4PB

Adele has a busy practice in all areas of children law, financial remedies and domestic abuse at all levels of the Family Court. She joined chambers after successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Nicholas Fairbank, Greg Davies and Ruth Kirby QC. She has extensive experience in complex financial remedy cases, public, private and international children work, and proceedings in the Court of Protection. Adele is known for her thorough preparation, collaborative approach, pragmatic advice and ability to put clients at ease. She is a determined, forensically minded advocate who will fearlessly advance her client’s case at every hearing. She is regularly led by leading junior counsel and by Queen’s Counsel, including Jo Delahunty QC. Private Law and Domestic Abuse Adele is regularly instructed in protracted and intricate private law matters, including cases involving implacable hostility and parental alienation, and internal and international relocations. She appeared as junior counsel in the seminal Court of Appeal case of Re H-N and Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of fact hearings) and subsequently presented a Resolution seminar on the Court of Appeal judgment with Miriam Best. Adele also provides pro bono advice and representation through the charity Not Beyond Redemption for women who are in or have left prison to assist in re-establishing and regenerating a relationship with their children. Public Law and Court of Protection Adele acts for parents, children (via their Children’s Guardian, and separately), grandparents and local authorities in proceedings involving non-accidental injuries, mental health problems, substance misuse and sexual abuse and domestic abuse. Her work regularly involves complex medical evidence and allegations of radicalisation, FGM, and forced marriage. Adele has a busy public law practice being led and instructed on her own. International Child Law Adele regularly appears in the High Court in cases concerning child abduction and issues relating to jurisdiction. She is often instructed in applications for summary return under the Hague Convention 1980, applications concerning wardship and the inherent jurisdiction. Financial Remedies Adele has a busy financial remedy practice. She is instructed at all stages of applications for financial relief, and in all types of proceedings including MPS, variation, enforcement and notice to show cause. She is frequently instructed to advise pre proceedings and in round table meetings. Adele takes a pragmatic approach and works collaboratively to settle matters whilst ensuring her client’s needs are met. She is unrelenting in seeking to secure the optimal outcomes for her clients. Previous experience and interests Prior to commencing pupillage, Adele was a family paralegal at a leading firm of family law solicitors specialising in cases involving high net worth individuals often with an internal element. She volunteered for family law advice schemes and charities, including the National Centre for Domestic Violence. Through her paid and voluntary work Adele gained valuable experience assisting litigants in person and advising parties on matters relating to financial remedies, child arrangements, and applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996. Alongside her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in family law, Adele conducted research into judicial decision-making, and the provision of alternative dispute resolution and resources for divorcing couples and post-separation parenting disputes. In her spare time Adele enjoys walking and running with her dogs Orla and Ava. She can also be spotted paddle boarding with Orla on the river Thames and on the North Norfolk Coast.

Alex Verdan KC

Alex specialises in complex and serious children cases; both private law and public law. In particular those involving; intractable child arrangements disputes, internal relocations and leave to remove from the jurisdiction, serious emotional abuse, child fatalities and significant injuries and serious abuse with disputed medical evidence and often with linked criminal proceedings; allegations of sexual abuse; including false allegations; and factitious illness. He also has extensive experience in Public Inquiries, e.g. representing Lambeth BC and Leicestershire CC in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), representing Enfield LB in the Climbie Inquiry, being Counsel to the Isle of Man Commission of Inquiry into the Care of Young People. He was instructed by the children in reputedly the longest running care case in English legal history; the threshold hearing lasting for some 5 months. He has been in practice for over 35 years and in that time has built up extensive experience in all types of children cases. Although the majority of his practice is now in London, he travels regularly to courts across the country and to various International jurisdictions. Alex regularly lectures at family law conferences and at seminars and provides training for family justice professionals. Private Children Law Alex specialises in complex and serious children cases. In particular those involving; intractable child arrangements disputes, serious emotional abuse, internal relocations and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. International Children Law Alex specialises in complex and serious children cases. In particular those involving international families and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. He has extensive experience of relocation cases having specilaised in them for over 20 years and having been involved in more than 150 contested hearings. Public Children Law Alex specialises in complex and serious children cases. In particular those involving; serious emotional abuse, child fatalities and signiﬁcant injuries and serious abuse with disputed medical evidence and often with linked criminal proceedings; allegations of sexual abuse; including false allegations; and factitious illness. Public Inquiries Alex has extensive experience in Public Inquiries e.g. representing Lambeth BC and Leicestershire CC in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), representing Enfield BC in the Climbie Inquiry, and being Counsel to the Isle of Man Commission of Inquiry into the Care of Young People. Non-court dispute resolution Alex is a very experienced and sought after mediator and arbitrator having qualified in 2012 and 2016 respectively.

Alexandra Halliday

Alex accepts instructions in all areas of family law, having joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2023 following the successful completion of pupillage at 4PB. Prior to commencing pupillage, Alex worked as a midwife in London. She specialised in working with socially vulnerable families, particularly women who had experienced domestic abuse. Alongside her clinical practice, Alex worked as a healthcare researcher, with an emphasis on breech births. She co-authored several research articles on the topic, and continues to work as a peer-reviewer for BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Journal. Private Children Law Alex is regularly instructed in complex private law matters, appearing at all stages of proceedings including fact-findings and final hearings. During pupillage, Alex successfully appealed a fact-finding judgment, securing a favourable result for her client at the re-hearing. Alex also has experience of committal proceedings, recently appearing in the case of H v Usama Ikram Butt & Anor [2023] EWHC 3042 (Fam) which dealt with issues of publicity and transparency. Public Children Law Alex undertakes work at all stages of public law proceedings, drawing on her previous healthcare experience of working with socially vulnerable families. She represents local authorities, parents and guardians, and has experience in matters involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. She has appeared as junior counsel in several complex NAI cases involving multiple medical experts and extensive disclosure. Family Finance Alex accepts instructions in all aspects of financial remedy proceedings. She has assisted in complex matters with high-net-worth individuals as well as representing clients in financial difficulty. Alex recently appeared as junior counsel in Ma v Roux [2024] EWHC 1917 (Fam), a successful appeal which clarified the court’s approach to applications to strike out a set aside application. International Children Law Alex appears in the High Court in child abduction matters. She was recently led by Frankie Shama in the matter of A v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 2020 (Fam) in a case which considered the grant of parental responsibility following an application to withdraw 1980 Hague Proceedings. Publication/Training On top of her busy practice, Alex regularly speaks at university events for aspiring barristers, writes articles for Family Law Week and the Law Society Gazette, and co-edits and produces the 4PB Public Law Newsletter.

Alexandra Wilson

Alexandra Wilson is a barrister specialising in family law and previously criminal law. Alexandra has represented a variety of clients charged with serious matters and specialises in young and vulnerable clients. Her family law practice includes private children, public children, domestic abuse and finance cases. Instructing solicitors have been impressed with Alexandra’s excellent client care, her meticulous preparation and advice. She represents clients with the utmost professionalism and proficiency and is often specifically requested by both professional and lay clients. Alexandra also has her own website, which can be found here. Alexandra specialises in children and finance law, particularly cases with an international element. Alexandra has a busy practice in family law, which includes private children, public children, domestic abuse and finance cases. She is always well-prepared and builds an excellent rapport with her clients. “Alexandra was very well prepared for her hearings… The clients got on well with Alexandra and I received excellent feedback reports.” Feedback from one of Alexandra’s instructing solicitors. She regularly acts for clients in injunctive proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996, in both interim and fact-finding hearings. She is also frequently instructed in care proceedings to represent parents and guardians in care proceedings. Alexandra frequently makes or opposes emergency applications in these cases and is well-equipped to deal with late instructions. Alexandra also has experience acting for the police in requests for disclosure of family proceedings for ongoing criminal matters.

Alison Grief KC

Alison has specialised in the law relating to children, Private and Public law for 20 years after a Common Law practice in Crime and housing; the former giving plenty of forensic and cross examination experience and the latter giving her considerable experience in Judicial Review practice and procedure. Alison is regularly instructed in all aspects of Private Law children work in which she is frequently instructed in cases involving complex factual backgrounds such as: allegations of physical or sexual abuse of children, particularly where the court is considering the veracity of the child’s account, parental influence/fabrication, ABE interviews and contamination etc; mental health issues; substance misuse, allegations of domestic violence and/or coercion and control and where experts have to be cross examined or where the case has significant forensic detail. Her Public Law experience in this respect gives her a real advantage as does dealing with cases in which children are separately represented and her experience of dealing with child witnesses. She has particular expertise in allegations of parental alienation, and is regularly instructed in international relocation cases.In Public law, Alison is renowned for her expertise in medical cases particularly deaths involving allegations of inflicted head injury, surviving catastrophic head injuries and fractures especially with issues of Vitamin D deficiency. She regularly cross examines medical experts on their hypotheses undertaking medical research at the Institute of Child Health and challenging experts on their research base. She has undertaken joint seminars with the leading experts in the field. This expertise has also been used to great advantage in cases involving allegations of Fabricated or Induced Illness and she has undertaken a number of such cases for all parties. Alison has sat as an Assistant Coroner which has given her additional insight and knowledge. Her cases often involve concurrent criminal proceedings and she is therefore highly experienced in issues of disclosure and PII. Press injunctions are often required given the nature of the cases and she is therefore well versed in the law and procedure relating to them and media management generally. The remainder of Alison’s Public law practice is serious sexual abuse including inter-generational and inter-sibling abuse in which she has good experience of dealing with child and other vulnerable witnesses; radicalisation cases; adoptions; Special Guardianship Orders and local authority duties towards children including Judicial Review and HRA claims for damages on behalf of children and parents. Alison regularly provides seminars on both Private law and Public law issues and the Voice of the Child including for Resolution.

Alistair G Perkins

Alistair has now amassed over 30 years experience of court work involving children and vulnerable adults. Nearly all of his work is now in the High Court and a significant proportion involves complex issues with international elements. He has considerable experience in relation to child abduction involving countries that are and are not signatures to the 1980 or 1996 Hague Conventions. He regularly appears in cases involving issues arising from Brussels IIa or the 1996 Hague convention. Several cases that he has been involved in have featured in the national media.

Amean Elgadhy

Amean specialises in family law with a practice predominately in the Family Court, High Court (Family Division) and the Court of Appeal, undertaking publicly funded work representing parents and children. He regularly acts in a range of significant cases, often involving complex medical evidence, cross-examination of children and vulnerable witnesses and historic allegations of sexual abuse. In the early years of practice, he represented young people in the Criminal Courts (at all levels) and has a keen interest in youth justice, particularly representing competent children in care proceedings and in civil actions against the State. He regularly acts for competent children and children’s guardians, and he has represented parties in cases which have received significant press attention, including a case involving children considered at risk of, and vulnerable to radicalisation. He regularly acts for clients with additional needs and works alongside interpreters and intermediaries with ease. At the start of his career at the Bar, Amean undertook a pupillage at One Pump Court in both criminal defence and family law. His forensic approach – through his background in criminal proceedings – is often called upon in highly complex fact-finding hearings involving allegations of serious non-accidental injury and sexual abuse. 00Prior to coming to the Bar, Amean worked at Release – an NGO providing legal services to hard to reach client groups in all areas of common law including housing, welfare benefits and debt advice. More recently, Amean has developed a practice in the Court of Protection and regularly undertakes Civil work involving claims on behalf of children against the Police and local authorities; under the Human Rights Act 1998 and Equality Act 2010. Amean regularly speaks at Career events through Lincoln’s Inn, he trains law students in advocacy for mock trials at Brunel University and maintains a commitment to undertaking pro-bono work.

