Court of Protection - Vulnerable Adult; Direct Access; Private Children Law; Public Children Law; Collaborative Law; Mediation; Private FDR and Early Neutral Evaluation

Sally’s principal focus is cases involving children and vulnerable adults. She is regularly instructed in complex care proceedings where there are parallel criminal proceedings, and an unusual expert component

She is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, and children’s guardians in the most serious medical cases involving non accidental injuries, fatalities, fabricated illness as well as cases involving human trafficking, and serious sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Sally has been instructed in two (reported) cases involving allegations of factitious and induced illness.

Sally is also instructed in private law cases involving child protection, mental health, intractable contact disputes in families where there is a non-traditional structure or co-parenting arrangement or serious allegations of coercive control. She is in a unique position in that up to 2006 her practice was split equally between crime (sexual assault) and family, thereby equipping her with all the necessary forensic skills and in-depth advocacy experience, which she employs to maximum effect in the family court.

Her Court of Protection practice consists of health and welfare cases with a particular focus on medical treatment disputes including proposed withdrawal of treatment.

Sally has developed a recognised expertise in cases brought under the Inherent Jurisdiction concerning vulnerable adults who have been coercively controlled or emotionally exploited by a family member or friend. She recently represented a young adult whose sister’s treatment programme was frustrated by a family member opposed to conventional medicine

She represented a father in a case where the mother was refusing radiotherapy for their son and had gone into hiding with the child to evade treatment.

Court of Protection

Sally specialises in a range of Court of Protection matters including deprivation of liberty cases, Section 21A applications and cases dealing with complex care packages.

She is regularly instructed in emergency applications, cases with issues in respect of local authorities’ safeguarding duties and contested hearings on issues regarding the appointment of deputies

She regularly acts for local authorities, family members, NHS Trusts and litigation friends.

Sally has considerable expertise in complex family disputes involving care and residence for adults who lack capacity.

Private Children Law

Sally has a strong private law practice. She is renowned for her sensitive handling of vulnerable clients in cases of coercive control, domestic abuse and parental manipulation of children where a parent is suffering from serious psychiatric or psychological issues.

She has extensive experience of contested residence disputes involving relocation

Sally is recognised for her sharp, strategic and tactical approach to cases She has an extensive knowledge of mental health and medical issues and is known for her highly focused forensic and cross examination skills.

Public Children Law

Sally is instructed in care proceedings and complex adoption cases.

She was instructed in a long running reported adoption case in which she succeeded in revoking an adoption order for two sisters on the cusp of adulthood.

Sally regularly advises local authorities on evidence gathering and disclosure in complex care cases, procedure where the care plan is placement outside the jurisdiction and general planning, policy and procedure.

Sally has a sharp eye for detail and is particularly skilled and experienced at perusing, assessing, collating and condensing extensive medical records and digital material into a more accessible format.

Year of Call: 1989 Family Law Bar Association Committee 2007-2010

French, German.

Family Law Bar Association Association of Lawyers for Children Criminal Bar Association Liberty Affiliate Member of Resolution

BA (Hons) French Birmingham University Certificate of Deaf Education CPE (Central London)