Ben’s expertise is primarily in high-value, complex matrimonial finances cases, particularly those involving an international element. Ben also has a wealth of experience in private law children disputes with particular experience in cases of international and domestic relocation and cases concerning serious allegations of physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children. Ben is widely considered to give direct advice in an approachable fashion. He is known for being well prepared and is particularly adept in handling cases with complex legal issues or where robust cross-examination is required. Prior to joining FOURTEEN, Ben had a successful practice in the North East of England and retains strong links there. Ben has acted for clients in proceedings in all levels of court, up to and including the Supreme Court.
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Christopher practises exclusively in family law and areas related to the breakdown of family relationships, such as applications brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and TLATA 1996. He is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, persuasive advocacy and sympathetic, but direct, manner with clients. Christopher has presented numerous lectures and seminars on diverse topics such as financial provision under sch 1 of the CA 1989, forensic testing for alcohol abuse, circumventing nuptial contracts, international relocation of children and court skills for non-legally trained professionals.
Damian was called to the Bar in 2009 after a successful career as a solicitor at a leading firm in the East End of London. He regularly delivers training sessions for solicitors and social workers in respect of all aspects of care proceedings and Court of Protection work. With his cross-examination of lay and professional witnesses, Damian is known for his thorough and forensic approach. He is always looking for a different angle on his cases and comes up with good arguments whether in writing or orally. He has an approachable, sympathetic style which helps to put clients at ease enabling them to feel confident that they are in safe hands as their case progresses.
David practises in family law with an emphasis on public law children cases, also dealing with cohabitation disputes (including the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996), matrimonial finance and private law children. David is also a qualified family mediator and accepts instructions through direct access. David has been involved in several high-profile national news cases and a number of other cases at the forefront of legal developments in the family law field. David has been in private practice at the Bar in England and Wales for over 30 years, specialising for the last 20 years in family law. Recent notable cases: KN (A Child) (Art 15 Transfer) [2020] EWCA Civ 1002, N (A Local Authority) v RK & Others [2020] EWFC 25 and Hertfordshire County Council v AK and another [2020] EWHC 139 (Fam).
Dylan has specialised in family law for the past 20 years. His work covers the range of private client cases, including matrimonial finance, and he has considerable experience in representing professional clients and parents within public law proceedings. Dylan accepts public access instructions and regularly delivers CPD-accredited lectures.
Called to the Bar in 2008, Ewan practices exclusively in the private client elements of family law. He provides advice and acts for clients on the financial and children aspects of relationship breakdown under Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, and Children Act 1989. Ewan provides pragmatic and straightforward advice while maintaining an empathetic approach to his clients. Ewan has represented clients in courts of all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal. As well as conventional Court proceedings, Ewan has represented clients in arbitration, private FDRs and round table meetings
Gayan acts in both private and public law children proceedings. He acts in a broad range of cases including international relocations, in fact-finding hearings concerning serious allegations of harm, and in cases involving allegations of parental alienation. Gayan is frequently instructed in family finance cases and is often instructed in claims involving intervenors, in TOLATA cases, and cases involving companies. He was recently successful in a seven day final hearing involving six parties to a dispute over the beneficial ownership of two properties.
Gillon practises in all areas of private family law with an emphasis on financial disputes under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 claims for financial provision, and claims under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and Inheritance Acts. He has particular expertise in drafting pleadings in these areas. He is also frequently instructed to represent parents, children and guardians in private law proceedings. He appears regularly in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Reported cases include Re C (A Child) (Conduct of Hearings) [2006] EWCA Civ 144, Re K (Adoption: permission to advertise) [2007] 2 FLR 326; Oxfordshire County Council v X, Y & J [2010] EWCA 581 Civ. and Chiva v Chiva [2014] EWCA Civ 1558; London Borough of P v G & Others [2014] EW Misc 27 (CC); Patrick v McKinley [2015] EWCA Civ 1582, and Re DD [2016] EWHC 3546 (Fam).Gillon provides regular case summaries and reports for Family Law Week (www.familylawweek.co.uk).
Grace practices in all areas of family law, with a particular focus on matrimonial finance and private children disputes. Before qualifying as a barrister, having undertaken pupillage at FOURTEEN, Grace worked within the litigation department of an Off-Shore law firm where she gained experience in public inquiries, trusts and complex matrimonial finance disputes. Due to Grace’s background, she is experienced and interested in cases that have an international dimension, including relocation and assets in other jurisdictions.