Andrew Powell

Andrew is widely recognised for his expertise in cases concerning children. His practice focuses on parental disputes about arrangements for children after separation, international children law including child abduction, and applications to relocate children to another country. He is an experienced trial advocate who regularly appears against silks. He has developed a niche practice representing parties in surrogacy, adoption and declaration of parentage cases. He has appeared in some of the leading cases concerning surrogacy and adoption. Andrew also appears in public law cases, including those with complex medical evidence and allegations of sexual abuse. He is regularly instructed in public law cases where there is an international element and public law cases arising from high conflict private law disputes. Andrew was awarded the ‘Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year Award’ in 2021 and has published a book about the legal aspects of surrogacy. He is also the editor of the domestic adoption chapter in Rayden and Jackson. He has been a Governing Board Member of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory since 2021 and is a member of the Steering Group for the Bar Council’s 10,000 Black Interns Programme. In 2024 Andrew was shortlisted by Chambers and Partners UK Bar Awards in the category of Diversity and Inclusion: Future Leader. He was also shortlisted as International Family Lawyer of the Year in the 2024 Family Law Awards. Outside work, Andrew enjoys running and cycling. International Children Law Andrew regularly represents parents and children in child abduction cases, both Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention cases, or where there is a risk of wrongful removal of a child from this jurisdiction. He also has experience representing family members in a broad spectrum of wardship cases (including committals), as well as cases concerning vulnerable adults, such as stranded spouses and FGM cases. In international surrogacy cases, Andrew represents intended parents and children, often when there is a legal complexity establishing parental status in this jurisdiction. He represents parents in international relocation cases and welcomes working collaboratively with instructing solicitors from the outset. Public Children Law Andrew has a strong background in public law proceedings and represents local authorities, parents, children and other interested parties. He has experience representing parties where there are allegations of non-accidental injury and fabricated or induced illness and has developed an expertise in cases where there is an international element. He appeared as junior counsel representing a family member in A & Others (Care Proceedings: 1996 Hague Convention: Habitual Residence) [2024] EWFC. He has appeared on behalf of children and parents in high conflict private law disputes that later enter the public law area. Private Children Law Andrew has vast experience in all aspects of domestic private law cases representing both parents and children in applications for child arrangements orders, including where one parent seeks to relocate internally. His background in public law proceedings means that he is well placed to deal with contentious private law disputes that require a forensic approach. He is regularly instructed in cases where a separate fact-finding hearing might be required or cross examination of expert witnesses. Andrew is well known in the field of surrogacy and adoption (domestic and international) and is regarded as one of the country’s leading experts in this area. He has experience of being instructed in cases arising out of LGBTQ+ family disputes that may require a creative legal solution. Many of his cases involve recognition of parental status, such as those where an application for a declaration of parentage has been made or step-parent adoptions (e.g. Re H (Surrogacy: Step-parent adoption) [2023] EWFC). Andrew is instructed in medical treatment cases and has experience in cases concerning transgender children and the administration of puberty blockers. He appeared as junior counsel in AB v CD & Others [2021] EWHC 741 (Fam) on behalf the hospital trust and in Re J (Transgender: Puberty Blocker and Hormone Replacement Therapy) [2024] EWHC 922 (Fam) on behalf of the respondent mother. Inquests and Public Inquiries From 2016-2020 Andrew was led by Alex Verdan KC and Cleo Perry KC representing a core participant in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Children in the care of Lambeth Council investigation). He was also led by Cleo Perry KC representing a core participant in a second investigation, also as part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks investigation). He has significant experience collaborating responses to Rule 9 requests. Court of Protection Andrew has experience representing parties in cases concerning deprivation of liberty and best interests in the Court of Protection and has experience being instructed by the Official Solicitor. Non-court dispute resolution Andrew has experience representing parents before Arbitrators in private law disputes.

Anita Mehta

Anita specialises in matrimonial finance, and divorce. She also has considerable experience in private law children work. Clients often appreciate being able to instruct Anita in both aspects of their proceedings. She is frequently ranked as a leading barrister by the legal directories. Anita expertise lies in complex financial remedy applications. Anita is regularly instructed in cases involving companies, farms, or complex pension arrangements. Anita has a special interest in applications pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. In respect of her private law children practice, Anita’s focus is on cases that involve an international element, parental hostility/ alienation, or where the complexity of allegations, or the nature of dispute, necessitates a fact-finding hearing. Anita often appears against, and has also been led by, Leading Counsel. Anita regularly gives lectures and writes updates on developments in the law. She is the co-host of the Resolution podcast ‘Talking Family Law’ – https://resolution.org.uk/podcast/. Anita sits as a Deputy District Judge, including in the Financial Remedy Court. Publications Spousal Maintenance and Universal Credit Best Practice and Problem Solving in Child Arrangements ‘Schedule 1 to The Children Act 1989: Not Just for Wags’ International Relocation: less ‘Payne’ – more pain?

Anna Comboni

Before starting pupillage, Anna was a Student Director of the School Exclusion Project. She provided free representation to parents at hearings before the Governors and the Independent Review Panel. She was a Visiting Lecturer at City University, teaching undergraduate Family Law tutorials. Anna was previously a social worker. She worked for a London local authority for 2 years, specialising in child protection and care proceedings. Anna currently volunteers as an Independent Visitor with Coram Voice.

Baljinder Bath

Baljinder specialises in all areas of children law. She is regularly instructed in both public and private law proceedings. Baljinder has a particular expertise in cases of non-accidental injuries including child fatalities, sexual abuse and factitious illness behaviour. She frequently cross-examines experts on complex medical evidence. She has a wealth of experience in cases involving parental alienation, domestic abuse and coercive control, and emotional abuse. She is also instructed in cases with an international element. Baljinder has a particular interest in cases involving children and / or parents with special needs, including those on the autistic spectrum. She has written and lectured on the importance of understanding the law on special educational needs in public law proceedings. Baljinder has also appeared for local authorities and children in secure accommodation and DOLS applications. Baljinder regularly appears against Kings Counsel in complex cases. She has a reputation for being a focused and tenacious advocate who holds her own in Court. Baljinder sat on the executive committee for the Association of Lawyers for Children from 2018 to 2021.

Barbara Mills KC

Specialist family practitioner with an emphasis in complex children’s cases in the higher courts. Extensive experience advising and acting for parties in private law proceedings, often with an international element, in the High Court. Family mediator and collaborative counsel.Represented Women’s groups in H v N and Others (Children) (Domestic abuse : finding of fact hearings) [2021] EWCA Civ 448

Baroness Scotland KC

Baroness Scotland KC served as HM Attorney General from July 2007 to May 2010 she has vast experience in a range of areas including Constitutional Law; Anti-Corruption; Strategic Advice; Family Law and Human Rights. Constitutional Law: Advising governments on constitutional reform and maintenance of the rule of law. She has also advised on a range of civil and criminal justice matters around the world. Particular expertise and experience in advising Commonwealth governments. Anti-Corruption: Extensive knowledge of the Bribery Act 2010. Advising companies and governments on compliance and implementation, including drafting protocols for governments and other organizations. Strategic Advice: Providing strategic advice to global companies on a range of issues, including corporate governance, compliance with gender equality legislation and corporate social responsibility. Family Law: Particular expertise in cases with an international element. She appeared in the Supreme Court in the case of Re E (Children) [2011] UKSC 27. Extensive experience in resolving difficult and intractable cases on behalf of children and parents. Human Rights: Advising governments on compliance with international human rights conventions, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Convention on the Rights of the Child. In 1991 at the age of thirty five, she became the first black and youngest woman ever to be appointed Queen’s Counsel and the youngest person to be so appointed since Pitt the Younger. She was the first black woman to be appointed an Assistant Recorder, Deputy High Court Judge, Recorder, Master of Middle Temple, Member of the House of Lords, Lord’s Minister, and is the first and only woman to have been appointed as HM Attorney General for England Wales and Northern Ireland in the 700 year history of that Office. From 1999 – 2001 she was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where she was, inter alia, responsible for North America, Caribbean, Overseas Territories, Consular Division, British Council, Administration and all Parliamentary business in the Lords, where she established, amongst other things, a Forced Marriage Unit. In 2001 she was made a Privy Counsellor, appointed as Parliamentary Secretary and made deputy to the Lord Chancellor. She was the Minister responsible for Civil Justice and all of the reform of civil law including the comprehensive reform of land registration. In 2003 she was appointed as Minister of State for Law Reform and Criminal Justice at the Home Office and deputy to the Home Secretary. She served in that post until 2007 under three Home Secretaries: David Blunkett, Charles Clarke and John Reid. Whilst at the Home Office she was responsible for major reform of the criminal justice system. In 2007 she was appointed as Attorney General for England Wales and Northern Ireland. After the conclusion of the Northern Ireland Agreement she was appointed as Advocate General for Northern Ireland. As the Attorney General she was the Chief legal adviser to Her Majesty the Queen, Parliament and the Government, Supervisor and Superintendent of the Prosecutorial Authorities (SFO,CPS, RCPO), Leader of the Bar and had non statutory oversight of the prosecutors in government departments, the Treasury Solicitors Department and Armed Services Prosecuting Authority. She was Guardian of the Rule of Law and Public Interest. She was one of the three Cabinet Ministers responsible for the Criminal Justice system and had specific responsibility for fraud policy and the National Fraud Authority and chaired the Inter-Ministerial Group responsible for the improvement of the response to fraud and e-crime. During her time as Minister, she led sustained efforts to reform the laws on corruption. She helped to shape the Fraud Act 2006 and as Attorney General, she became a government authority on eFraud and corruption. This led to the eventual creation of the Bribery Act 2010. In 2009 she was presented with an award for her work on anti-corruption at the UN Conference in Doha. In opposition, Baroness Scotland QC served as Shadow Attorney General until October 2011. She remains the Principal Legal Advisor to HM’s Loyal Opposition. She has advised on a range of issues including the UN’s stance on Syria, the use of drones, the Enterprise Act and the European Union, in particular state aid. In 2011 she was awarded the lifetime achievement award by Euromoney Legal Media Group at the European Women in Business Law Awards. She has now returned to full time practice at the Bar.

Brian Jubb

Brian initially practiced in Criminal Law, including Courts-martial and general Civil cases before specialising in Family Law and Local Government. He has long had an established practice in Family Law, including cases involving children, Public and Private Law, as well as those relating to vulnerable adults. Brian is ranked as a Leading Junior in the field of Family Law in the 2011 Legal 500 Brian has appeared in both Civil and Criminal Judicial Reviews in child and vulnerable adult cases. He is also an experienced practitioner in Public Interest Immunity, ancillary relief and cases brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975. Keen interest in scientific matters, especially in the field of genetics and aviation; dabbles in a wide variety of other interests ranging from reading to going on long contemplative walks.

Catherine Wood KC

Catherine has a long established, well- deserved reputation as being one of the country’s leading barristers in the field of private children cases. Appointed in 2007 as a family law Recorder Catherine is able to draw on her extensive experience both as advocate and Judge when representing clients. Frequently instructed in protracted and complicated disputes, often involving an international element, relocation, allegations of sexual abuse, parental alienation and expert evidence.

Ceri White

Ceri is a specialist children’s practitioner, whose practice covers all areas of children law, including contact/residence disputes, public inquiries and complex public law proceedings. . Clients speak highly of her robust and well prepared advocacy. She has an approachable manner and a willingness to always fight the client’s corner, whilst at the same time offering practical, sensible advice. Ceri represents parents, children and their Guardians, local authorities and CAFCASS Legal and appears in cases involving, for example, allegations of sexual abuse, non-accidental injury, intractable contact disputes and factitious illness. Ceri has a particular interest in acting for older children who are separately represented. She appears in all levels of Court, including the Court of Appeal, and has many reported cases. As junior counsel to the Isle of Man Inquiry into the Care of Young People, Ceri has specific expertise in Inquiry work. She acted in both part I and II of the Inquiry and spent a year working on the case, led by Alex Verdan QC. Ceri is a collaboratively trained lawyer and also undertakes direct access cases. Ceri writes for a variety of publications, including Family Law Week and the New Law Journal. Prior to coming to the Bar, Ceri worked in Parliament for many years, which included working for the Home Secretary and running the Parliamentary Office of the then minister with responsibility for social services. She maintains a keen interest in political reform in respect of children’s law.

