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Alex Aspinwall
Alex Aspinwall
Alex joined FOURTEEN as a tenant following a three-month probationary tenancy ending in December 2022. He now welcomes instructions in all areas of family law and has experience acting for clients at both first instance and appellate levels. Alex is regularly instructed in financial remedy proceedings and has appeared in cases involving joinder of 3rd party intervenors, disputes as to assets held under trust and property held internationally. He regularly appears in First Appointments, FDRs, and Final Hearings. Alex is currently acting as junior to leading counsel in complex High Court proceedings. Alex has a particular interest in cases involving an international element. He recently appeared on behalf of the respondent mother in published article 13(b) Hague Convention proceedings. Judgment was reported as XK v JY [2023] EWHC 2996 (Fam). Alex has also appeared in the High Court opposing enforcement of a foreign return order under article 11 of Brussels IIa and is currently involved in a case concerning conflict between domestic proceedings, proceedings in a foreign jurisdiction and overlapping extradition issues. Alex has experience conducting protracted fact-finding and final hearings in private child law proceedings. He recently represented the applicant father in the reported matter of Re A-M & Anor [2023] EWFC 124, a case involving significant allegations of abuse across multiple jurisdictions. He further appeared in the reported matter of The Mother v The Father [2024] EWFC 139. Alex regularly appears in public law proceedings. He particularly enjoys engaging with unusual and novel points of law and recently appeared in proceedings concerning interplay between the making of a Special Guardianship order alongside a Prohibited Steps order. Before completing pupillage, Alex was a paralegal at boutique Mayfair solicitors Peters May and assisted on a broad range of family law matters. Alex maintains a strong academic interest in family law stretching back to his research thesis and time spent as a part-time family law academic at Durham University. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/alex-aspinwall/
Anu Lal
Anu Lal
Anu joined FOURTEEN as a pupil in October 2023. Prior to pupillage, Anu was a design assistant for the Bar Course at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. She was previously a project manager in corporate events and has worked in operations for Bridging the Bar, a charity focused on improving diversity at the Bar. She also worked in recruitment for Think Ahead, a mental-health social work programme, where she partnered with NHS Trusts and local authorities. Having completed her LLB Law degree from King’s College London, Anu obtained her MSc in Mental Health, Law & Ethics also from King’s College London. She is a recipient of the Jules Thorn Scholarship and the Blackstone Entrance Exhibition from Middle Temple. Anu also received the Guru Nanak Social Mobility Scholarship, the Inderpal Rahal Memorial Trust Award and the Dickson Poon School of Law Scholarship. Anu authored an article on the court’s treatment of gender dysphoria in Bell v Tavistock [2020] EWHC 3274 which was published in Family Lore. She has also written articles on wellbeing at the Bar published online on The Student Lawyer. In 2020, Anu was a winner of the 1 King’s Bench Walk essay competition. Anu has previously volunteered with the Bar’s pro bono charity Advocate, Support Through Court and Big Voice London. She currently sits on the Executive Committee of Bridging the Bar. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/anu-lal/
Ben Boucher-Giles
Ben Boucher-Giles
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/ben-boucher-giles/
Christopher Miller
Christopher Miller
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 parental alienation. Christopher has been appointed to sit on the Ethics and Legal Advisory Committee to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Christopher regularly appears on behalf of parents and children’s guardians in cases involving complex expert medical evidence and/or disputed scientific evidence. He also has a particular interest in public law cases which have an interface with immigration or international issues. Christopher is instructed to act on behalf of parents and children in the most complex of private law disputes, often involving alleged alienation and/or serious allegations of parental abuse. He has extensive experience of litigation concerning the proposed permanent international relocation of children. Christopher regularly represents high net worth clients and appears in cases that involve issues such as foreign assets, trusts, nuptial agreements, linked POCA proceedings and complex business assets. Christopher has been interested in the international movement of children and the conflict of laws from the outset of his career. He has represented clients in reported cases concerning the Hague Convention (abduction of children), Brussels II Revised (when in force) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations at both High Court and Court of Appeal level. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/christopher-miller/
Clare Bishop
Clare Bishop
Clare joined chambers as a tenant in October 2023 following the successful completion of pupillage under the supervision of Michael Glaser KC, Robin Powell, and Ben Boucher-Giles. During pupillage, Clare trained in all aspects of family law including complex financial remedy proceedings, private law children (including international cases), and public law children cases (including non-accidental injury, domestic and sexual abuse and neglect). Clare practices across all areas of family law. She has a particular interest in international children cases, including relocation, and public and private law children cases. Clare undertakes hearing at all levels of the Family Court including in the High Court in international cases. Clare has acted for both applicants and respondents in cases brought under the Hague Convention as well as experience with child abduction cases to non-Hague countries. Clare has meticulous attention to detail and brings a practical and empathetic approach to her cases. Clare is regularly instructed in private law children cases which has included representing clients where there are allegations of parental alienation and of domestic and sexual abuse. Clare has also represented parents in public law proceedings in cases involving domestic abuse, substance and alcohol misuse and chronic neglect. Clare has excellent client care skills and regularly deals with cases involving highly vulnerable parties and complex issues. Clare will always go the extra mile to ensure that vulnerable clients understand the legal process, and that their expectations are managed appropriately. Clare is passionate about pro-bono work and regularly works with Advocate (the Bar Pro Bono Unit) in supporting vulnerable individuals to navigate the legal process, to ensure they are fully informed of the legal position and their available options. In February 2024, Clare was nominated for a Bar Pro Bono Award for her involvement in several complex international cases for Advocate, despite being only three months into her post-pupillage practice. During her legal studies, Clare volunteered with Victim Support and Witness Service for five years and supported victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and rape. Prior to commencing pupillage, Clare worked in the civil service for 15 years, working primarily on national security litigation for the Ministry of Defence. Her work included dealing with public law legal challenges, including aspects of international human rights law, liaising with foreign governments and national security policy. She has also worked as a paralegal for the Official Solicitor, a senior immigration caseworker in the Government Legal Department, and a senior financial sanctions adviser for HM Treasury. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/clare-bishop/