Helen is a family law specialist and her practice is primarily in the public law arena but also represents parents in private law matters and international child abduction in public and private law. Helen has given seminars to solicitors and local authorities on public law case updates and also the Court of Protection. In addition, Helen has recently been working closely together with Centrepoint by offering family/children law advice and guidance to young homeless individuals.
Children Private: James is regularly instructed in complex matters and represents parents, grandparents and children. He has represented clients where there have been allegations of parental alienation, domestic abuse and sexual abuse. James also advises and represents those who seek the Court to make orders regarding specific issues in relation to their children’s welfare, such as disputes over medical intervention and schooling.Children Public: James has experience of representing parents, grandparents and children at all levels of complexity. James has a particular interest in representing vulnerable parents in public law proceedings. James is regularly instructed in lengthy hearings regarding allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, domestic abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
An experienced practitioner, Jean-Paul accepts instruction across the range of family law disputes, specialising in public and private law Children Act proceedings, and in matters involving vulnerable adults.
Jenna has particular experience in cases relating to children, in both public and private law. Jenna believes in the importance of providing clients with strong representation and realistic advice with a friendly and accessible approach.
Joan is a specialist family law practitioner. She has considerable experience of public law cases and represents local authorities, parents and children’s guardians on a daily basis. She has been involved in a wide variety of cases, including allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, death of a child and assessment of relatives abroad. She has also acted in care cases involving jurisdictional issues and Article 15 and Article 56 of BIIa. In private law proceedings Joan has particular expertise in intransigent contact disputes representing parents and rule 16.4 guardians. Joan regularly lectures at Kings College London on safeguarding, domestic violence and child contact on their International Child Studies masters course.Notable cases: DS v RS [2009] EWHC 1594.
Joanna acts in both public and private children proceedings. She has been instructed in a wide range of cases including Fact Findings with serious allegations of domestic abuse, religious control and historic sexual abuse, international relocation, and specific issues such as schooling, surname changes and travel plans. Joanna also acts in care proceedings for both parents and children. She has experience in representing vulnerable clients. Joanna acts in financial remedy applications for both applicants and respondents and related issues such as persuading the court to approve unusual consent orders and disputes over chattels including the family dog. Joanna has experience representing those applying for non-molestation and occupation orders, as well as those challenging them. She regularly gives advice and representation of all stages of these proceedings.
Mandy practises in all areas of family law in respect of children. She has extensive experience in private children law disputes and care proceedings. Mandy is also a trained mediator. Mandy deals with all aspects of private children law, including applications for Child Arrangements Orders and contested relocation applications – both within and outside the jurisdiction. Mandy accepts instructions from all parties to proceedings, including on behalf of children, represented through their Children’s Guardians under rule 16.4. Mandy has provided advice and representation in cases concerning the recognition of foreign marriages and divorce. In public law children matters, Mandy represents local authorities, parents, grandparents and guardians. Mandy is regularly instructed in very complex matters, and has considerable experience in cases involving alleged non-accidental injury, complicated medical evidence, fabricated illness, sexual abuse cases, neglect and female genital mutilation. Mandy frequently encounters applications within care proceedings for Special Guardianship Orders. Mandy has experience in acting in cases with an international element, including applications for international relocation. Mandy receives instructions where the Court is considering international adoption and is instructed in child abduction cases brought under the Hague Convention. Mandy is extremely adept at identifying the issues in a case from the very start and providing robust representation and advice to clients. She is able to ensure that clients understand not only the legal process, but what is expected of them during that process; she is able to build a good rapport with clients.
Martin draws upon his extensive experience of not only family law but also his commercial and business law background to offer specialist advice and advocacy with an emphasis on achieving pragmatic and cost-effective outcomes in both private children and family finance disputes. In appropriate cases, Martin will accept instructions directly from private clients under the Bar’s Public Access scheme. Martin is a qualified Arbitrator (MCIArb) and member of the Institute of Family Law Arbitrators.Martin’s practice encompasses all areas of private law children work, with particular experience of representing parents embroiled in intractable disputes, often involving highly contentious relationship histories (recent cases have included allegations of domestic slavery and radicalisation). Applications to permit relocation of children is another area of particular expertise, with recent cases involving applications for removal of children to rural Spain, the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China. His pragmatic approach to resolving children-related disputes promotes parties finding innovative solutions where differences had appeared insurmountable. Martin specialises in financial claims when family relationships end. Typically the cases upon which he is instructed include one or more of the following elements: Analysis of business accounts; Company shareholdings and business valuations; Assets held offshore; Hidden wealth and other forms of material non-disclosure; Atypical financial resources that demand special consideration, e.g. farms, art collections, trust funds; and Domestic and overseas enforcement of financial orders, including the tracing of assets. Recent cases have involved tracing hidden assets in the UK, Russia, France, China and Hong Kong, working with local lawyers and enquiry agents to achieve disclosure of properties, investments and business interests.