Charles Hale KC

Joint Head of Chambers of 4PB, the leading Family Law barristers Chambers in the UK. Family law specialist advocate and Arbitrator, recognised as leading King’s Counsel in both, Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. Shortlisted as Silk of the Year, Legal 500, 2019, 2021 and 2022. As a leading family KC with expertise in all aspects of financial, international and private law family cases, Charles is regularly instructed in international family disputes for high net worth individuals and often provides expert advice in foreign divorce matters. Charles has a reputation for dealing with the most complex cases involving financial disputes and trusts, also cases arising out of same sex/modern families disputes. As one of the few recognised leading family UK barristers in both matrimonial finance and children work, Charles is often instructed to represent high profile clients in all issues arising out of their separation. He is qualified to receive instructions directly from overseas lawyers and lead teams multi-jurisdictional cases. Charles has a significant ADR practice. As an Arbitrator, a private FDR judge and early neutral evaluator in both finance and children cases, Charles offers the full spectrum for out of court solutions to complex family disputes. Charles is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and was a National Committee member from 2004-2014 and an elected member of the Bar Council for 10 years. He was appointed to the International Committee of the Bar of England and Wales (2022). Charles is one of two KC’s appointed by the President of the Family Division to the Transparency Implementation Group (TIG). He has previously lectured at Kingston University and regularly lectures domestically including to Resolution and at the Judicial College (the training college of UK family judges). Internationally, Charles has lectured widely, including at the South African National Family Conference, in Dublin to the Irish Bar, and in the Cayman Islands and Jersey. Charles writes thought leader articles in leading journals and publications and is often ask to provide comment to the media. He is a lead author of several chapters in Rayden and Jackson, Relationship Breakdown, Finance and Children (Butterworths LexisNexis). A specialist family KC in finance, private law, children and international cases. Private Children Law Regularly instructed by HNW, celebrity, business clients and leading sports stars in respect of their children private law disputes including leave to remove (relocation) cases and domestic care arrangements. Recent cases include: Acting for a prominent international footballer over several years to secure a child arrangements order to reflect his wish to share the care of his daughter despite his career commitments. Acting in a complex financial and relocation dispute involving a prominent Scandinavian family and international care/custody issues. Re C (Parental Alienation: Instruction of Experts) [2023] EWHC 345 (Fam) the leading authority on the instruction of experts in children proceedings. SM v PM [2023] EWHC 3446 (Fam). acting for the successful mother from a HNW Indian family who had been subjected to horrific sexual and other abuse (including during the litigation) and had fled to India with her children. Father ordered to pay all the costs of the proceedings. Acting for the successful father in the Court of Appeal in Re T (Children: Non Disclosure [2024] EWCA Civ 241. Public Children Law Instructed in cases where private law disputes cross over into public law cases, in particular complex cases involving multiple experts or complex legal points (see HB v A Local Authority and Anor (Wardship – Costs Funding Order) [2017] EWHC 524 (Fam) Family Finance Leading finance silk involving in high net worth, complex cases involving family businesses, trusts, international finance, farms and pre/post nuptial agreements. Recent cases include, Teasdale v Carter and Teasdale [2024] Fam Law 51 a complex farming cases and VS v KS [2023] EWHC 3475 (Fam) acting for the successful husband in obtaining a stay of English divorce proceedings in favour of Monaco. Also recently acted Pro Bono for parties in a trans divorce action for a declaration of nullity. UK government brought in as intervenors after an application was made to “read down” Section 11 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1979 (see P v P (Transgender Applicant for Decree of Nullity: Human Rights) [2024] EWHC 1197 (Fam) International Children Law Renowned international family KC involved in abduction, summary return and complex relocation cases where high significant advice and advocacy is required. Fellow of the International Association of Family Lawyers and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. Appointed to the International Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales. Often leads international teams where several jurisdiction are in play. Recent examples including, an abduction/relocation case involving Curaçao, successfully defending a summary return application for a mother who had returned to her home country from London. Acted for the father in the Supreme Court in Re C (Children) [2018] UKSC a leading authority on the interpretation of the Hague Convention 1980. Non-court dispute resolution Charles is a CIARB qualified arbitrator in both children and finance cases and regularly appears in arbitration cases. He sits as a private FDR judge and early neutral evaluator in children cases. He has lectured and trained family arbitrators internationally. Charles is also instructed on behalf of the Divorce Surgery to provide expert advice to both sides of a family dispute. He is recognised in the legal directories for his extensive practice in non-court based resolution. Publications/Training Lead author in Rayden and Jackson: Relationship Breakdown, Finance and Children. Regular lecture domestically and internationally including at the Judicial College training English Judges. Regular contributor and commentator on practice and policy in family justice.

Charlotte Baker

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

Charlotte Georges

Charlotte is a specialist family law barrister, specialising in children proceedings acting in both complex public and private law matters; regularly appearing in the High Court. Charlotte regularly undertakes cases involving child abduction with experience in both hague and non-hague removals, international children cases involving applications for leave to remove (internal and external) and wardship proceedings. Charlotte brings empathy to her cases, is always extremely well prepared and quickly earns the trust of her clients. Notable Cases: Re SL (Permission to Vaccinate) [2017] EWHC 125 (Fam) - Leading case on vaccination of a child, led by Hannah Markham QC. X and Y (Children : Final judgment) [2017] EWFC B118 (11 November 2016) - Instructed by the LA in matter in which the Mother was found to have fabricated illness in both children.

Chris Stevenson

Chris is known primarily for acting in child protection cases involving the most serious allegations of abuse, including inflicted injuries, sexual abuse and psychological harm. He frequently appears against King’s Counsel on his own, where he is led or is leading more junior counsel. He is regularly instructed in lengthy and contentious fact-finding hearings, especially those that involve complicated medical evidence. He is equally skilled in cases that require technical legal arguments: in 2019, he successfully represented the appellant in the leading Court of Appeal case on uncertain perpetrators of abuse. Public Children Law Chris is instructed in the most serious cases of child abuse. His work often involves alleged non-accidental injuries including unexplained fractures, bruising, head injuries and so-called “shaken baby” cases. Chris also acts in cases where children have suffered sexual abuse and significant psychological trauma. Recent cases of his have featured allegations of sexual abuse by a family member (including between siblings), multiple injuries to more than one subject child, and where the children’s mother was murdered by their father. He is regularly instructed where there are issues over whether a child should give evidence and is able to mount successful challenges to ABE interviews. Chris has experience of linked directions hearings in concurrent family and criminal proceedings. Chris has completed the FLBA training on cross-examining vulnerable and child witnesses. He regularly acts for vulnerable clients, separately represented children and parties who lack litigation capacity. He is known for his empathetic and supportive approach whilst also delivering robust and realistic advice. Private Children Law Equipped with a wealth of experience of acting in public law proceedings, Chris is ideally positioned to act in the most contentious cases involving expert evidence and where there are allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, mental health difficulties, and physical, emotional and sexual harm.  Recent cases in which Chris has been instructed have involved allegations of parental alienation as well as cases where there is a need for a fact-finding hearing in respect of allegations of rape and sexual abuse of children. Chris also acts in ‘leave to remove’ applications, both within and outside the jurisdiction. Court of Protection Chris acts in cases relating to the health, welfare and deprivation of liberty of vulnerable adults, bringing to his Court of Protection practice his experience and skills in Children Act work. He acts in matters involving disputes over living arrangements, contact and medical treatment. Chris appears in contested interim and final hearings as well as in cases where there is a need for fact-finding.

Chris Barnes

Chris specialises in proceedings relating to children whether public, private or international. He is regularly instructed – both in his own right and as a led junior – by local authorities, parents, guardians and other interested parties at all levels including the Family Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Chris has been involved in a number of high profile cases concerning contested adoption, the relinquishment of children and risk of radicalisation and his work was recognised as Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year at the Jordan Publishing Family Law Awards 2016. Chris’ practice covers the full range of cases concerning children whether in the course of local authority initiated proceedings or in private applications. His practise encompasses cases of the utmost gravity – including sexual abuse and serious inflicted injuries – alongside those with novel or contentious legal issue. He brings his experience, sensitivity and commitment to bear in ensuring that his clients – whether parents, professionals or others – are supported and represented through the litigation process. Chris has been at the forefront of a number of cases concerning the risk of radicalisation in a family law context and has experience of representing both local authorities and parents. He was instructed in one of the first cases to use wardship in the context of teenage girls said to be at risk of travelling to Syria. He has an extensive knowledge of the issues involved as well as experience of contested applications concerning disclosure of sensitive material and reporting restrictions. In his work relating to adoption Chris has been instructed in a number of contentious adoption application and has been involved in long-running adoption proceedings, acting for a father seeking the rehabilitation of his daughter, heard by the President over 3-weeks following two hearings in the Court of Appeal. He has also developed a specialism in cases concerning relinquished infants where he has acted for, and advised, local authorities as well as having represented family members. Chris is a reviewer and undertakes work for the Bar Pro Bono unit and is committed to ensuring that where his clients may be more vulnerable – by virtue of language, disability or geographical location – are properly protected and represented before the Court. Chris writes and lectures regularly with a particular focus on public law proceedings, adoption and radicalisation. Away from work Chris is a dedicated runner: he ran the 2016 London Marathon on behalf of St John Ambulance and is a regular parkrunner. (www.parkrun.com) Away from work Chris is a dedicated runner he ran the 2016 London Marathon on behalf of St John Ambulance. He helped set up a local Junior parkrun and is himself a committed parkrunner

Christopher Hames KC

Christopher is a fearless and persuasive advocate, combining formidable strategic and tactical thinking with a keen forensic insight. He is a specialist in all areas of international law, with the knowledge and experience to take on complex issues of jurisdiction, finance and movement of children. Christopher has extensive experience in matrimonial finance with substantial assets, often with an international element or involving off-shore or domestic trusts or where criminal confiscation and restraint orders have been made. Having been involved in the leading case on Legal Service Payment Orders, he is much in demand for all types of applications for legal funding orders. He is one of the leading lights in international child abduction in the country. His case-work involve the Hague 1980 and 1996 Conventions, Wardship and the inherent jurisdiction and the enforcement of foreign orders. He appears both at first instance and appeals: he has appeared in both the CJEU and the UKSC. He also has a considerable practice in relocation and international adoption cases. He is sought after by solicitors in disputes over the court’s jurisdiction to entertain applications for children and divorce; these may involve issues of non-marriage, habitual residence, domicile, forum non conveniens and the maintenance regulation He has been Chair of the CALA since 2018 and regularly participates at international conferences. As Chair, he has been involved in extensive consultations about practice and procedure following the President’s Guidance and on the post Covit-19 lockdown court environment. He is an author and contributory editor of 2 chapters of Rayden & Jackson on the Hague 1980 Convention and committal. He regularly chairs and lectures seminars and conferences on a variety of practice areas. In 2020 topics have included: Conduct, Contributions and Pre-acquired Assets after XW v XH Non-marriage (Akhter); parens patriae and the inherent jurisdiction (Re N); and the effect of Brexit on family law In February 2020 Christopher gave evidence to the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee on behalf of the Bar Council on “Civil Justice Co-operation after Brexit. His evidence ranged over both divorce/finance and children. He is a trustee of CFAB and reviews cases for Advocate. He sits as Recorder on the NE Circuit and is approved for the Financial Remedies Court. He is a qualified arbitrator in both children (now including international relocation) and money work.

Clarissa Wigoder

Clarissa is a specialist children barrister with a busy practice across public, private and international children law. Clarissa is known for her meticulous preparation, empathetic and pragmatic advice, and confident and clear advocacy. She is regularly led in high profile cases, as well as appearing in complex matters as sole counsel. Clarissa was shortlisted for “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” in the 2022 LexisNexis Family Law Awards. In her spare time, Clarissa enjoys reading, live music, and trying out new recipes. Private Children Law Clarissa represents parents (and occasionally grandparents) at all stages of private children proceedings including fact finding hearings involving complex allegations, including allegations of serious domestic abuse, substance misuse, and intractable hostility to contact. She has experience across all areas of private children law, including applications for child arrangements orders, domestic and international relocation, prohibited steps orders and other injunctive relief, and disputes as to the medical treatment of children. Clarissa also has experience in cases involving same sex parents, non-traditional family structures, and applications for declarations of parentage, and expertise in the particular issues that arise in these cases. Clarissa appeared as junior counsel in the seminal case Re H-N And Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearings) [2021] EWCA Civ 448 in which the Court of Appeal reviewed the approach of the family court to domestic abuse in private proceedings for the first time in 20 years. Clarissa is known for her sensitive and pragmatic approach, and ability to cut through highly contentious disputes. Public Children Law Clarissa represents local authorities, parents and children at all stages of care proceedings including those involving allegations of domestic abuse, drug and alcohol misuse, and non-accidental injuries to children. In addition to representing clients at Interim Care Order hearings, Case Management Hearings, Issues Resolution Hearings, fact finding hearings and final hearings (including applications for special guardianship, care and placement orders), Clarissa has experience of applications for deprivation of liberty of a minor and applications to the High Court for passport orders and port alerts under the inherent jurisdiction in cases with an international element. With her academic background in psychology and neuroscience, she is able to provide a forensic approach to challenging medical issues. She recently appeared as junior counsel for a local authority in a 22-day fact finding hearing involving allegations of non-accidental injury to a child with unusual injuries and a highly complex medical presentation. Clarissa is regularly led in high profile cases, including cases in which the law has been developed or clarified in relation to: – The court’s approach to a care plan of adoption vs long term fostering for young children: Re D-S (A Child: Adoption or Fostering) [2024] EWCA Civ 948 – Jurisdiction when a child is wrongfully removed during the course of care proceedings: London Borough of Haringey v T (1996 Hague Convention Art 7) [2024] EWFC 151 – Applications to revoke a placement order: Re N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders) [2023] EWCA Civ 1352 She has assisted in training expert witnesses at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. International Children Law Clarissa is building a practice across the spectrum of international children law. She has experience of applications for summary return under the 1980 Hague Convention and under the inherent jurisdiction, and applications by parents for permission to relocate abroad with a child. Clarissa has been instructed as junior counsel in a range of international cases: she was recently led by Chris Hames KC, defending an application to relocate to Hong Kong; by Jacqueline Renton pursuing an application to relocate to Italy; and by Michael Gration KC seeking a summary return to the USA under the 1980 Hague Convention. Court of Protection Clarissa has experience of applications to the Court of Protection for deputyship, in disputes as to capacity in relation to both issues of welfare and property and financial affairs and in cases where the Official Solicitor has been instructed to represent a vulnerable party. Publications/ Training The Law on interim removal – where are we now? Clarissa Wigoder and Mani Basi, Jan [2022] Fam Law Businesses on divorce: how does the sharing principle apply? Nicholas Fairbank and Clarissa Wigoder, June [2020] Fam Law

Cleo Perry KC

Cleo is a specialist children’s law barrister and public law barrister, who represents parents and children in all levels of court. She is widely recognised for her expert handling of difficult cases involving complex evidence, allegations of violence or abuse and cases involving an international element, including removal from the jurisdiction. Her sensitive manner with clients combined with her advocacy, described in the directories variously as “awesome”, “tenacious”, “effective” and “devastating”, enable her to support her clients successfully through domestic and international litigation. Cleo is also in demand within public law, particularly in cases where the local authority is involved, including those with complex factual backgrounds and significant allegations of harm. Cleo also has a significant public inquiry practice, representing parties in long-running and complex public inquiries. Cleo represents parents and children in disputes concerning children’s living, contact and specific arrangements both domestically and internationally. She brings strategic thinking and a calm but firm approach to contentious cases, and has considerable experience of cases involving allegations of violence, harm, or those involving disputed medical evidence. Her case load is both domestic and international, and she is experienced in dealing with cross-jurisdictional issues, including international adoption, applications to remove children from the jurisdiction and child abduction. Cleo speaks French and Italian. In her public inquiry practice Cleo has acted in the following long running public inquiries and investigations: Cleo acted as leading counsel in the following matters: For the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in Child Protection in Religious Organisations and Settings (IICSA) From 2017 – 2020. For the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in Accountability and Reparations (IICSA) from 2017 – 2018. For the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in Child Sexual Exploitation by Organised Networks from 2017 – 2020. And as junior counsel in the following inquiry: For Lambeth Council in the Lambeth Council investigation (IICSA) from 2016 – 2020. In her public law practice Cleo is recognised for her skilful and professional handling of complex cases. She represents children, parents and local authorities, and deals with cases involving intricate legal issues, including international and domestic adoption, child fatalities and significant abuse, including historical sexual abuse or multiple injuries. She also has expertise in cases concerning radicalisation and in particular families returning from IS controlled Syria.