Damian Stuart
Damian Stuart
Damian Stuart is a specialist in proceedings under The Children Act 1989 primarily representing parents and children in care proceedings. Formerly a solicitor (admitted in 1998), he transferred to the Bar in 2009 and has been part of the FOURTEEN family since 2013. As a solicitor, Damian was a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel and held higher rights of audience (civil proceedings). Since 2023 Damian has been an Arbitrator qualified to sit in proceedings relating to children. For further information on when Arbitration, rather than the traditional court route, may be the right solution, please see IFLA. Damian is said to have a sympathetic manner with clients and is known for his tenacious, thorough and forensic manner. His presentation of legal arguments (whether in writing or orally) has won praise from judges. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/damian-stuart/
David Sharp
David Sharp
David Sharp was educated at Oxford University and has been in private practice at the Bar in England and Wales for over 30 years, specialising for the last 20 years in family work and cohabitation disputes.  David has been involved in several high profile cases that have attracted the attention of the national media, and a number of other cases at the forefront of legal developments in the field of family law.  David also has a wealth of practical experience in relation to the realities of family life, having been married for 28 years and having 5 children, now aged 27, 24, 21, 18 and 13 years. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/david-sharp/
Dominic Brazil
Dominic Brazil
Dominic is a family law specialist who also has expertise in dealing with disputes involving co-owned property. He is regularly instructed by intervenors in matrimonial finance cases. He is a leading junior in matrimonial finance cases who has been ranked in band 2 in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. He has particular experience of dealing with financial remedy cases involving pre-nuptial agreements, international elements including jurisdiction disputes and other potentially complicating factors such as trusts (both UK and international), bankruptcy, partnerships and companies. Whilst matrimonial finance cases are a principal area of practice, Dominic also has significant experience of Children Act disputes (both Private and Public Law) and Schedule 1 Children Act Cases. After attending Oxford University (Worcester College), Dominic studied to be an actor and theatre director at Webber Douglas Academy in London. He was called to the Bar having been awarded an Asbury Scholarship and a Harmsworth Exhibition by Middle Temple. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/dominic-brazil/  
Dylan Evans
Dylan Evans
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/dylan-evans/
Ewan Murray
Ewan Murray
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/ewan-murray/
Gayan Samarasinghe
Gayan Samarasinghe
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/gayan-samarasinghe/
Gillon Cameron
Gillon Cameron
Gillon is a specialist family law practitioner recommended by The Legal 500 and by Chambers and Partners in both Matrimonial Finance and Children categories. He accepts instructions via solicitors and, where appropriate, directly from a client via public access.  His practice has a strong emphasis on financial remedies and disputes between cohabitants involving trusts of land. He also has wide experience in cases involving dissipation of assets, financial provision for children and foreign elements.  He is available to provide advice, to draft court documents, and to provide representation at court in relation to all areas of family financial disputes and disputes about arrangements for children, including representation of parents who are fighting to ensure appropriate contact with their children. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/gillon-cameron/
Grace Garrett-Sadler
Grace Garrett-Sadler
Grace is a specialist family law practitioner, who balances work in financial remedies with private law children disputes. Grace is ranked in the Legal 500 for her work in financial remedies, and her work in this area includes married and unmarried couples, with Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 proceedings and applications for financial relief after a foreign divorce under Part III of the MFPA 1984. In respect of private law children dispute, Grace’s practice often involves allegations of parental alienation and sexual offences. Her practice also often includes applications concerning internal or international relocation. Grace continues to accept instructions in applications under the Family Law Act 1996. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/grace-garrett-sadler/
Helen Soffa
Helen Soffa
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/helen-soffa/
Jack Phillips
Jack Phillips
Jack joined FOURTEEN as a pupil in October 2023. Prior to pupillage, Jack worked as a paralegal at Burgess Mee working on private family matters and then at Hertfordshire County Council where he worked on public law matters. Jack volunteered as an advocate with Communities Empowerment Network representing students and their families faced with school exclusions. Jack has volunteered as an Appropriate Adult with the Hertfordshire Youth Justice Service supporting young people under arrest. He has also spent time in Cape Town volunteering for a Law and Human Rights Office at their law clinic and in local townships. Jack was awarded a High Distinction certificate for his work. During the first Covid-19 lockdown Jack worked as an advice and advocacy officer at POhWER, an advocacy charity, supporting people in Hertfordshire to access services. Jack then took on a role ensuring everyone classed as clinically vulnerable in Hertfordshire were contacted and provided with necessary assistance. Jack received the Quartercentenary Scholarship from Middle Temple and the University of Law’s Conference Module Prize. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/jack-phillips/
James Mulholland
James Mulholland
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.
