Barristers

Nick Goodwin KC

Nick Goodwin KC

Position

Also Oxford (0844 561 7135). Specialises in family law, including care proceedings (particularly cases of serious abuse and/or involving complex medical evidence), adoption, private children disputes and financial remedy cases. Appointed Deputy High Court Judge in January 2016.

Reported decisions include:  A Council v An NHS Foundation Trust & Ors [2024] EWHC 874 (Fam), Re J (Care Plan for Adoption) [2024] EWCA Civ 265, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea v NM & Ors [2024] EWFC 48, Re N (Children: Findings Against a Professional Witness: Joinder or Intervention) [2024] EWFC 17,  Nottingham City Council v AZ & Ors [2023] EWHC 3513 (Fam),  Birmingham City Council v M & Ors [2023] EWHC 3312 (Fam),  Re AB (A Child: Diabetic Care) [2023] EWFC 149, N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders), Re [2023] EWCA Civ 1352, T (Fact-Finding: Second Appeal) [2023] EWCA Civ 475, Re M (adoption - notification of birth father) [2023] EWFC 17,  Re C & Ors (Care Proceedings: Fact Finding) [2023] EWCA Civ 38, Birmingham City Council v CD & Ors [2023] EWHC 748 (Fam),  Re W-A (Children) [2022] EWCA Civ 1118, [2022] 3 WLR 1235, A (Children) (Pool of Perpetrators), Re [2022] EWCA Civ 1348, Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Ors [2022] EWFC 31,  Re (A Child : Findings of Fact) [2022] EWCA Civ 1652 (15 December 2022) ,  Re T (No.2) (Care Proceedings : Fact-Finding : Genital Injuries : Supplemental judgment for publication) [2021] EWFC 101,  Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Anor [2021] EWHC 3004 (Fam),Re YY (Children: Conduct of the Local Authority) [2021] EWHC 749,Re R (Children: Control of Court Documents) [2021] EWCA Civ 162,  A County Council v M [2021] EWFC 35,   Re A and B (Rescission of Order: Change of Circumstances) [2021] EWFC 76 ,  A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 1086 (Fam),  B (A CHILD)(Designated Local Authority) [2020] EWCA Civ 1673,  HM Attorney General v Akhter v Anor [2020] EWCA Civ 122 ,  Re A (No. 2) (Children: Findings of Fact) [2019] EWCA Civ 1947, Re D (Fact-Finding Appeal) [2019] EWCA Civ 2302,Salford City Council v NV & M (Deprivation of Liberty in Scotland) [2019] EWHC 1510,Re B (A Child) (Post - Adoption Contact) [2019] EWCA Civ 29,  Re B-P (Children) (Adoption or Fostering) [2018] EWCA Civ 2042 – Court of Appeal. Judge at first instance failed to give any weight to the potential benefits of adoption, Re GP (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 1677 – Court of Appeal. 1980 Hague Convention. Article 13b. Grave risk of harm to child if abducting parent returned to home country to face imprisonment for child abduction, Hayatleh v Mofdy [2017] EWCA Civ 70 - Court of Appeal.  Judgment in relation to the validity of a Syrian marriage; displacing the presumption of marriage, Re T-B-N [2016] EWCA Civ 1098, Re AB (A Child)(Deprivation of Liberty) [2015] EWHC 3125, F v. F [2013] EWHC 2683, Re H (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 148, Re L-R [2013] EWCA Civ 1129, Re W-P (Fact-Finding Hearing) [2009] EWCA Civ 216, Re B [2009] EWCA Civ 1243, Re A [2008] 1 FLR 959, Re J (Application for a Shadow Expert) [2008] 1 FLR 1501, Re H (Residence Order: Placement Out of Jurisdiction) [2006] 1 FLR 1140, Oxfordshire CC v S [2004] 1 FLR 426, Re ET (Serious Injuries: Standard of Proof) [2003] 2 FLR 1205, Re M (Adoption: International Adoption Trade) [2003] 1 FLR 1111, Re A (Contact: Separate Representation) [2001] 1 FLR 715, Oxfordshire CC v L (Care or Supervision Order) [1998] 1 FLR 70.

Career

Called 1995 (Inner Temple), Recorder (crime/family) 2009, QC 2014, Deputy High Court Judge s.9(4) 2016.

Education

King’s School, Canterbury; Oriel College, Oxford University.

Leisure

Music and mountaineering.

Mentions

Midland Circuit • Regional Bar

Family: children and domestic abuse

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Nick Goodwin KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘Nick is exceptionally clever and a quick thinker. He understands what judges need and judges look to him to distill complex issues during a hearing. Nick is highly knowledgeable and is often the best lawyer in the room. He is also really personable and approachable and clients really like working with him.’
South Eastern Circuit • Regional Bar

Family: children and domestic abuse

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Nick Goodwin KC –Harcourt Chambers 'Nick is an exceptional and skilful barrister who prepares thoroughly before hearings. He explains legal issues in an easy-to-understand manner to clients who highly respect and value his advice.'