Court of Protection - Vulnerable Adult; International Children Law; Private Children Law; Public Children Law; Sports Law; Arbitration; Collaborative Law; Mediation; Private FDR and Early Neutral Evaluation

Ruth’s practice is primarily in children and Court of Protection work.  She also undertakes sports law cases and disciplinary tribunal work including advising stars of the rugby world.  The unusual breadth of her practice is reflected in the variety of her reported cases.

Ruth has particular experience in representing high profile families and individuals and of representing very religiously-observant families and families embroiled in political and cross-jurisdictional issues, sometimes with their own Governments.  She deals with all aspects of private and public family law – both domestic and international

Ruth is dual qualified in the Irish Republic and has rights of audience before the Irish courts.  She also is instructed as an expert witness in Irish and European family law cases.

International Children Law

Ruth has specialised in children law with an emphasis on international aspects for more than 20 years.  The bulk of her practice has been in the Family Division including: abduction, jurisdictional disputes and wardship/inherent jurisdiction cases. Many of her reported cases have been in this area of family law.

Private Children Law

Ruth has specialised in children law for more than 20 years.  Private law children has formed the bulk of her practice which has been in the Family Division including:

Abduction and other unlawful movement of children and adults; Wardship and Inherent Jurisdiction cases ( publicity/privacy cases and stranded spouses); Complex disputes concerning children and vulnerable adults; and Jurisdictional issues Court of Protection

Ruth has always practised in both privately-funded and legally-aided cases in this area of her work especially in complex COP cases. She has, in one case secured a costs order for close to £1 million.  She tends to specialise in the complex welfare aspects of cases working with her Chancery colleagues on the financial aspects but can do both in modest cases.

Sports Law Public Children Law

Ruth has specialised in children law for more than 20 years.  She has acted for all parties in public law proceedings throughout  her career.  The bulk of her practice has been in the Family Division including:

Disputes about jurisdiction; Care proceedings overlapping with wardship and Inherent Jurisdiction cases; Complex care proceedings; and Radicalisation cases. Non-court dispute resolution

Qualifying as a commercial mediator in 2004, Ruth has had a longstanding belief in all forms of non-court dispute resolution (NCDR).  She is collaboratively trained as well as being a Family Mediator for more than 10 years. She also practises as a children law arbitrator since 2022.

Inquests and Public Inquiries

Ruth brings her forensic cross examination, analytical and advocacy skills to this growing part of her practice.

Publications/Training

Ruth has lectured for the London Safeguarding Children’s Board, the Counter Terrorism Unit at the Met Police (SO15), Gresham College; and the Family Law Bar Association. She has also lectured in various academic environments including at the LSE.  She has trained the Irish Judiciary on diversity and ethnic issues and trains students and junior barristers in advocacy at Middle Temple.

Year of Call: 1994 Year of Silk: 2021 Bencher of Middle Temple Assessor for AdvocateBar Council Ethics Committee member Bar Council Ethics Committee member Bar Council general member Middle Temple Advocacy trainer

Working knowledge of French and Irish

Family Law Bar Association Association of Lawyers for Children Court of Protection Bar Association Administrative Law Bar Association London Irish Lawyers’ Association

University College Cork, Ireland BCL London School of Economics, LLM London Metropolitan University, CPE Inns of Court School of Law, BL BL (Irl) Kings Inns, Dublin 2004 DeMontford University 2014 Arbitrator CIArb (2022) Certificate in Sports Law (2014) Mediator (Family) (2004) Barrister in Republic of Ireland (2004) Commercial Mediator (2004) Collaborative Lawyer

Rugby, tennis, gym, theatre, film, family.