Jean-Paul Sinclair
Jean-Paul Sinclair
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/jean-paul-sinclair/
Jenna Shaw
Jenna Shaw
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/jenna-shaw/
Joan Connell
Joan Connell
Joan practices in public law children cases and has a wealth of experience representing local authorities, parents, grandparents, and Guardians. It is this breadth of representation that enables Joan to see the case from different perspectives and pass on her depth of experience to her client. Joan brings calm and compassion to her cases and is regularly chosen to represent teenagers who are separately represented. Joan has experience of serious non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, factitious or induced illness and alienation cases. She also has considerable experience of care cases with an international element including transfer of proceedings under the 1996 Hague Convention. Joan has considerable experience of international private and public law cases when acting for local authorities, parents, and children. Since Brexit Joan has been involved in the transfer of public law cases to other jurisdictions under the 1996 Hague Convention including Albania and Romania. Joan also has considerable experience of cases involving the assessment of relatives abroad. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/joan-connell/
Joanna Smith
Joanna Smith
Joanna joined FOURTEEN as a tenant after successful completion of her pupillage in October 2019. Joanna maintains a diverse practice covering all areas of family law with a focus on private children, public law and financial remedy cases. She regularly represents parents, grandparents as well as those seeking or opposing non-molestation and occupation orders. Joanna prides herself on her thorough preparation, attention to detail and ability to build a rapport quickly. She maintains a kind and compassionate approach whilst giving clear advice and has worked with a wide range of clients in her children and financial work. Before joining chambers Joanna worked as a paralegal at TV Edwards LLP where she built her knowledge of financial remedy and private children litigation, as well as forging valued professional connections. Joanna regularly appears for parents and grandparents in a wide range of applications including disputes over shared care, schooling, foreign travel and the urgent return of children retained in breach of an order. Joanna has particular experience representing parents in contested hearings regarding allegations of domestic abuse, child abuse, historical sexual abuse, and controlling or alienating behaviours. She also regularly represents parents seeking and opposing relocation applications. Joanna regularly acts in care proceedings for parents, grandparents and children through their Guardians at all stages of proceedings. She is experienced at navigating a range of issues including chronic neglect, domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health and cases where the children are at risk of child sexual exploitation. Joanna represents clients in a broad range of financial remedy disputes including applications on divorce, cohabitee disputes under TLATA 1996 and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Joanna has acted in cases involving third party interests, interim maintenance and LSPO applications. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/joanna-smith/
Laura Keenan
Laura Keenan
Laura practises in all areas of family law including complex private children law (especially those with an international element), public children and matrimonial finance disputes.  She has particular experience in fact finding hearings, relocation cases and contested Family Law Act 1996 applications.  Laura regularly represents vulnerable clients and high-net-worth individuals alike. Prior to joining Chambers, Laura was a paralegal at Hughes Fowler Carruthers, a top boutique London law firm specialising in complicated high-net-worth divorce and covering all aspects of family law.  Laura was also a paralegal at Forsters, a leading Mayfair law firm where she had conduct of some of her own cases. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/laura-keenan/
Mandy Short
Mandy Short
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/mandy-short/
Martin Ward
Martin Ward
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/martin-ward/
Matthew Warmoth
Matthew Warmoth
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/matthew-warmoth/
Michael Glaser KC
Michael Glaser KC
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/michael-glaser/
Rachael James
Rachael James
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/rachael-james/  
Rachael Cassidy
Rachael Cassidy
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/rachael-cassidy/
Ranjit Singh
Ranjit Singh
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/ranjit-singh/
Rhys Jones
Rhys Jones
Rhys was a solicitor 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. His practice at the Bar encompasses all areas of public law children work. He also acts in contested probate proceedings. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/rhys-jones/
Seema Kansal
Seema Kansal