Cliona Papazian

Cyrus Larizadeh KC

Cyrus Larizadeh QC specialises in the most serious and complex Public and Private Law cases in all matters relating to children. He has a particular expertise in cases involving sexual and emotional abuse, highly complex medical cases relating to FII and allegations of abusive trauma and causing death to children as well as intractable relocation cases and child arrangement disputes. He is well known for his calm, thorough and exceptional advocacy and excellent strategic approach. He is also extremely effective with Direct Access clients. He represents parents, children and local authorities in the most serious and intractable of proceedings at all levels of tribunal but in particular the High Court. Cyrus represented successfully the Access to Justice Foundation in Re S ( 2015) UKSC 20 on appellate costs.. He acted for the alleged killer of Baby P and successfully challenged the medical evidence in the recent Effie Stillwell case – the first case involving EDS IV. Cyrus has appeared in many ground breaking and guideline cases including the MI5 / radicalisation case of Re X Y Z (2016) EWHC 2400 and the end of life case of Re AB (2018) EWFC 3 before Munby P. Cyrus was invited by the Attorney General of Anguilla to present at their Justice Reform Conference in 2018 and to advise on the drafting of their Child Protection Bill. He has trained a delegation of social workers, medical staff and police in evidence gathering in alleged child abuse cases in the Eastern Caribbean. He is a Member of the Magic Circle.

David Bedingfield

David Bedingfield has been published extensively, both here and in the United States, where he practised for 7 years before moving to the United Kingdom in 1990. His book The Child in Need (Jordan’s 1997) was “an essential purchase for Guardians and other child care professionals.“ (Solicitor’s Law Journal.) His text Advocacy in Family Proceedings (Family Law 2007) is in its second edition. The New Law Journal deemed the book “excellent. . . filled with illustrations and examples from sitting judges and other practitioners regarding effective advocacy techniques.” Mr. Bedingfield regularly appears for children and parents involved in international disputes. He is an adjunct professor at the Florida State University College of Law, teaching US Immigration Law and Family Law, and he often appears as an expert witness in care proceedings regarding the placement of children in the United States. Mr. Bedingfield also regularly gives lectures to other legal professionals regarding the international movement of children, care proceedings, and advocacy techniques. He has represented local authorities, parents and children in numerous significant public law matters. He appeared for the appellant/child in Re B (Children) [2010] 1 FLR 1211, [2010] FCR 114, regarding the appropriate standard for the interim removal of children from the care of their birth parents. He appeared for the proposed Special Guardian in the case of P-S (Children) [2018] EWCA Civ 1407, where the Court of Appeal gave guidance regarding Special Guardians and their role in care proceedings. He also appears regularly in judicial review proceedings regarding duties owed by Local Authorities to disabled children. Mr Bedingfield was made a Recorder in 2009. He sits regularly in family, civil and criminal cases.

Deirdre Fottrell KC

Deirdre Fottrell KC specialises in the law relating to children. She is also a leading practitioner in the field of surrogacy and assisted reproduction cases and those in which issues of legal parentage arise. Deirdre sits as a Deputy High Court Judge. She has appeared at all levels of court in the UK including the Supreme Court and the Privy Council and has litigated cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Deirdre has particular expertise as appellate counsel in all areas of children law and surrogacy and she has appeared in the Court of Appeal on over 30 occasions between 2018 and 2024. She has broad experience in complex public law cases in which allegations of sexual abuse, or fatal injury arise and appears in these matters in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal. Deirdre was a university lecturer before coming to the bar. She has taught and published in the area of children’s rights, European human rights and international law. She held academic posts at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London and the University of Essex. From 2002-2012 she was a visiting professor in human rights law at the School of International Aﬀairs at Columbia University in New York. She has acted as a Council of Europe expert on the ECHR and in an advisory capacity to UNIFEM. Children (Private Law) In private law matters she has wide experience in residence and contact disputes acting for high net worth families. She acted for the children in the Al Maktoum litigation before the President of the Family Division in 2019-2021 and in the Court of Appeal. The litigation resulted in 11 reported judgments on aspects of international and domestic law. She oﬀers a vast knowledge of international child law having taught and published as an academic in this area for 15 years. She appeared in many of the leading cases on international abduction, international adoption and the application of 1996 Hague Convention in public and private law cases. She has acted in four international cases in the UK Supreme Court and was successful in the Privy Council C v C (Children) (Jersey) [2019]. Children (Public Law) Deirdre appears in public law cases in the High Court and in the Court of Appeal and is instructed in cases which raise novel points of law or complex evidential matters. She has particular expertise on the interplay between the Human Rights Act 1998 and family law and in cases which involved international issues. International Family Law Deirdre has a particular expertise in international legal issues as they aﬀect children. In 2015-2018 she acted in four cases before the UKSC in which the Court interpreted the 1980 Hague Convention and the Brussels II Regulation; Re R (Children) (Reunite and Others Intervening) UKSC [2016] 35 AC 76, 2 WLR, 1583, Re B (Habitual Residence; Inherent Jurisdiction) [2016] UKSC 4 [2016] 1FLR 561 and Re N (Adoption;Jurisdiction) [2016] UKSC 15 [2016] 1 FLR 1082. Modern Families & Surrogacy Deirdre is a leader in this ﬁeld and has been involved in numerous reported cases involving modern family structures, surrogacy and fertility law. She has appeared in over 60 reported cases in the ﬁeld of surrogacy and fertility law. She acted in AA v PP [2012] 2FLR in which the Family Court first used the HRA 1998 to purposively read s.54 HFEA making a parental order to a deceased parent. She also has particular expertise in fertility law and was counsel in the landmark decisions of HFEA Act 2008 (Re A and others) [2016] 1 WLR 1325 which provided guidance in declaration of parentage cases, she went on to act in 41 cases for families whose parentage had been denied owing to mistakes made by fertility clinics. In 2022 Deirdre obtained the first parental order for an adult in X v Y (Parental Order) [2023] 1 WLR 1493. Deirdre acted for the child in Re S (Inherent Jurisdiction; transgender surgery abroad) [2023] 4 WLR 25.

Dermot Main Thompson

Having joined a broad-based Common Law practice in the earlier years of his career, Dermot has specialised in Family Law for the last fifteen years. He practisies in all areas of public law and international child abduction. Dermot has been in practise for 34 years, appearing principally in the High Court and Courts in the South-East, but was for nearly two years engaged in the North Wales (Waterhouse) Inquiry, instructed on behalf of the Welsh Office. In his spare time Dermot enjoys travelling, and the Theatre and Arts. He is a Sports fan, especially Rugby, Association Football and Cricket.

Dorothea Gartland KC

Dorothea specialises in the law in relation to children. Over the last few years she has continued her particular interest in cases concerning alleged parental alienation and in re-establishing direct contact through Court intervention for children and parents where there has been no contact for several years. In private law work Dorothea is regularly instructed in cases involving international and internal relocation of children and families and has experience of dealing with Hague and non-Hague jurisdictions on both temporary and permanent applications for removal from this jurisdiction. Her practice covers all areas of legal parenthood involving adoption, surrogacy and the legal recognition of parental status. In public law care proceedings she is instructed on behalf of Local Authorities, parents and most often on behalf of the children through their Children’s Guardian in the most serious types of care proceedings involving allegations of sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, serious injury and honour based violence. She has a continuing particular interest in questions of the Court’s jurisdiction in public law cases with an international dimension. Dorothea sits as a Recorder on the South Eastern Circuit. She is instructed to appear at all levels of Court and has been involved in several cases in the Supreme Court.

Elizabeth Couch

Elizabeth is a specialist family practitioner with an emphasis in complex private law children cases (including international family disputes) and matrimonial and Schedule 1 financial claims. Elizabeth joined Chambers having successfully completed her pupillage at 4 Paper Buildings in 2003 and she has developed a busy and expanding practice. She is regularly instructed to represent parents and divorcing spouses in relation to all issues arising out of their separation and practices regularly in both the Principal Registry and the High Court. Elizabeth is a trained collaborative lawyer. She is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and Resolution and regularly lectures to practitioners

Emma Spruce

Emma joined Chambers in October 2019 having successfully completed pupillage within Chambers. Since then, Emma has developed a busy practice across the spectrum of Family Law and has appeared a number of reported cases to date. She is confident acting alone or as Junior Counsel. Emma was shortlisted for “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” in the 2021 Family Law Awards. Other Experience Prior to commencing pupillage, Emma spent time working as a paralegal for two firms: Stewarts in London and Expatriate Law in Dubai. During this time, Emma assisted on a wide range of complex private finance and children matters which involved an international dimension. Emma has also volunteered for the Free Representation Unit and to provide training to expert witnesses at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and continues to volunteer for Rights for Women. Before commencing her legal career, Emma was a keen oarswoman: representing Great Britain and winning the Boat Race for Oxford. Emma remains passionate about programmes with an ‘Access to Sport’ element for children.

Fiona Munro

Fiona is known for her strong advocacy skills built up over years of successful practice and her ability to absorb and process cases with complex factual and expert evidence. She ensures that each client has their case put with clarity and is noted for her persuasiveness. Her case preparation is meticulous and she has a proven track record of putting clients at ease in the most difficult circumstances. Fiona is noted for her expertise in complex care cases and regularly undertakes work at the most serious end of the spectrum, including non-accidental injury (NAI) and sexual abuse, including historic and inter-generational abuse. Whilst much of her work is for the Local Authority she is also instructed for vulnerable parents including those with psychiatric disorders or learning disabilities, as well as for Grandparents and Guardians. Her early years of experience at the Criminal Bar give her a real advantage in cross examination.

Francesca Dowse

Francesca practises exclusively in private family and family related work. Her practice is split between Financial remedies work and private children law children work. She has expertise in dealing with Schedule 1 claims, Inheritance Act (dependents) claims and Inquests/Inquiries. Dealing with both finance and children cases as an advocate allows the client to have continuity across all areas of dispute. Francesca developed a substantial international practice advising client’s all over the world and is easily able to maintain a highly effective international practice. Francesca is often instructed in international disputes particularly in complex offshore matters involving trusts and partnerships in the context of high net worth divorce and on complex international pre-nuptial agreements. She is also often instructed on complex cases involving the movement of children around the world. Francesca has a particular interest in all branches of NCDR and using NCDR to reach resolution. Francesca is a dual qualified arbitrator and has experience hearing both finance and children cases together. This provides a highly effective and efficient resolution. Francesca also accepts Direct Access work, subject to suitability. In addition to being called to the Bar of England and Wales, Francesca has also been called to the Bar of Cayman Islands. From late 2008 to late 2014 Francesca practised as an Attorney for Samson & McGrath in the Cayman Islands. During this time, Francesca appeared before the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal on numerous occasions and was involved in multiple high net worth ‘offshore’ financial remedy cases and international disputes regarding relocation and abduction of children. Non-court dispute resolution Francesca is a dual qualified arbitrator and sits regularly in both areas, and occasionally hearing applications together. Francesca also sits as a private FDR judge and undertakes early neutral evaluations. Family Finance Francesca is a highly regarded senior junior with a busy finance practice including matrimonial and Schedule 1 claims. Francesca also acts in cases related to family law such as Inheritance Act claims or inquests and inquiries. Francesca has a broad spectrum of experience in complex financial remedy work with particular interest in businesses, complex company structures, non-disclosure, pensions and conduct. Francesca is keen to advocate all forms of NCDR and is regularly involved in private FDR’s, arbitrations and sits as a finance arbitrator. Inquests and Public Enquiries Francesca has coronial experience appearing in inquests, representing interested persons and especially bereaved families in matters examining the actions or inactions of medical professionals. She has also acted for insurance companies. Francesca has a sensitive yet robust approach. International Children Law Francesca represents parents in the UK and abroad in cross-jurisdictional disputes and where applications are made for permission to remove a child from the jurisdiction. Francesca has experience practising internationally from her time working in the Cayman Islands and having then brought her practice to London. Private Children Law Francesca practises in all areas of private children work and has a particular interest in relocation case, both internal and international. Francesca also has expertise in representing clients involved in highly acrimonious and lengthy intractable contact and residence disputes. She is often instructed in cases involving allegations of parental alienation and where expert medical evidence is pertinent. Francesca also has considerable experience of cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and is well versed in child protection procedure having initially undertaken public law work. Francesca represents clients seeking injunctions and responding to injunctions, and cases that lead to complex fact-finding hearings.

