme Court in D (A Child) UKSC 2018/0064, a case concerning the conditions for a deprivation of liberty of a young person aged 16 or 17.  

Emma Godfrey

Emma Godfrey is a civil and public law practitioner with particular specialisms in housing, local government and property law. She undertakes advocacy, drafting and advisory work for a wide range of clients, including local authorities, public and private sector landlords and tenants, companies and individuals. She has experience of appearing in courts and tribunals at all levels, from the FTT and county court to the House of Lords. She has been co-author of Tolley’s Claims to the Possession of Land since 2000.

Francis Hoar

Francis Hoar is a top rated public lawyer and election lawyer who also acts in employment, commercial and property law. In 2015 Francis, appearing against two Queen’s Counsel and following the longest election petition trial for a century, secured a High Court judgment that voided the election of Lutfur Rahman as Mayor of Tower Hamlets and found him and his election agent guilty of corrupt and illegal practices. Francis regularly appears in election petitions and in related proceedings, including political reputation management, and has a considerable advisory practice. He acted successfully for Craig Mackinlay MP (in a criminal prosecution) and Darren Grimes (in an appeal against the Electoral Commission) and acted for the petitioner in an election petition challenging the result of the by-election in Peterborough in 2019. Francis acted for the claimant in the judicial review challenging the lawfulness of the original (March 2020) ‘lockdown’ regulations imposed as a result of the coronavirus epidemic, the landmark case of R (Dolan) v Secretary of State that was decided in the Court of Appeal in December 2020 – a case largely based on Francis’s legal opinion published (before the claim was brought) in April 2020.  He has since acted in judicial reviews of regulations imposing travel regulations and mandatory vaccination of care home and (now) NHS workers and of the lawfulness of child vaccination policies; and in a successful High Court appeal against the GMC’s restriction of the freedom of expression of a GP.  In 2019, Francis acted in two constitutional cases, challenging the lawfulness of the government’s initial decision not to hold European Parliamentary elections and of the first extension of the period for leaving the European Union under Article 50. Francis was in a shortlist of eight (and the only junior) for The Lawyer magazine’s ‘barrister of the year’ award, 2016. In May 2015, Francis was The Times Lawyer of the Week. Francis is ranked by the Legal 500, in Band 1, as one of the top 10 leading juniors in Administrative and Public Law; and, by Chambers and Partners, in Band 1 as one of only four juniors ranked in Election Law. ‘A complete tour de force… worthy of the admiration of the Court’. Commissioner Richard Mawrey, QC (Erlam & Others v Rahman & Another (2) [2015] EWHC 1215 (QB)) ‘Impressive’ Mrs Justice Lang (R (Story) v Riordan (Returning Officer for the Yorkshire and Humber Region for elections to the European Parliament) [2016] EWHC 3490 (Admin).) Made ‘well reasoned’ submissions and ‘compelling analysis’. Mr Justice Jay (Baxter v Fear & Others [2015] EWHC 3136 (QB) (Divisional Court)).

Genevieve Screeche-Powell

Genevieve Screeche-Powell is a civil and public law practitioner, specialising in housing, community care, landlord and tenant, property and contract law. She has particular expertise in policy, often instructed in high profile and politically sensitive cases raising novel and complex issues of law. Her judicial review practice includes challenges to public policy housing, Care Act and Children Act cases. Her other local government work includes: recovery of care home fees applications under the Mental Health Act data protection and confidentiality public interest immunity issues, civil/general restraint orders against vexatious litigants. In her housing and landlord & tenant practice, she advises and represents a range of parties in disputes concerning: Section 204 appeals allocations Right to Buy regulatory work (repair orders/closure orders, appeals and enforcement) possession claims anti-social behaviour service charges rent reviews mortgages and land charges  

John Critchley

John Critchley specialises in media & entertainment law together with other business law disputes.  This includes copyright & related rights, trade marks, fine arts, contempt of court, music business, film & television, publishing, passing off, confidential information, privacy/misuse of private information, defamation and sports law. The hallmark of this work is its great variety. John represented London-based independent film production company, the Recorded Picture Company in its successful defence of a contractual claim concerning rights related to 'The Man Who Killed Don Quixote'. He advised on the ownership of the physical property in the fossil of a dinosaur (for the Russian Academy of Sciences). He also acted in a case concerning title to the physical property in certain letters written by the late Princess of Wales (for James Hewitt). In addition to representing or advising corporate media rights owners (from television broadcasters to music publishers), periodicals (from The Guardian to The Lawyer) and the like, he has advised or represented many prominent individuals.

Joshua Swirsky

Joshua Swirsky's main areas of focus are: community care, Court of Protection and public law/local government law. Although he mainly acts for local authorities, he also represents individuals and companies. Joshua conducts judicial reviews and other proceedings concerning community care (both adults and children), age assessments and, housing and property-related issues. He is regularly instructed in complex cases about  the Care Act 2014, its interaction with housing issues, funding and age assessments. He is often instructed to advise on and draft local authority policies and procedures. In 2023, Joshua defended the successful local authority in a judicial review concerning the effect of s23 of the Care Act 2014 and the interplay between the care regime and the Housing Act 1996; R (Campbell) v London Borough of Ealing. This followed on from his earlier case on similar issues; R(Idolo) v London Borough of Bromley (2020). In 2022, he represented the local authority in R(HAM) v London Borough of Brent which clarified that it was not necessary to comply with a check-list to ensure that age assessments were Merton compliant.

