Public law children:
Victoria is instructed by local authorities, parents, relatives, guardians and children, at all stages of proceedings. She regularly appears on cases before judges of the High Court.
She conducts fact-finding hearings with complex issues including allegations of causing a child’s death, inflicted injuries such as brain injury and multiple fractures, starvation, suffocation, child trafficking, child sexual exploitation, factitious or fabricated illness, domestic abuse, emotional harm and chronic neglect. She has a wealth of experience in cross-examining medical experts and other professionals.
Victoria has extensive experience of cases with allegations of sexual abuse, including inter-familial abuse. She has represented child victims and child perpetrators and children that have given evidence in proceedings. She is adept at conducting Re W and ground rules hearings and the special considerations that relate to children giving evidence.
Victoria is used to dealing with cases where there are concurrent criminal proceedings and issues of disclosure and PII.
She has represented teenage and vulnerable parents who have physical and/or learning disabilities. In representing a child without capacity she addressed issues of deprivation of liberty for that child.
Victoria is skilled in making legal arguments on designated local authority and dealing with applications to revoke care and placement orders and those under s.38(6) and s.34 of the Children Act 1989.
Of note, following a trial she succeeded in demonstrating that her client had caused the child’s injuries accidentally leading to the care proceedings being dismissed by the Court - something quite uncommon. Also significant, Victoria represented a client who, following adverse findings being made at a finding of fact hearing, admitted shaking her baby causing extensive brain damage and went on to secure the rehabilitation of the children back to her care.
Private law children:
Victoria has developed a strong reputation in dealing with private law disputes, from advice before proceedings to enforcement of court orders.
She conducts complex multi-day fact-finding hearings involving allegations of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse (including rape and incest), arson, emotional abuse and parental alienation.
Victoria is accomplished in presenting legal arguments on implacable hostility, children giving evidence and where the court is considering a transfer of living arrangements.
She advises and represents parties on specific issue applications relating to medical, religious or educational issues.
Victoria is aware of the special issues raised by complex and long-running private law litigation and is regularly instructed by parents and guardians in cases where the children are joined as a party and there are multiple experts. She has appeared in the Court of Appeal on one such case described by Lady Justice Black as difficult and unusual.
International children:
Victoria has a particular interest in Children Act work with an international element. Victoria’s practice includes cases with applications for removal from the jurisdiction, temporary and permanent.
Victoria represents parties in child abduction cases with Hague Convention and Brussels IIR considerations and also cases concerning the recognition and enforcement of foreign orders.
She has succeeded in legal arguments on habitual residence and has attended the High Court to obtain orders under its inherent jurisdiction, sometimes at short notice.
Other:
Victoria prides herself in being approachable to lay and professional clients and opponents. She is known for taking a robust but common sense approach. She prioritises client care and thorough preparation.
Victoria has a passion for all sports. Having hung up her boxing gloves she has returned to play rugby and now captains the 1st XV ladies team at Bournville RFC and coaches the minis and juniors.
Noteable cases
A Local Authority v AB and Others [2019] EWFC 75
Re B (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 1579
Re S (Child Abduction: Joinder of sibling: Child’s Objections) [2016] EWHC 1227 (Fam)
Re P (Findings of Fact) [2014] EWCA Civ 89
Articles
Please click here to find the most recent article Victoria Clifford has written on The perils and pitfalls of DIY Divorce.