Frankie Shama

Frankie is a family law barrister accepting instructions in all areas of family law, with a particular focus on private and international children disputes. He has experience representing clients from first to final hearing at all levels up to and including the High Court, including in complex fact-finding hearings and multi-day final hearings. He has also appeared numerous times in the Court of Appeal. He is confident acting alone or as junior counsel. Frankie was shortlisted for Family Law Young Barrister of the Year at the Lexis Nexis Family Law Awards in both 2022 and 2023. Private Children Law Frankie is regularly instructed in complex private law cases concerning child arrangements and appears at all stages of proceedings including fact finding and final hearings. He regularly undertakes work involving allegations of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. Frankie has particular experience in cases involving allegations of alienating behaviours having co-authored A Practical Guide to Parental Alienation in Private and Public Law Children Cases (Law Brief Publishing, 2022) with Sam King KC. He gives lectures and seminars on the subject and has been involved in several cases at fact finding and final hearing stage, including cases involving children represented by r.16.4 guardians and the challenging of expert evidence. He was led by Charles Hale KC on behalf of the father in the matter of Re C (‘Parental Alienation’: Instruction of Expert) [2023] EWHC 345 (Fam), an appeal before the President of the Family Division, in which the court gave essential guidance on the instruction of expert psychologists within disputes involving allegations of alienating behaviours. Frankie has experience of relocation matters, including relocation within and outside of the jurisdiction. He recently represented a mother seeking permission to relocate to Germany in the matter of D v T [2023] EWFC 285, where he successfully cross-examined the Cafcass officer involved, and obtained an order granting permission for her to relocate with the children. Frankie was led by Alex Verdan KC in the Court of Appeal in Re G (Children) (Supervised Contact) [2023] EWCA Civ 1453 where they successfully represented the mother in a case concerning whether the trial Judge had fallen into error in requiring the father to engage in a course of psychotherapy prior to the development of unsupervised contact. Frankie also accepts instructions in matters concerning applications for non-molestation and occupation orders under the Family Law Act 1996. International Children Law Frankie appears in the High Court in child abduction matters pursuant to both the 1980 Hague Convention and the Inherent Jurisdiction. He also has experience of cases involving the recognition and enforcement of foreign orders under the 1996 Hague Convention. He undertakes work at all stages of proceedings, from urgent applications to contested multi-day final hearings. He was led by Ruth Kirby KC in the matter of NT v HT [2021] EWHC 3231, representing the applicant maternal grandparents in a decision which involved consideration of inchoate rights of custody. He also has experience of summary return proceedings involving non-Hague Convention states having successfully represented the respondent mother in the matter of WX v YZ [2021] EWHC 3725, a case concerning an application for summary return of children to Dubai, where he was led by Alex Verdan KC. Frankie was part of the team intervening on behalf of the International Academy of Family Lawyers’ (IAFL) in the appeal to the US Supreme Court in the case of Golan v Saada (No. 20-1034). He contributed to the written amicus brief for this appeal, which focused on the correct approach to Article 13(b) of the 1980 Hague Convention. He was also part of the team intervening on behalf of the IAFL in the seminal case of London Borough of Hackney v P & Ors [2023] EWCA Civ 1213, where the Court of Appeal clarified the relevant date for determining habitual residence pursuant to Article 5 of the 1996 Hague Convention. Family Finance Frankie undertakes work in financial remedy proceedings at all stages of proceedings including FDAs, FDRs and final hearings. He has experience in claims under section 37 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, and matters involving alleged disposition of property and other assets to defeat a claim. Frankie further represents clients in proceedings brought under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Frankie also has experience in contested divorce proceedings. He was Junior Counsel to Charles Hale KC in the matter of Boughajdim v Hayoukane [2022] EWHC 2673. He successfully represented the petitioner wife in a decision in which Mr Justice MacDonald considered the question of whether the petitioner’s divorce petition should be allowed to proceed in this jurisdiction, based on a marriage that has been recognised by the Moroccan court and registered in Morocco pursuant to legislation designed to provide retrospective recognition of marriage in that jurisdiction. Public Children Law Frankie undertakes work at all stages of public law proceedings. He represents the local authority, parents and guardians alike, and has experience in matters involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse within care proceedings. He appeared un-led, successfully representing the local authority in the Court of Appeal in Re B (A Child) [2021] EWCA Civ 1221. This case considered whether the court had struck the correct balancing exercise in refusing to dispense with the requirement that a local authority give notice of care proceedings to a father who did not have parental responsibility for the subject child. More recently, he appeared in Re C (A Child) (Ability to Instruct Solicitor) [2023] EWCA Civ 889, representing the mother in a successful appeal to the Court of Appeal against an order to join an severely alienated child to proceedings and allow them to instruct their own solicitor in circumstances where part of the judicial consideration had derived from evidence improperly gathered during a meeting between the Judge and child. Surrogacy Frankie represents applicants in applications for parental orders pursuant to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. As part of this work and his wider practice he has experience working with LGBT parents and families. Training/Publications A Practical Guide to Parental Alienation in Private and Public Law Children Cases (Law Brief Publishing, 2022) ‘The use of experts in private children family disputes involving allegations of parental alienation’, The Barrister (April 2023)

Greg Davies

Greg is a children law specialist who is known for his expertise in difficult circumstances. He acts for parents and guardians in disputes regarding children’s living arrangements and when local authorities have issued care proceedings. He is calm and composed under pressure, and a measured yet passionate advocate of his client’s case. Alongside his mainstream practice, Greg has expertise and experience in the more technical aspects of children law including special guardianship, fact-finding hearings, temporary or permanent relocation of children and child abduction. He understands the particular issues involved where there are allegations of physical and sexual abuse, substance abuse, domestic violence, emotional harm and neglect. He is experienced in parental alienation cases and other circumstances where contact between parents and children has broken down. Greg also acts for parents, guardians and local authorities in adoption and care proceedings. Together with leading counsel he acted in a case that had been listed for a seven week fact finding hearing in the High Court; securing the return of the client’s child to her care. Greg regularly acts for clients who are survivors of domestic violence and is a sensitive and committed representative in negotiations and in court. His attention to detail and ability to achieve practical, lasting solutions in difficult circumstances is remarked upon by clients. He is familiar with concurrent criminal proceedings and Public Interest Immunity applications. Greg has experience of working with indigenous rights groups in New Zealand and volunteered for the Human Rights Commission in Auckland. He has worked in the UK with children with emotional behavioural difficulties, epilepsy and autistic spectrum disorder. He is involved in overseas projects addressing children’s rights in conflict zones. He has worked with government officials, UN agencies and NGOs in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the treatment of Palestinian children by the Israeli military (Children in Military Custody).

Harry Langford

Harry specialises in the law relating to children, particularly proceedings with an international element. He is regularly instructed in abduction matters, jurisdiction disputes, internal and international relocation cases, and forced marriage and FGM proceedings. He is widely recognised for his technical legal expertise at first instance and on appeal. Harry has appeared at all levels of the family courts up to and including the Court of Appeal. He is known for his persuasive advocacy, excellent drafting and forensic cross-examination. Harry often appears against more senior counsel, and gives sensitive, pragmatic advice. Harry joined Chambers in October 2019 following successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Michael Gration, Stephen Lyon and Chris Barnes. Harry was shortlisted for “Family Law Young Barrister of the Year” in the 2020 Family Law Awards and contributes to the international children law chapters in Rayden & Jackson. Before joining Chambers, Harry worked at the Court of Appeal of England and Wales as the judicial assistant to Lady Justice Black DBE (as she then was) and Lord Justice Moylan, the immediate past and current Head of International Family Justice. Harry also worked as a case management lawyer in the Civil Appeals Office, providing assistance to the specialist family Lords and Lady Justices of Appeal. During his studies, Harry undertook a traineeship in the Office of the President of the European Court of Human Rights. Harry has also worked in politics as a Parliamentary Assistant for a Birmingham MP, and as a volunteer on President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign in the key swing state of Ohio. International Harry appears in the High Court in child abduction matters pursuant to both the 1980 Hague Convention and the Inherent Jurisdiction. He is regularly instructed in disputes relating to jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement proceedings, international relocation cases, and forced marriage and FGM proceedings. Harry appeared in the Court of Appeal (Moylan, Baker and Phillips LJJ) in the case of Re B [2020] EWCA Civ 1187, [2020] 4 WLR 149 concerning third state returns under the 1980 Hague Convention Private Children Law Harry is regularly instructed in complex private law cases, including those relating to relocation, domestic violence, and coercive control. He also acts for both applicants and respondents in non-molestation and occupation order proceedings. Harry regularly appears for parents in cases before the Family Court concerning the international relocation of families. Public Children Law Harry acts for parents, Guardians and local authorities within care proceedings in particular in cases with an international element. He appeared as junior counsel (led by Alison Grief QC) for the local authority in Re H (A Child) (Parental Responsibility: Vaccination) [2020] EWCA Civ 664, [2020] 3 WLR 1049. The Court of Appeal considered the principles to be applied where a dispute arises between a local authority and parents as to whether a child subject to a care order should be vaccinated. He also appeared as junior counsel for the Applicant local authority in London Borough of Tower Hamlets v Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 832 (Fam), [2020] 3 FCR 490. The case involved the novel use of the High Court’s inherent jurisdiction to restrain the publication and dissemination of confidential information that had been inadvertently disclosed within adoption proceedings. Court of Protection Harry accepts instructions in relation to Court of Protection matters, particularly where there is a cross over with family proceedings. He is regularly instructed in proceedings where the Official Solicitor represents the interests of a party in care and private law proceedings. Inquests and Public Inquiries In his public inquiry practice, Harry was instructed by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets who were a Core Participant in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s investigation into institutional responses to the sexual exploitation of children by organised gangs. Publications/Training Harry is a contributor to the chapters on international children’s law in Rayden and Jackson.

Harry Nosworthy

Harry is an experienced family lawyer who specialises in financial remedy proceedings and private law children proceedings. Financial remedy work Harry advises and represents clients in all aspects of the relationship breakdown between married and unmarried couples. He has expertise in dealing with complex financial remedy claims involving significant assets, company structures, off shore trusts, pensions and the intervention of third parties. Harry also has experience in financial claims arising under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, and Child Support Agency Tribunal proceedings and appeals. Harry is often instructed to advise and represent clients in respect of cohabitee claims, and TOLATA proceedings. Private law children proceedings Harry represents parents and children in all disputes concerning living and contact arrangements, including applications to remove children permanently from the jurisdiction. Harry was appointed a member of the Children Arbitration Research Committee Group, which assisted in the establishment of the Family Law Arbitration Children Scheme. He was also led by Alex Verdan QC in the first private law children early neutral evaluation. Harry also frequently delivers seminars to solicitors, and is a regular contributor to Family Law Week and Family Law.

Harry Gates

Harry is a barrister focusing on high-value financial disputes and contentious private law children cases. Combining technical expertise with emotional intelligence, Harry is noted for his calmness under fire, meticulous preparation and ability to build rapport with clients, opponents and judges alike and is recognised as a leader in his field in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Spears and the Tatler High Net Worth Guide. Away from the courtroom, Harry is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR). Together with Samantha Woodham, a fellow member of chambers, Harry is co-founder of The Divorce Surgery, a unique service which allows couples to obtain joint, impartial expert legal advice at any stage of their separation, with a view to minimising conflict and costs: www.thedivorcesurgery.co.uk. The Divorce Surgery has won numerous industry awards. The former President of the Family Division, Sir James Munby, has said: ‘The Divorce Surgery is a striking example of what can be achieved by those with the vision to see outside traditional approaches. Samantha Woodham and Harry Gates are to be congratulated for their bold innovation, which we should all wish well and hope to see extended’. Harry appears regularly in the print and broadcast media on matters to do with NCDR and in 2022 co-wrote a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot (Harper Collins, 2022). Harry has a reputation as an even-handed and diligent private FDR evaluator in matrimonial finance cases. Family Finance Ranked as a leading junior in the major directories for many years, Harry advises and represents clients about the financial consequences of divorce. Noted by the market for his comprehensive understanding of technically complex matters and meticulous case preparation, he is often instructed in cases with multi-jurisdictional issues, involving trusts and corporate assets, and also advises in relation to less commonplace financial matters such as child maintenance appeals, enforcement actions, foreign court orders, and costs cases. Harry also has expertise in advising unmarried clients about the financial impact of separation and in connection with financial support for their children (‘Schedule 1 claims’). Harry is regularly instructed as a private FDR evaluator. Non-court dispute resolution Harry’s years of experience in practice have provided a good vantage point to see that, for the right cases, NCDR can bring a much more efficient, cost-effective and dignified outcome for families. Harry is in demand as a private FDR evaluator. In 2018 he, and fellow barrister Samantha Woodham, set up The Divorce Surgery, which was the first regulated law firm to enable separating couples to share a lawyer on divorce. The Divorce Surgery was then named as one of the FT50 most innovative law firms in Europe. Over the ensuing years, sharing a lawyer has become an established part of the legal landscape on divorce (the ‘one couple one lawyer’ concept is specifically referenced in the 2024 changes to the Pre-application Protocol). Harry appears regularly in print and broadcast media and together with Samantha was commissioned by Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot. Private Children Law Unusually, Harry has maintained his private children law practice alongside his financial work, which makes him a natural choice when the same counsel is sought to advise on both aspects. Harry is often instructed at the earliest stages, where advice is sought on all issues pre-proceedings, or where the children aspects have a linked financial component. Harry has extensive experience of advising upon and litigating cases where one party is seeking to relocate, within or outside the jurisdiction.

