Fourteen

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/

Called 2016.

Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn FLBA ALC Women In Family Law

BPTC, City University, 2015, Very Competent Graduate Diploma in Law, City University, 2015, Commendation BA English Literature (2.1), University of Exeter, 2014