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The set: FOURTEEN is a leading family law set with a national reputation for excellence. We are a dynamic and forward-thinking set of chambers and offer an approach that is both specialist and personalised. Members of chambers have appeared in many leading cases in recent years, including cases that have attracted the attention of the national media. FOURTEEN has occupied a prominent position in the legal marketplace for many years and is increasingly recognised for excellence in the legal directories.

Types of work undertaken: With dedicated practice teams in family finance,  children law, the Court of Protection and international family law, our barristers provide specialist representation and advice. FOURTEEN also offers a range of dispute resolution services, including mediation, arbitration and early neutral evaluation.

Family finance: FOURTEEN provides first-rate specialist advice and representation in all claims relating to family finances, including: the financial consequences of the breakdown of marriages and civil partnerships, financial provision following divorce overseas, property disputes between cohabitees, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and separation agreements, financial provision for children and Inheritance Act disputes. Whether brought pursuant to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, the Child Support Act 1991 or the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, we have the expertise to advise and represent at every stage of proceedings.

Children private law: FOURTEEN has been at the forefront of the development of private law disputes relating to children for many years, including in the areas of alternative family structures and surrogacy. Our barristers appear at all levels of court, including cases before the Supreme Court. We represent parents, step-parents, grandparents and other family members as well as children. We are regularly instructed in cases involving disputes over child arrangements – where a child lives and with whom (s)he spends time – including where a parent seeks to relocate with the child within this jurisdiction and abroad. FOURTEEN provides assistance in applications for Specific Issue Orders regarding a child’s name, choice of school and medical treatment, and in the discrete areas of private law adoption, forced marriage, surrogacy, fertility and same sex parenting. We have particular experience acting in cases where there are allegations of significant harm and where a local authority has become involved.

Children public law: FOURTEEN has a national reputation for its expertise in public law proceedings. Our barristers have acted in many of the landmark cases, regularly appearing at all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. We act in care proceedings, adoption matters, special guardianship applications and in judicial review cases and the barristers represent not only parents, children and local authorities but also adopters, foster parents and other interveners or interested parties. FOURTEEN provides the highest quality of representation and legal advice. We are experts in cases involving non-accidental injury, factitious illness, neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Our public law barristers are also experienced in representing vulnerable clients with mental health and/or learning difficulties. We have considerable experience in representing professional bodies such as CAFCASS, NYAS and the Official Solicitor in the more complex cases that arise in this area.

Increasingly, we are being instructed in public law areas with an international focus, including international adoptions and matters involving the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, we are often instructed in relation to the growing number of cases involving alleged radicalisation of children, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

Court of Protection: FOURTEEN appears frequently in the Court of Protection, both in health and welfare cases and in matters pertaining to property and financial affairs. In addition, we often appear in cases brought under of involving the Mental Health Act 1983 and undertake advisory work and provide representation in the field of community care law.

International: The international family law team has extensive experience dealing with cross-border disputes involving the movement of children, jurisdictional conflicts, international family finance, forced marriage and ‘stranded spouses’ cases. Our barristers regularly appear in cases involving international assets, on- and off-shore trusts, companies and partnerships and cases with the need for injunctive relief and enforcement action. The barristers are regularly instructed in cases involving child abduction and relocation as well as claims following a foreign marriage or divorce, international adoption (within the context of both private law and public law proceedings) and forced marriage and surrogacy cases.

Administration: FOURTEEN has a team a very experienced clerks who together bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the cases chambers undertakes enabling them to provide an exemplary service to users of chambers.