Hassan Khan

Established practice in international children/vulnerable adult cases. In particular he advises and appeals in court in respect of cases of: international parental child abduction; Brussels II Revised Regulation; wardship and inherent jurisdiction; vulnerable adults; forced marriage; stranded spouses; relocation; care proceedings (with international element); inter-country adoption; international surrogacy.

Henry Setright KC

Henry Setright KC was called to the English Bar in 1979 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2001. He has for many years specialised in international children’s and family work at the highest level, including cases in the UK Supreme Court, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Human Rights, the House of Lords, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court, and as lead English counsel in two cases on Amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court. He has (so far) appeared in more than 130 leading cases reported in the English Family Law Reports, a total not to date equalled by any other member of the Bar. His work to date has included (for example) consideration of issues relating to acquiescence, adoption, asylum, attempted assassination, care proceedings, children’s representation, children’s views, conflict and transfer of jurisdiction in public and private law cases, custody rights, diplomatic privilege, forced marriage, habitual residence, domestic violence, human rights, immigration, marriage, relocation, risk of harm, Sharia law, settlement, international and domestic surrogacy, and welfare in the context of international family litigation. International work at the highest domestic level has since 2005 included 5 cases in the House of Lords and 8 cases in the UKSC, four of which – A v A [2013] UKSC 60, KL [2013] UKSC 75, LC [2014] UKSC 1, and K [2014] UKSC 29 – have been heard in the last 12 months. In October 2009 he appeared in Re: I UKSC 10 [2010], on jurisdiction and the interface in a non EU (Anglo-Pakistan) case with the Brussels II revised regulation – it was the first Family case in the UK Supreme Court. He led an English team presenting a brief in the landmark rights of custody appeal of Abbott v Abbott, the first 1980 Hague Convention case to be heard in the United States Supreme Court (judgment in USSC 17th May 2010), and in the subsequent Hague Settlement case of Lozano v Alvarez, also in the USSC, judgment 5th March 2014 . He has also appeared in Hague Convention cases in the ECtHR, notably Ignaccola-Zenide v Romania, Carlsson v Switzerland, and, leading an English team, in the landmark Grand Chamber case of X v Latvia, judgment 26th November 2013. He appeared in the first family case referred by the English Court of Appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union (Mercredi v Chaffe Case C 497/10 PPU judgment 23rd December 2010) on habitual residence in children’s cases. He appeared in May 2014 in a second CJEU case referred by the English Court of Appeal, E v B, judgment currently awaited. The 2014 Family Law Reports (as of early June 2014) feature nine of his recent cases. Other cases include Chief Constable and Another v YK and others [2010] EWCA Fam 2438) in relation to disclosure and the conduct of forced marriage hearings, on marriage/immigration policy R (Bibi) v Secretary of State for the Home Department) [2011] UKSC 45 EWCA Civ 1482, and In addition to his court appearances, he lectures regularly in England and internationally at conferences and seminars. He is the author of numerous articles on international family law, and is co-author of International Parental Child Abduction (Jordans/Family Law). He is one of the originators of, and sits on the steering group of, the Reunite/Nuffield Foundation pilot scheme for mediation in child abduction cases, and assisted in the drafting of the Forced Marriages Bill introduced by Lord Lester of Herne Hill in late 2006, and now passed into law.

Henry Clayton

Henry is a specialist matrimonial finance barrister recognised in leading legal directories, Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, for his work with high net worth clients in financial remedy proceedings (often in the context of private FDRs or arbitrations) and ‘commended for his grasp of complex issues’. His practice focuses on the financial consequences of divorce and the breakdown of cohabiting relationships, as well as financial disputes relating to children or incapacitated adults involving the Court of Protection. He is a tenacious advocate with a keen eye for detail and a thorough understanding of business and finance. His cases often have an international element and/or accountancy issues. He has appeared in a number of reported cases and is regularly led by silks (leading counsel). Family Finance Henry is known for his technical understanding of corporate financial structures, and is in demand from clients seeking a barrister with a good understanding of the commercial world. Before being called to the bar, Henry worked for a commercial law firm. He regularly represents clients in cases with international dimensions and has a comprehensive understanding of multi-jurisdictional disputes (including Part III of the MFPA 1984). He was junior counsel in the reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union on the operation of the lis pendens provisions in the Brussels IIA regulation, reported as A v B C-489/14. In AAZ v BBZ [2016] EWHC 3234 (Fam) he was junior counsel for the Wife who was awarded over £450million. At time of writing, this is the largest ever reported matrimonial finance award. In addition to matrimonial and civil partnership financial cases, Henry advises and represents unmarried couples and parents in relation to financial disputes. He also has considerable experience in more unusual financial matters such as child maintenance appeals, insolvency, varying foreign court orders and costs cases. Court of Protection Henry has experience of Court of Protection work, particularly property & affairs cases concerning the financial consequences of a loss of capacity. Non-court dispute resolution Henry accepts instructions to act as a private FDR judge or early neutral evaluator in Family Finance cases.

Indu Kumar

Indu has a busy practice within chambers and has gained experience across multiple levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Indu is experienced in both private children and international children law. She is regularly instructed in child abduction and wardship proceedings and represents clients at all stages of these proceedings, in internal and external relocation cases and cases involving serious allegations of domestic abuse and ‘intractable hostility’ between parents. She also represents clients at all stages of financial remedy proceedings and is experienced in injunctive proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996. Indu is regularly praised for her reassuring and calm manner with clients and her ability to listen carefully to their concerns enabling them to feel confident in her abilities. Indu won the Jordans Family Law Award for Young Family Barrister of the year 2017. Away from court, Indu has presented seminars to solicitors and other legal professionals on a range of family law topics. Prior to commencing pupillage, Indu worked as a Family Paralegal for Practical Law, where she helped to establish the family know how service. She also volunteered for Just for Kids Law as a legal caseworker in the Education and Community Care department.

Jacqueline Renton

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. International Children 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) Private Children Law 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. Publications/Training Lead editor of the international section of ‘Rayden and Jackson’.

James Copley

James specialises in matrimonial finance, particularly cases involving complex property/trust issues, including cases involving offshore corporate structures and allegations of non-disclosure of assets. James regularly acts on behalf of intervenors including trustees of family trusts, mortgagees and trustees in bankruptcy. James also has considerable experience in other aspects of family financial work such as inheritance act claims, applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and cohabitation cases where the ownership of the family home is disputed by virtue of constructive/resulting trusts or estoppel.

James Shaw

James’ practice encompasses all areas of public law children work. He acts for local authorities, parents and children. He has appeared in many cases involving complex issues of medical evidence involving allegations of non accidental injury and sexual abuse. James is equally familiar with cases involving psychiatric and psychological issues as well as international and immigration aspects. James appears at all levels of court. James has presented seminars and provided articles for the New Law Journal on Family Law Matters. When work allows, James enjoys sport, in particular, Horse Racing, Golf and Tennis.

James Nottage

James started pupillage in October 2023 and is currently under the supervision of Nicholas Fairbank. In the year before he started pupillage, James was the judicial assistant to Lord Justice Peter Jackson and Lord Justice Baker at the Court of Appeal. He was then selected to stay on at the Court of Appeal as one of two vacation judicial assistants, undertaking more work for those Lord Justices of Appeal, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Moylan, among others. In his time at the Court of Appeal, he wrote bench memos and conducted legal research across the whole breadth of family law, as well as helping with speeches and lectures. Before turning to the law, James qualified as a social worker through the graduate programme Frontline. He then practised as a child protection social worker for two London local authorities.

Jane Rayson

Jane is a Trustee and member of the management committee of Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit). Publications Joint author (with Paul Mallender) of The Civil Partnership Act 2004: A practical Guide. Blackstones Guide to Family Law Act 1996; How to make applications in the Family Proceedings Court (Blackstones) 1st and 2nd edition Contributor to Rayden