Lily Cooke

Lily Cooke accepts instructions related to all family law proceedings including children law (both private and public), domestic abuse, divorce and ancillary relief. Her caseload covers: all areas of public law proceedings including care and supervision orders adoption orders secure accommodation orders Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) cases special guardianship orders wardship orders child arrangements orders applications for parental responsibility prohibited steps and specific issue orders, non-molestation and occupation orders appeals; and financial remedies upon divorce or in respect of children. Lily is the barrister who helps champion pro bono within chambers – working closely with Advocate.

Martina Van der Leij

Dr Martina van der Leij specialises in family law.  She is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents and Guardians in cases involving: infant death, shaken babies, other non-accidental injuries to children sexual and physical abuse of children factitious or induced illness conflicting medical opinions mental health issues. Martina also accepts instructions in private law cases and ancillary relief, as well as Court of Protection cases and matters involving the Mental Capacity Act 2005. She is joint head of chambers’ family law group. Before coming to the Bar, she worked as a clinical research scientist.  She has a PhD from UCL and completed a postdoc at KCL. This background and the critical, analytical approach it cultivated has served her well when dealing with complex care cases that have significant medical or expert evidence.

Max Thorowgood

Max Thorowgood works for a wide range of clients in all areas of property related litigation including: Real property Land registration including proceedings before the First Tier Tribunal Land Registry Division Rights of way and boundary disputes Easements Adverse possession Restrictive covenants Claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (“TLATA/ToLATA”) Property related professional negligence claims involving solicitors and surveyors Landlord and Tenant (commercial and residential) Leasehold enfranchisement and Right to Manage Service charge disputes Cases concerning Mobile Homes Act 1983 Matters relating to the Inclosure Acts Public Rights of Way – Highways, Restricted Byways Max has appeared in the Court of Appeal, the High Court, County Courts, the First Tier Tribunal Land Registry Division, the Upper Tribunal (Land Chamber) and the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal.

Nikolas Clarke

Nikolas Clarke is an experienced civil law advocate who focuses mainly on inquests, employment and personal injury cases. Inquests: Nikolas is instructed by the full range of interested persons in inquests. He regularly acts for local authorities in inquests which raise concerns about the state or its agents failing to protect the deceased. This Article 2 ECHR inquest expertise means he is well-placed to act in related judicial review and civil claims. Employment: Nikolas is an experienced employment barrister. He advises and represents employees and employers in the full range of employment claims and appeals, including: cases of unfair dismissal contract claims (including confidentiality and restrictive covenant claims) discrimination, harassment, victimisation, whistle-blowing and TUPE. Additionally he has appeared in several cases involving jurisdiction arguments.  

Paula Diaz

Paula Diaz is an experienced, specialist family law barrister. Her practice is dedicated to public law proceedings relating to children. Paula has extensive experience of cases involving: all areas relating to the making of care and supervision orders adoption secure accommodation and the deprivation of liberty protection against forced marriage and FGM. wardship capacity – in relation to children, young people, and adults unlawful removal from the jurisdiction placement of children in foreign jurisdictions. An increasingly significant proportion of her work involves cases of serious harm with parallel criminal proceedings and/or complex medical issues. Paula’s practice also encompasses work in the Court of Protection.

Rebecca Davies

Rebecca Davies acts in both public and private family law matters. She is regularly instructed on cases with an international element. She has appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal. She works for parents, guardians, and local authorities, and uses this experience to provide multi-faceted and innovative solutions to issues which arise within proceedings. Private law children practice: Rebecca is instructed in contact and residence disputes and prohibited steps order applications. Public law children proceedings: she acts in interim care order applications, case management hearings, issues resolution hearings, contested final hearings, and contested adoption proceedings. Reported cases Re C (Child: Ability to Instruct Solicitor) [2023] EWCA Civ 889 – Rebecca represented the local authority in its support of a mother’s successful appeal against an order granting her 14-year-old son separate legal representation. (Findings of severe parental alienation had been made during previous care proceedings). CV (A Child) (Placement Order) [2022] EWCA Civ 930 – Rebecca acted for the father in care proceedings concerning his 3-year-old child with life-threatening conditions. She had spent her life in hospital or with experienced foster carers. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal against the placement order brought by the mother and supported by the father.

Rebecca Handcock

Rebecca Handcock undertakes work on the full range of issues with which the Court of Protection is concerned, including matters pertaining to Property and Affairs, and Health and Welfare. She is regularly instructed to deal with matters related to an individual’s deprivation of liberty, including challenges under section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. She is experienced at dealing with complex and urgent matters, including in the High Court.

Savannah Laurent

Savannah Laurent focuses on family law – both private and public law children cases as well as property and Court of Protection. She regularly represents local authorities, parents and Children’s Guardians at all stages of care proceedings up to and including final hearing, and has significant experience of cases involving allegations of non-accidental injury. Savannah is experienced in cases involving deprivation of liberty (DoLs) for children, and secure accommodation orders, as well as cases with an international aspect. Examples of recent cases: • Acted for father in a non-accidental injury case, in which the expert recommended further medical investigation midway through his evidence • Represented the mother in 11-day non-accidental injury fact find, avoided a finding of domestic abuse