Seema is a much sought-after junior in all areas of family law (finance and children) and is regularly instructed to deal with the most complex of cases. She is a seasoned advocate with a particular focus on private family and matrimonial finance work. She has been led by silks in family law matters. She appears in all courts including the Court of Appeal. She advises and represents clients not only in the UK but also clients who are abroad and who consult her through the arrangements for Public Access. Seema has a solid reputation as a tenacious advocate who leaves no stone unturned in working towards achieving the best result for each client. Seema’s clients value her client care, her patience and attention to detail in the most complex of cases, and her robust and effective advocacy. Once instructed, she is often retained by her clients who are always impressed by not just her commitment but also her success rate. Seema is accredited to accept work under Public Access (also known as direct access) in suitable cases. She is a hot favourite for Public Access work as she is able to build a rapport and a relationship of trust and confidence very quickly. She also, very often, obtains excellent results. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/seema-kansal/
Sophia Gonella
Sophia Gonella
Sophia joined FOURTEEN in September 2023 following completion of her pupillage at a leading matrimonial finance set. She has particular experience in matrimonial finance, cohabitation disputes, and private children proceedings. Sophia is rapidly developing a busy and varied practice across the spectrum of family law and provides representation and advice at any stage in proceedings. She now often appears in the High Court in her own right, and most recently appeared as junior counsel to Michael Glaser KC in the reported case of Re A and B (Schedule 1: Arbitral Award: Appeal) [2024] EWHC 778 before Mr Justice Cobb. Sophia is regularly instructed in private children proceedings, engaging in protracted fact-finding Hearings, final hearings, and hearings concerning urgent applications. On several occasions she has appeared in the High Court in proceedings under the Children Act 1989, involving complex issues which often include a multijurisdictional element. Sophia has particular experience in financial remedy proceedings and has successfully represented clients at both interim and final hearings involving enforcement, orders for sale, international freezing orders, and disputes as to assets held in trusts. Sophia assisted in several complex financial remedy cases in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court during her pupillage, and she continues to build upon this experience in her own practice. She regularly appears in FDRs and final hearings, and she has been commended for her robust negotiation skills, adept handling of complex cases, and attention to detail. Sophia especially welcomes instructions in ToLATA proceedings and cohabitation disputes. Having taught Trusts and Equity, Land Law, and Family Property at Durham University prior to joining the Bar, she is highly equipped to navigate issues relating to trusts of the family home and she has since successfully represented clients in proceedings under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/sophia-gonella/
Stephanie Coker
Stephanie Coker
Stephanie has a busy private family practice, with a particular interest in financial remedies matters involving nuptial agreements and reciprocal enforcement of orders (incoming and outgoing). She accepts Direct Public Access instructions. She prides herself in her personability and ability to give clear and commercially minded advice to clients. She is a robust advocate who is frequently commended for her attention to detail and understanding of the issues. In addition to her practice, Stephanie has acted as an Associate Lecturer at Kent Law School where her teaching responsibilities spanned across Land Law, Family Law, and Foundations of Property. Outside of practice, she regularly prepares case summarises for the Financial Remedies Journal. She enjoys providing seminars on areas of interest and offering training to solicitors. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/stephanie-coker/
Tatiana Rocha
Tatiana Rocha
Tatiana joined FOURTEEN following the successful completion of her pupillage in 2023. Tatiana welcomes instructions in all of areas of family law, with a focus on financial remedies, private children law and public law proceedings. Tatiana has appeared at all levels of the family courts up to and including the High Court. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/tatiana-rocha/
Ulrike Ramsay
Ulrike Ramsay
Ulrike has a busy practice comprising of financial remedies and private children work, as well as applications under the Family Law Act 1996. In terms of financial remedies work, Ulrike is frequently instructed on matters of complexity such as cases concerning foreign properties, company assets, intervenor claims, as well as conduct cases, in particular cases concerning financial and/or litigation misconduct. Before coming to the Bar, Ulrike worked as a paralegal at Burgess Mee Family Law where she assisted with high-value financial remedy cases. In terms of private children work, Ulrike regularly represents parents, Guardians and other family members in a wide range of applications such as contact/residence disputes, schooling issues, urgent applications to prevent the removal of a child from a parent’s care/the jurisdiction, as well as cases concerning allegations of domestic violence. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/ulrike-ramsay/
Victoria Miller
Victoria Miller
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. https://fourteen.co.uk/our-people/our-barristers/victoria-miller/