Jo Delahunty KC

Jo specializes in contentious and highly complex cases at High Court level and above involving: • The death of/catastrophic injuries to a child • Non Accidental Head Injury (NAHI)/ Shaken baby allegations ( TRIAD cases) • Vitamin D/Rickets/EDS/genetic disorders and congenital malformations which can mimic child abuse • Fabricated Induced Illness (FII) allegations • ISIS cases: alleged radicalisation of children/ risk of flight to Syria • Sexual abuse (Intergenerational/ Inter sibling/ maternal rape/ genital mutilation/ internet exploitation) • Ritualized child abuse/cultural practices such as Kndoki • Child protection cases involving concurrent criminal prosecution for attempted murder/ child cruelty and neglect/ sex offences • Parent or subject child with disabilities (with a particular interest in Child in Need issues, learning disability issues and the rights of, and services for, a disabled child and/or adult parent within care proceedings) • Cases involving cross examination of a child or vulnerable adult • Re-litigation/challenge to historic findings of abuse based on emerging science/ fresh factual evidence. Complex private law proceedings involving allegations of domestic abuse and coercive, controlling behaviour, physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect of a child or alleged parental/partner abuse). Transfer of residence applications and contact disputes. Jo has delivered training to the judiciary and social care professionals on DA/CCB and Vulnerability following her work in RE HN. Alongside her practice in the Family Division, Jo Delahunty KC worked alongside Mike Mansfield KC and Barristers from Garden Court Chambers and Doughty Street to represent 77 families at the Hillsborough inquests. On 26.4.16 the longest running Inquest in English legal history came to an end and the jury found that the 96 victims of the disaster who died on 15.4.89 were unlawfully killed and that no fan behaviour caused or contributed to the deaths. Jo Delahunty KC was responsible for leading the team on behalf of 77 families that successfully exposed the failures of the South Yorkshire Ambulance Service to respond to the disaster and the jury found that those failings were so fundamental that they led to or caused loss of life. Jo has been ranked as a ‘Band 1, Leading Silk’ by Chambers and Partners in successive editions including the most current She has been named a ‘Tier 1, Leading Silk by The Legal 500 in successive editions including the most current Jo has been selected by her peers to be included in the Eighth Edition of The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for her work in Family Law. Jo has been included as one of 100 ‘Women of Distinction’ in Middle Temple’s exhibition ‘Celebrating a Century of Women in Law‘ Professional speaking and publications Jo will be speaking at the Cumberland Lodge on 10 May 2024 with Vice Chair Leslie Samuels KC, Prof Owen Arthurs and Dr Patrick Cartlidge on ‘Experts in the Family Court Room, a follow up to a Gresham lecture ‘Medical Experts in the Family Court’ talk she gave last year. In June, she will join ITT and the Bridging The Bar Graduation Day. She has also been invited to Jersey by the Family Division to speak and deliver training to their judiciary and court services on the court’s management of domestic abuse and ccb in October. Jo has had numerous articles published in legal journals (Family Law, Counsel, Law Soc Gazette etc.) and has also gained acclaim for her talks delivered to Barristers, Solicitors, social workers, medical professionals and the public not just on the detail of child protection law but on wider issues affecting the profession such as harassment and bullying, (in)equality at the Bar, work place pressures at The Bar. Jo has spoken on joint platforms with speakers who are as passionate about child protection and fairness and equality issues as she is. Notably: Resolution keynote speech (2022) Justice (2022) Bar Council ( 2021) FLBA (Multiple) The Bar and Young Bar Conference (2021) Australian NSW Annual Child Protection Conference (2020 and 2021) She has delivered training to the judiciary on domestic abuse and ccb and vulnerable parties. She lectured on Coercive Control to the Sussex Family Justice Board Annual Training event 2021. Jo sat on the Bar Council Bullying and Wellbeing Summit in 2022 Jo sat on the panel for the Bar Council Race Summit roundtable discussions in Sept 2021 Jo is on the Nuffield Research Project on disability and the child protection system . Jo actively supports the MT, MTYBA & MTSA ; eg, the International Women’s Day Event where speakers discussed intersectionality, diversity, equality and current topical issues within the profession, Middle Temple ‘Survive & Thrive – Judge: Friend or Foe’ on the relationship between Advocates and Members of the Judiciary. Jo has been interviewed by BBC Radio 4 for ‘The World Tonight’ where she discussed the significance and importance of the Bar Councils Judicial Bullying Guidance. Jo was on national TV interviewed by NewsNight (Dec 2021) on the issue of children on the child protection register killed by parents. Her interviews for the Advocacy Podcast Brief 15 on ‘Winning the Unwinnable Cases’ (Feb 22) and Brief 16 ‘Understanding the Unfamiliar’ (June 22) have over 1000 + downloads. Jo’s podcast for Resolution No 6 “The Right Thing to Do” hosted by Anita Mehta and Simon Blain (Oct 21) led to an invitation to give the keynote speech at the Resolution Conference in March 2022 and a follow up Resolution interview with Jo is to be published by Counsel on March 2023 Jo gave the keynote speech at the Young Lawyers Making Change Conference 2021. The conference is aimed at junior and aspiring social welfare lawyers practising legal aid. “The most destructive thought” interview can be viewed here. Jo’s interview for episode 9 ‘The Leaky Pipeline’ of the ‘First 100 Years’ podcast is available online. Publications and Teaching Jo Delahunty KC was appointed Professorship of Law to Gresham College (Est 1597) in 2016-2020. She was appointed Emeritus Professor of Law Gresham College (for life) and made a Fellow of Gresham College in 2020; She has also been appointed to sit on Council and has been made a Trustee of Gresham College. This role is taken up alongside her full time silk practice and Recorder Duties. https://www.gresham.ac.uk/news/jo-delahunty-appointed-emeritus-professor-of-law As Emeritus Professor of Law Jo will continue to give public lectures for Gresham periodically. Her most recent lecture took place on 19th January 2023 with Professor Owen Arthurs on the interface between medicine and law in family cases; `Medical Experts in the Family Court: where two worlds collide’ This continues the 421-year-old tradition of delivering free public lectures within the City of London at Bernard’s Inn and via live streamed web to the UK and internationally. Jo’s previous lectures and notes are available to download via the Gresham website. Her final lecture for Gresham College as their Professor of Law was delivered, on 1st April 2021, ‘Diversity in the Legal Profession’. With invited guests, Derek Sweeting KC, Chair of the Bar Council, Brie Stevens- Hoare KC, Mass Ndow Njie (creator of Bridging The Bar) and Toby Stevens. The Practice of Law (2019-2020) 1. Have Women Achieved Professional Equality? 100 Years since the Sex Disqualification (Removal) 2. 100 Years of Women in Law 3. Can the Law Keep Up With Changes in Society? 4. The Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Barrister 5. The Law is Broken: The Future of Legal Aid 6. Diversity in the Legal Profession Challenges in the Family Justice System (2018-19) 1. Ethics In and Out of the Court Room 2. Sexual Harassment at the Bar 3. The 30th Anniversary of The Children Act 1989: Is It Still Fit For Purpose? 4. Politics and the Legal Profession 5. The Child and Medical Treatment: The Chance to Live, or to Die with Dignity? 6. Wellbeing at the Bar? Is a Family Lawyer’s Work all Stress and Distress? Transparency in the Family Justice System (2017-18) 1. Women Lawyers: Equals At The Bar? 2. What Do Judges Do in the Family Court? 3. Vulnerable Clients and The Family Justice System 4. Dealing with Sex Abuse: How Does the Family Court Assess Risk? 5. The Child in the Family Court Room: Whose Child is it Anyway? 6. Transparency in the Family Court: What Goes On Behind Closed Doors? When Worlds Collide: The Family and the Law (2016-17) 1. Sex Death and Witchcraft: What Goes On In the Family Court Room? 2. Is One Individual’s Radicalism another’s Right to Free Speech? 3. When Legal Worlds Collide 4. Guilty Until Proven Innocent 5. Expert Witness: a Zero Sum Game? 6. ‘Two Point One Children’: Why There Is No Typical Family in The Family Court Corporate Speaking Profile Alongside her public speaking engagements for lawyers, Jo is in demand for talks to the business community and corporate industry on issues such as leadership and teamwork, coping under pressure and transferable skills please see: https://harveythorneycroft.co.uk/speakers/professor-jo-delahunty-qc/ Organisations she has been invited to deliver talks to include; International Trade and Tourism (ITT), Croatia 2020/MSC Cruises 2021/Istanbul 2022 Quadranture Amadeus (Malaga) AFC Bournmouth Australia NSW Child Protection Conference (Sydney; 2019 & 2020) Brilliant Minds Showcase MKM Builders Opex Leaders Europe Conference – ‘Big Ideas’ invited speaker Typical subjects include- ‘The importance of transparent and effective communication within the company and with the public.’; ‘Change and Challenge; how to make it work for you and your customers.’; ‘Risk taking and strategic thinking.’ Articles Jo writes for specialist legal journals – including ‘Counsel’ Magazine and ‘The Barrister’ and is a regular invited contributor to the Jordan’s Family Law monthly periodical.For Counsel, examples include ‘the Day in the life…of a child protection silk’ where she discusses the exhilaration and endurance challenge of working to the max as a child abuse public lawyer; ‘PTSD and working in an underfunded sector’; ‘On the shoulder of giants’ discussing gender equality in the Bar. Jo wrote for ‘The Barrister’ on ‘Wellbeing at the Bar? Is a Legal Aid Lawyer’s Work All Stress and Distress?’ and on ‘Politics and the law: Where do we draw the line?’; Articles for Jordans Family Law cover the wide spectrum of her cases; ie a 3 part series on the Rights of Parents with Disabilities in the Family Justice System , ‘The 30th anniversary of the Children Act 1989: is it still fit for purpose?’; ‘The child and medical treatment: the chance to live, or to die with dignity?’ Previous articles published by Jordan’s have sought to explain the ramifications of emerging research on childhood disease and suspected child abuse and natural disease mimicking inflicted injury, the role of experts in family proceedings, and issues arising within alleged Radicalism cases confronting family practitioners and the Family Division. In April 2024, Jo’s article on why ‘Children must stay the focus when parental contact breaks down’ was published in The Times. Her article ‘Public Law and private law: two sides of the same coin?’ was published in the Solicitors Gazette.

Joanne Brown

Jo works solely in public law appearing in the Family Court, Family Division and Court of Appeal conducting serious public law cases concerning infant fatality, poisoning, factitious and induced illness, non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Jo represents children, parents (and other family members or intervenors), and local authorities. Jo’s rapid forensic analysis, incisive advocacy, and sensitive but robust witness handling in situations of high conflict is fundamental to her ability to protect and advance her client’s interests and ensure the best outcomes in care proceedings. Her recent cases include: • Led a junior colleague in the High Court against three silks representing an intervenor, pro bono, in care proceedings at a four-week fact-finding hearing where the intervenor faced allegations of poisoning a severely disabled child with salt. The intervenor was entirely exonerated from any harm suffered by the child. • Represented the mother as junior counsel in an infant fatality in a complex medical case in the High Court where one twin had died and, acting alone in the subsequent hearings relating to the media applications to report the names of the parents and the deceased child in the ongoing murder trial. • Represented a sixteen year old child who required an interpreter and an intermediary in care proceedings where allegations of sexual abuse had been made against them by their younger sibling. A narrative was agreed without either child having to give evidence and for threshold findings to be made without findings being made against the child. • Appeared for the child in the Court of Appeal in conjoined appeals relating to s20 accommodation. • Represented the child in care proceedings with a preliminary argument on jurisdiction, a fact-finding determination as a discrete issue at the final hearing before the hearing on welfare. Factually complex as the mother had injured the child in a psychotic episode, and there were cross-allegations of domestic abuse and substance misuse. The competing placement options were with the father in England, with paternal family in England, or with the mother and maternal grandparents with permission to permanently remove from the jurisdiction. • Led a junior barrister against two silks. Acting for infant child who had sustained serious head injuries. Complex medical evidence re child’s prematurity. • Appeared for the child in the Court of Appeal in appeal against findings of fact. • Represented local authority in care proceedings with a complex background of NAI, domestic and emotional abuse where the mother had prevented contact to father and made false allegations that he had inflicted injury to child. Successfully implemented a case strategy seeking findings of NAI against mother and partner, findings against mother relating to the false allegations and, after assessment, the child was placed with father. • Represented grandparent against whom allegations of sexual abuse were made in care proceedings. Successfully challenged the investigation identifying multiple breaches of the ABE guidelines and good practice and no findings were made. • Represented local authority in care proceedings with legal and procedural complexities where the parents were deaf and the children were hearing requiring BSL interpreters and deaf relays. • Represented mother of infant who had been injured where mother and former partner were in the pool of potential perpetrators. Cross examination of the partner elicited an admission that he had inflicted the injury and child was rehabilitated to mother. • Led junior colleague representing two younger children against four silks where one child had made allegations of sexual abuse against an older subject child who was separately represented. • Represented teenage girl who was alleging sexual abuse by three family members – one deceased and two young men. Cultural issues in relation to the family background were relevant to the findings sought and sensitive cross examination was required. Findings were made. • Representing father accused of sexual abuse and infecting his child with gonorrhoea. Complex medical evidence relating to the incubation and transmission of disease. Reported cases Re A (a child) [2011] EWHC 517 Westminster City Council v M, F & H [2017] EWHC 518 Westminster City Council v H [2017] EWHC 1221 Kent County Council v A, M & Ors (Hair strand testing) [2017] EWFC B104

John Tughan KC

John has been a care practitioner since he was called to the Bar in 1991. He is routinely instructed in the most complex cases, including fact-finding hearings, final hearings and appeals. Those cases include expert medical evidence at the most complex end of the range and John is well known as an expert cross-examiner of such experts. His client care skills and ability to work as part of a team are also well known. John is also experienced in media management and the legal framework involved. Those skills translate to John’s Private Law practice which includes intractable disputes, client management, the interplay between private disputes and all of the fact-finding issues and allegations that can arise in such proceedings. John has experience in Judicial Review proceedings that include issues of family law. Publications/Training John has written the Public Law update for Family Law Week for many years.

Jonathan Rustin

Jonathan is an accomplished barrister with a comprehensive practice in all aspects of family law, specialising in matters concerning children. He possesses extensive expertise in representing clients across both public and private law proceedings, dealing with the most serious allegations of harm including inflicted injuries, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, emotional harm, parental alienation, neglect and fabricated and fictitious illness. Jonathan has extensive experience in cases involving jurisdictional issues and child abduction. He is known as a hard-working, calm and confident advocate, who represents clients with a keen attention to detail. Jonathan is a co-author of a chapter in Rayden and Jackson on ‘Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children’. He has written articles in Family Law Week and regularly delivers seminars, most recently on Domicile and Jurisdiction, Domestic Abuse and the Voice of the Child. Jonathan volunteers for Jewish Women’s Aid, providing advice and representation to women affected by domestic abuse. Public Children Law Jonathan is regularly instructed to represent local authorities, parents and guardians in public law proceedings. He acts in complex cases, including lengthy fact finding hearings dealing with allegations of sexual abuse and inflicted injury, featuring complex medical evidence and evidence from children. Jonathan has experience of Hague Convention adoptions and his analysis of the applicable law was adopted by the Court in the recent case of Re A (foreign adoption) [2023] EWFC 221. His practice encompasses secure accommodation orders, forced marriage, FGM and more commonly deprivation of liberty. Jonathan is experienced in special guardianship. He was led in the Court of Appeal in Re A (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 2240, concerning the merits of a judge’s decision to make a special guardianship order in favour of a one-year-old child’s foster carer, as opposed to his family in Ghana. International Children Law Jonathan regularly represents applicants and respondents in child abduction proceedings, whether under the 1980 Hague Convention or the Court’s inherent jurisdiction. He has extensive experience of wardship proceedings, including in ‘stranded spouse’ cases. Jonathan recently represented the applicant in the matter of F v M [2024] EWHC 1887 (Fam), seeking the summary return of the child pursuant to the 1980 Hague Convention, in which Peel J praised Jonathan’s ‘high quality, focussed, written and oral advocacy.’ Private Children Law Jonathan is frequently instructed in private law matters including representing children’s guardians in complex cases. He has specialist expertise dealing with allegations of domestic or sexual abuse, religious identity and background, health, internal and international relocations and intractable disputes, often involving allegations of parental alienation. Family Finance Jonathan has represented clients at each stage of financial remedy proceedings, including jurisdictional disputes. He was led in the Court of Appeal in the matter of Kelly v Pyres [2018] EWCA Civ 1368, dealing with the issue of whether the wife had acquired a domicile of choice in England, so as to establish the Court’s jurisdiction.

