International Children Law; Private Children Law; Direct Access

Jacqueline is a leading senior junior who specialises in the field of international children law. Running alongside her international practice, she also has a substantial practice in complex / high conflict private children law disputes.

For many years, Jacqueline has been ranked in Band 1 in Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500. She is also ranked in The Spear’s 500 Directory. She has been shortlisted for a number of awards over the years.

Jacqueline has appeared in a significant number of the most important decisions in this jurisdiction (and abroad) relating to the development of international children law. Her cases often involve complex and novel points of law, and she has played an important role in the development of this area of jurisprudence for many years. To date, she has appeared in 77 reported cases.

Jacqueline appears regularly in the High Court. She also has a substantial appellate practice having, to date, appeared in 16 appeals to the Court of Appeal and 6 appeals to the UK Supreme Court.

In addition to her domestic practice, Jacqueline has appeared before the Court of Justice of the European Union where she made oral submissions in the case of UD v XB [2019] C-393/18 (PPU), and has filed two amicus curiae briefs before the US Supreme Court.

Jacqueline is often against KCs. She has also had a number of leading briefs, both in the High Court and Court of Appeal, which has made very experienced in undertaking appellate advocacy in legally complex cases.

Jacqueline has represented a number of celebrities over the years, as well as numerous UHNW / HNW clients. She also remains fully committed to publicly funded and pro bono work.

Jacqueline is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a member of the International Family Justice Committee. She is the lead editor of the international section of ‘Rayden and Jackson’. Jacqueline lectures in this jurisdiction and abroad, and has given expert evidence in the House of Lords as to the impact of Brexit on European family law.

Jacqueline has been a leading senior junior in the field of international children law for many years. She has appeared in a significant number of the most important decisions in this jurisdiction (and abroad) relating to the development of international children law. Her cases often involve complex and novel points of law, and she has played an important role in the development of this area of jurisprudence for many years. To date, she has appeared in 77 reported cases.

Jacqueline’s practice encompasses international child abduction (Hague and non-Hague), relocation, the recognition and enforcement of foreign orders, jurisdictional disputes, relocation, forced marriage and international contact disputes.

Jacqueline appears regularly in the High Court. She also has a substantial appellate practice having, to date, appeared in 16 appeals to the Court of Appeal and 6 appeals to the UK Supreme Court.

Jacqueline is often against KCs. She has also had a number of leading briefs, both in the High Court and Court of Appeal, which has made very experienced in undertaking appellate advocacy in legally complex cases.

In addition to her domestic practice, Jacqueline has appeared before the Court of Justice of the European Union, where she made oral submissions to the court. She has also filed two amicus curiae briefs in Hague Convention 1980 cases before the US Supreme Court.

Recently, Jacqueline has appeared in the following reported cases:- • Re S (children: parentage and jurisdiction) [2023] EWCA Civ 897 • W v Z [2023] EWHC 469 (Fam) • Z v Z [2023] EWHC 1673 (Fam) • Re T (Abduction: Protective Measures: Agreement to Return) [2023] EWCA Civ 1415 • Re London Borough of Hackney v P and Others (Jurisdiction: 1996 Hague Child Protection Convention) [2023] EWCA Civ 1213 • R v M (Hague Convention; Withdrawal of Application and Art. 16 (Parental Responsibility))[2024] EWHC 720 (Fam) • M v F (Summary Return to Ukraine) [2024] EWHC 1689 (Fam)

Jacqueline has been a leading senior junior in the field of private children law for many years. She has a substantial practice in private children law disputes. She is often instructed in relocation (external and internal) cases, and complex / high conflict child arrangement disputes. Her cases invariably involve allegations of domestic abuse and alienating behaviours.

Recently, Jacqueline has successfully developed the Hadkinson jurisdiction in children cases: BR v SN [2024] EWHC 1512 (Fam), and set aside an arbitral award in a relocation case (this was a novel and legally complex application).

A full list of Jacqueline’s reported cases can be accessed via the link at the top of the page.

Lead editor of the international section of ‘Rayden and Jackson’.

Year of Call: 2007

Family Law Bar Association Middle Temple Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Private International Law Course, The Hague Academy of International Law, Den Haag 2007 Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law, 2007 Diploma in Law, City University, 2006 BA (Hons) Theology and Politics, University of Bristol, 2005 Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2006 Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple, 2005