Harcourt Chambers

Julia’s practice involves complex proceedings relating to children including care proceedings, adoption, wardship and judicial review. Julia was appointed as a Recorder in 2008 (Public Law Family, Private Law Family and Civil). Julia is head of the family team at Deans Court Chambers and Deputy Head of Chambers.

Julia regularly gives seminars to professionals working within the field and has been involved in expert witness training. She sits as a Recorder in Public and Private Law Family and Civil cases and is authorised to sit as a High Court Judge pursuant to Section 9 (1). Julia was recently approved as an advocacy trainer for the FLBA vulnerable witness training programme.

Julia regularly appears in cases which involve complex medical evidence relating to the death or serious injury of children including sexual abuse and abnormal illness behaviour. She appears in the High Court in cases involving serious medical treatment issues and complex packages of care (including the withdrawal of life sustaining treatment) and in the Court of Protection.

Cases where one parent has killed the other are a particular area of expertise for Julia. She regularly represents children, parents and local authorities in such cases, many of which have involved high profile criminal proceedings and/or serious case reviews. She has represented the children in cases involving alleged removal of children from the jurisdiction to Syria.

In 2018 and 2019 Julia represented respondents in two of the largest cases of alleged sexual abuse which have been heard in the Family Court.

Julia has an interest in disability issues and Human Rights, in particular those relating to deaf and learning-disabled parents. She has significant experience in cases involving transgender children and represented the father in the ground breaking case of Lancashire County Council v TP [2019] EWFC 30.

Julia has significant experience of work in St Helena and is on the roll of advocates of the Supreme Court of St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan de Cunha. She has undertaken work in the UK for the Falkland Islands and St Helena Governments. She has a particular interest in jurisdictional issues affecting the overseas territories and in 2018 presented a paper at FCO to the British Overseas Territories Steering Group on family law. Julia has also represented local authorities in high profile cases involving jurisdiction issues with Scotland.

Call: 1990 / Silk: 2015

Recorder in Public and Private Law Family and Civil cases Authorised to sit as a High Court Judge pursuant to Section 9 (1) Approved as an advocacy trainer for the FLBA vulnerable witness training programme

Northern Circuit Family Law Bar Association