Inquests and Inquiries; International Children Law; Private Children Law; Public Children Law; Direct Access

Charlotte specialises in children law proceedings, particularly those with an international element. She is regularly instructed in abduction matters, jurisdiction disputes, internal and international relocation cases, and proceedings involving serious allegations of domestic and sexual abuse, forced marriage and FGM.

Since becoming a tenant at 4PB in 2017, Charlotte has been instructed in some of the key cases instrumental in shaping children law and practice, including:

the application of the 1980 Hague Convention to proceedings regarding the return of two children to Ireland and the defence of the subsequent application from the respondent to set aside the return order where permission to appeal the decision was refused by the Court of Appeal. the application of the 1980 Hague Convention, including its relationship with BIIA, habitual residence, repudiatory retention and the Court’s ability to order a return to a “third state”; the interplay between asylum and abduction law; the obligation to recognise and enforce orders of an EU Member State when faced with both enforcement and welfare applications; summary returns under the inherent jurisdiction; the Family Court’s approach to controlling and coercive behaviour; IICSA’s investigation into child sexual exploitation by organised networks; and transparency in the Family Court the rights of victims of domestic abuse to share their experiences and tell their story.

Charlotte is known for her “immaculate preparation” and forensic approach. She is a robust and persuasive advocate, often appearing against more senior counsel. She is acutely aware that many of her clients meet her at a very difficult time in their lives and is known for maintaining a kind and sensitive approach whilst delivering pragmatic and proactive advice.

In addition to her court work, Charlotte volunteers on the Rights of Women legal advice line and is a member of the Centre for Women’s Justice legal reference panel. She is part of the committee for the Child Abduction Lawyers Association and contributes to the “Jurisdiction over children” chapter in Rayden & Jackson, a task she took over just in time to update matters post-Brexit.

Charlotte is ranked as a leading junior in Chambers & Partners and has twice been ranked as a rising star in the Legal 500. In 2018 (her first year of practice) Charlotte was shortlisted for the “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” in the LexisNexis Family Law Awards.

Other experience

Prior to becoming a barrister, Charlotte co-founded an initiative designed to raise awareness of forced marriage in schools. She has delivered workshops for Teach First and has spoken at several conferences on forced marriage, the law and education. In October 2016, she organised the inaugural National Schools’ Conference on Combatting “Honour” Based Violence alongside IKWRO and Youth for Change.

In 2014, Charlotte was awarded a Lincoln’s Inn scholarship to undertake a six-month internship at the International Criminal Court in The Hague where she worked in the Trial Division (Chambers) assisting the judges on a number of cases, including: The Prosecutor v. President Kenyatta, Ruto & Sang, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, and Gbagbo & Blé Goudé. Whilst at the ICC, she was the runner-up in the International Children’s Rights Moot organised by UNICEF and Leiden University.

Awards 2018: Shortlisted for “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” in the LexisNexis Family Law Awards in her first year of practice 2016: Hubert Greenland Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn 2014: Winner, The Law Reform Essay Competition, The Bar Council: ‘Womb for Improvement: Enforcing Surrogacy Agreements in England and Wales’ 2014: Finalist (Runner-Up), International Children’s Rights Moot, UNICEF & Leiden    University 2014: Family Law Prize, Kaplan Law School 2014: Lincoln’s Inn Scholarship to the International Criminal Court, The Hague 2013: Lord Denning Scholarship and Hardwicke Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn

Year of Call: 2014

Family Law Bar Association Association of Lawyers for Children Child Abduction Lawyers Association

Kaplan Law School, Bar Professional Training Course The University of Law (Chester), Graduate Diploma in Law University of St Andrews, MA (Hons) English Literature