Matt practises in all areas of Family Law. He acts for a range of clients in financial proceedings, including in TOLATA claims. He is frequently instructed in Private Law matters and is comfortable providing representation and advice at all stages of proceedings. Matt often represents parents and children in care proceedings as well as representing parties in injunctive relief proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996. Matt prides himself on his thorough preparation of cases, his detailed legal knowledge and his ability to provide simple and practical advice in complex cases.
Michael is the Head of Chambers at FOURTEEN. Prior to his call to the Bar, Michael worked in finance for five years and then qualified as a commercial solicitor specialising in intellectual property law. Michael transferred to the family Bar in 1998 and practises a wide range of family work including ancillary relief, trusts and cohabitation disputes, and Children Act matters, together with associated civil matters. Within his ancillary relief work, which is the principal area of his practice, he specialises in cases which have particular complexities including trusts, bankruptcy, partnerships and companies. Michael is able to accept instructions on a direct access basis and he regularly gives lectures in relation to recent case law developments.
Called in 1992, Rachael is a very experienced family law practitioner specialising in all aspects of the law relating to children at all levels of court. Rachael places a strong emphasis on client care and has a friendly, approachable style, giving firm and realistic advice.Rachael is regularly instructed to represent parents and rule 16.4 Guardians in complex private law proceedings and has expertise in contentious and intractable contact disputes. Rachael’s recent cases have included private law adoption applications and she is regularly instructed where there is a need for a fact-finding hearing.Rachael represents local authorities, parents and children in public law proceedings and is regularly instructed in complex cases, involving non-accidental injury, serious sexual, physical and emotional abuse, death of a child and adoption. She is very experienced in representing parents with mental health and cognitive difficulties. Recent cases have involved an international element, including where there is a need for assessment of relatives living outside the jurisdiction and placement of children abroad.
Rachael practises in all areas of family law, accepting instructions in matrimonial finance, cohabitation disputes, public and private law cases concerning children, applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996 and cases with an international dimension. Rachael’s practice includes cases in the Family Court and High Court. Prior to coming to the Bar, Rachael worked as a qualified secondary school teacher through the Teach First programme and volunteered as a caseworker for the National Centre for Domestic Violence. She has experience of working with a wide range of clients and her previous experience enables her to bring an empathetic but focused approach to her cases.
Ranjit’s practice encompasses all areas of family law and the Court of Protection. He regularly represents children, parents and local authorities in public law proceedings. He is frequently instructed in private law matters, including international family law cases and cases involving intractable contact disputes. Ranjit acts for a wide range of clients in financial work at all levels of complexity, including acting for clients who reside overseas. Ranjit advises and represents clients in an increasing number of cases in the Court of Protection.
Rhys now specialises exclusively in public law family work, including care proceedings, contested adoption, and Rule 16.4 Guardian work in private law proceeding. He is experienced in dealing with non-accidental injury cases and has dealt in care proceedings involving sexual trafficking. He is not afraid to give robust advice when required, but in a sympathetic manner. Rhys was a solicitor for 10 years before transferring to the Bar in 1990. Whilst in practice as a solicitor, he dealt with family, crime and landlord and tenant and latterly specialised in professional negligence claims acting for solicitors.
Robin Powell came to the Bar after a successful career in local authority social services where he worked in child protection and mental health law. Robin has deep experience in all aspects of family law and his practice increasingly encompasses cases with an international dimension. Robin accepts instructions by way of the Public Access scheme and is licensed to conduct litigation. He is able to guide and assist in securing litigation finance.
Victoria’s practice covers all aspects of family law, including financial remedies, applications under TOLATA, private law children and emergency injunctive relief. Victoria’s practice is primarily focused on international work and financial remedy claims. In respect of financial remedies, these include associated applications under Schedule 1 of the CA 1989 and TOLATA. Her practice involves both modest asset divorces and cases where the assets have exceeded several millions of pounds including cases with off-shore assets, hidden wealth and trusts. With regards to her international practice, this includes applications under Brussels II Revised, The 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention and the Inherent Jurisdiction. She has been involved in complicated and intractable private child disputes, often where there are allegations of abuse, serious domestic violence, forced marriage and female genital mutilation cases. Victoria is routinely instructed in the High Court but has practised in all courts, including the Court of Appeal.