Jonathan Evans

Jonathan’s practice focuses particularly on disputes following separation and divorce, both financial and about children, including matters such as where the children will live, how often they will see the parent with whom they don’t live, schooling, health matters and relocations. He also has a busy practice in international children law, regularly appearing in the High Court in child abduction proceedings, both Hague and non-Hague and wardship proceedings. Jonathan has particular expertise in ‘stranded spouse’ cases and is instructed for parents in leave to remove applications to both Hague and non-Hague countries. Children’s arrangements Jonathan is a calm, assured advocate and adviser and is experienced at representing parents in disputes about what is best for the children after divorce or separation, whether domestic or international, and no matter how intractable the dispute. He has also represented children’s guardians in particularly difficult cases. Financial remedies Jonathan also advises and represents clients in court applications about the financial consequences of divorce and separation, including those with a foreign aspect, emergency injunctions and complex assets. He has appeared at all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and has a particular interest in jurisdictional disputes. He also has a growing reputation in acting for parents making financial applications for children under Schedule 1, and cohabitants’ claims. International Children Jonathan regularly represents both applicants and respondents in child abduction proceedings both under the Hague Convention and in cases involving non-Hague countries. He has wide experience of wardship proceedings, including cases involving a ‘stranded spouse’ and is regularly instructed in leave to remove applications to both Hague and non-Hague countries. Domestic abuse proceedings Jonathan has experience of representing both those subjected to and those facing allegations of domestic abuse in proceedings for protective orders under the Family Law Act. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys playing and watching most sports, particularly cricket and football. He also plays the bassoon.

Jonathan Nosworthy

Jonathan Nosworthy is head of the St Philips Family Finance Team. Jonathan is ranked in Band One in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as a specialist financial remedy practitioner. He provides advice and representation in cases involving all aspects of the financial consequences of marriage, civil partnership and other domestic relationship breakdown. He has considerable expertise in dealing with very complex financial remedy claims involving large quantities of paperwork. He is particularly adept in dealing with cases involving substantial assets, business assets, overseas assets, pensions, trusts and the intervention of third parties. Further, he has significant experience in conducting cases involving applications to preserve assets (freezing orders) and involving applications to set aside transactions. He also has extremely detailed knowledge of the law in relation to trusts of land and Schedule One of the Children Act 1989. Jonathan is one of the authors of “Cohabitation Claims – A Resolution Guide.” He has provided seminars and lectures to other members of the legal profession on these topics. His clients include business people, professional sportsmen, barristers, solicitors, medics, accountants, farmers, landowners and their spouses. Jonathan receives instructions to sit as a private FDR judge. Family Finance Jonathan is a financial specialist. He undertakes work concerning the following: Divorce / dissolution of civil partnership (including jurisdiction and forum disputes); The financial consequences of divorce and dissolution of civil partnerships (including applications for financial relief following a foreign divorce); Nuptial and cohabitation agreements; Applications brought under Schedule One of the Children Act 1989; and Disputes over the beneficial ownership of property.He is regular instructed in very complex cases involving substantial assets. Recent cases: Examples of Jonathan’s current / recent cases (unless otherwise stated Jonathan has appeared alone in all of these): • C v S [2024] – a complex financial multi-faceted remedy case involving assets worth more than £80 million (appearing with Harry Nosworthy). The opposing spouse is represented by Kings Counsel and Junior Counsel. • A v G [2024] – a large financial remedy case representing a successful entrepreneur. There were significant allegations of non-disclosure. The opposing spouse is represented by Kings Counsel. Settled at a private FDR. • Mclean v Mclean and others [2023] – a successful appeal before Roberts J (appearing with Davinia Riley and representing third party companies) mainly concerning the principles of joinder of third parties to financial remedy proceedings. The husband was represented by Kings Counsel and Junior Counsel. • D v S [2023] – a matter involving assets of more than £20 million. There were significant conduct allegations. The opposing spouse is represented by Kings Counsel. Settled after a private FDR. • H v H [2022] – a complex financial remedy case involving assets worth well in excess of £100 million. The matter concerned complex corporate restructuring issues. Settled at a private FDR (Led by Lewis Marks KC.) • R v A Premiership Footballer [2022] – A substantial Schedule One case involving media issues. The opposing party was represented by Kings Counsel. Settled at a private FDR. • M v M [2021] – A case involving assets in excess of £30 million which concerned the validity of nuptial agreement. The opposing spouse was represented by Kings Counsel and Junior Counsel. • F v F [2021] – A case involving assets worth in excess of £65 million and complex valuation evidence. • S v A Former Premiership / International Footballer [2020] – A difficult case involving complex tax issues. The opposing spouse was represented by Kings Counsel. • K v K and another [2020] – A multi-faceted case involving issues of non-disclosure, overseas trusts and the beneficial ownership of property. It culminated in an 8-day final hearing where the opposing spouse with represented by Kings Counsel. Non-Court Dispute Resolution Jonathan regularly acts as the adjudicator at private FDRs. Publications/Training Jonathan is regularly invited to give talks and seminars to ‘branches’ of the Law Society and Resolution and to solicitors’ firms. Co-author of Cohabitation Claims – A Resolution Guide.

Joy Brereton KC

Joy is a leading silk who specialises in all aspects of the law relating to children. She has particular expertise in complex children matters encompassing both public and private law proceedings. She is regularly involved in cases concerning non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, factitious disorder, physical and emotional abuse of children acting for all parties at all levels. In addition, she is a specialist in private law matters where there are protracted and highly contentious disputes and she is particularly specialist in the international relocation and movement of children including adoption. She has experience of appellate work in all areas. Public Children Law Joy is regularly involved in cases involving complex issues including conflicting medical evidence, non- accidental injury and death of children, sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse. The majority of her cases are running in tandem with parallel criminal proceedings involving serious criminal offences. She is regularly instructed on behalf of all parties and represents children regularly. Private Children Law Joy is a specialist in all private law matters that touch on the welfare of children. She has particular expertise in entrenched/high conflict issues embracing specific issues such as education, religion and medical treatment and emotional harm created by alienating behaviours. Having appeared in RE H-N, she frequently deals with cases of domestic abuse at all levels including appellate work, fact-finding and welfare hearings. She regularly speaks on the issue of domestic abuse including at the South Africa HCCH Forum this year and as a panellist at IAFL chapters. International Children Law Joy’s work frequently includes an international element, and she is a specialist in the movement of children particularly international and internal relocation. She is a contributing author on the Chapter in respect of Relocation in the sixth edition of “The International Family Law Practice”. Joy also undertakes complex international adoption work which often includes aspects of surrogacy law. These cases often include issues of immigration and cross-jurisdictional return of children as well as placing children abroad as part of care planning. Non-court dispute resolution Joy sits as a Recorder and can conduct Early Neutral Evaluation. Publications/Training Contributing author to “The International Family Law Practice” Sixth Edition on the subject of international/ internal relocation of children.

Judith Murray KC

Judith is unusual in that she is recommended in the leading directories for being expert in both financial and children cases. She is equally able in diverse cases from high net worth financial remedy applications to leave to remove and child abduction matters. This enables her to be instructed on all aspects resulting from family breakdown. Judith is also a children arbitrator and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).

Julia Townend

Julia is described in the directories as “an absolute superstar” who “thinks outside the box and can win the trickiest points whilst making it look easy”. Her busy practice has a focus on both the financial consequences of relationship breakdown and private law children matters. She is ranked in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 in both fields. Julia has a wealth of experience advising clients domestically and internationally, primarily as an advocate in her own right but also as part of legal teams. Alongside her busy court practice, Julia represents clients in private FDRs/early neutral evaluations and arbitrations frequently. Julia is a contributing author to Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children. She has written articles for various family law publications, national newspapers and has featured on Sky News and BBC Radio addressing both private law children and divorce/family finance issues. Family Finance Described for her finance work in Legal 500 as “a superb advocate with a great eye for detail, meticulous in her preparation and quick on her feet” Julia is calm, reassuring and pragmatic with clients. Julia advises clients prior to and during marriage as well as post-separation (including on issues of nuptial agreements) and represents clients in court, private FDRs/early neutral evaluations and arbitrations on wide ranging issues. Experienced in claims pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, many of Julia’s cases have an international dimension, including jurisdiction disputes and worldwide assets and issues emanating from overseas divorces. Julia is well-versed in cases involving a raft of different asset categories, as well as discrete issues such as capacity, conduct, adverse inferences, third party issues such as family loans and beneficial interests and notice to show cause applications – see for example KVK v DQD [2024] EWFC 78 (B). Julia is routinely instructed in relation to the enforcement of financial orders, including committals (for example, in O’Connell v Lovell (divorce: property) [2017] EWFC B99). Private Children Law Julia is said by the directories to be “extremely smart, tactically very astute and always knows the papers inside out” in her private children law practice. Representing a diverse client base, Julia’s experience within the field is significant. This includes all section 8 Children Act 1989 disputes (involving issues such as domestic abuse – for example in SM v PM [2023] EWHC 3446 (Fam), alienating behaviours, agency of children, substance misuse, mental health as well as cases without safeguarding issues), relocation (international and domestic), enforcement and thorny parental responsibility issues – for example in B v C [2023] EWHC 291 (Fam) and B v C (No. 2) (1996 Hague Convention Art 22) [2023] EWHC 2524 (Fam). Some years of public children law practice means Julia is also adept when private law children matters include local authority involvement and allegations of abuse (for example, Julia appeared in Re AD & AM (Fact-Finding hearing) (Application for re-hearing) [2016] EWHC 326 (Fam), Re AD & AM (Children) (Fact Finding: Re-Hearing) [2016] EWHC 2912 (Fam)). Julia co-authors the section 8 Children Act 1989 chapter of Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children. She assists Piers Pressdee KC in coordinating the 4PB Private Children Law Group and is an author of the routine 4PB Private Law Children Update newsletters. International Children Law Julia’s private children law practice routinely involves issues transcending into the international law field, such as applications for leave to remove children overseas on a permanent and temporary basis and jurisdiction disputes. Julia was instructed on behalf of the mother and led by Michael Gration KC in B v C [2023] EWHC 291(Fam) and B v C [2023] EWHC 291 (Fam) and B v C (No. 2) (1996 Hague Convention Art 22) [2023] EWHC 2524 (Fam) concerning the question of whether parental responsibility conferred fraudulently on a person by operation of Spanish law should subsist by operation of Article 16 of the Hague Convention 1996. The Secretary of State for Justice intervened. Non-court dispute resolution Julia offers adjudication through private FDRs/early neutral evaluations. In addition, since 2020, Julia has acted as the advising barrister to many couples through The Divorce Surgery, the innovative ‘one couple one lawyer’ service founded by Samantha Woodham and Harry Gates of 4PB. Julia has significant experience appearing as counsel instructed on behalf of parties at private FDRs/early neutral evaluations, arbitrations and for round table meetings. Court of Protection Having previously authored the Court of Protection Update for Family Law Week, Julia has experience of Court of Protection issues flowing from other family law matters (including the Matrimonial Causes Act 1989 and previous Children Act 1989 proceedings) concerning vulnerable adults. This includes applications to revoke a lasting power of attorney and appoint an independent deputy. Julia’s experience in the Court of Protection extends to the involvement of experts and international issues. Publications/Training Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children – Children Act 1989: Private Law Orders: Section 8 orders (ongoing)

Justin Ageros

Justin is a specialist family practitioner with an emphasis in child care work. He is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents and guardians in public law and adoption proceedings. In addition he has extensive experience advising and acting for parties in complex private law proceedings. Justin was nominated as one of the Legal Aid Barristers finalists 2011.

Justine Johnston

Justine specialises in complicated and high-conflict private law cases, often with an international element, with particular emphasis on applications for permission to remove children permanently from the jurisdiction. She is frequently instructed in cases featuring implacable hostility, intractable child arrangement disputes and allegations of parental alienation. Her cases are often complicated by serious domestic abuse, drug and alcohol issues. Justine is consistently recommended in the major legal directories as an excellent barrister (Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500). Private Children Law Justine specialises in complicated and high-conflict private law cases, often with an international element, with particular emphasis on applications for permission to remove children permanently from the jurisdiction. She is frequently instructed in cases featuring implacable hostility, intractable child arrangement disputes and allegations of parental alienation. Her cases are often complicated by serious domestic abuse, drug and alcohol issues. International Children Law Justine has extensive experience in international relocation cases and is a skilled and effective advocate, whether that’s for a parent trying to prevent the removal of a child, or seeking permission to remove.

Kate Branigan KC

Kate specialises in serious and complex children cases both public and private law. In particular, Kate specialises in cases involving serious physical/fatal injuries to children; fabricated/induced illness behaviour; sexual abuse (including fabricated allegations and ‘false memory’); serious domestic violence; disabled parents, in particular parents with learning difficulties and serious psychiatric/psychological difficulties; intractable contact disputes and leave to remove. For 18 years Kate was based on the Western Circuit practising in all areas of family law, in particular specialising in public law work for local authorities, parents and guardians and private client work, but also undertaking serious domestic and violent crime for both prosecution and defence. Since moving to 4PB in 2002 and in particular since taking Silk in 2006, Kate has maintained her practice across all aspects of children law whilst developing a particular interest in cases involving non-accidental injury (including fatal injuries), neglect and FII behaviour. Kate’s cases frequently involve jurisdictional, religious and ethnic dimensions and she has developed a particular expertise in representing parents with physical and learning disabilities and serious psychiatric and psychological problems. Kate also has a significant private law practice, having undertaken a number of important specific issue applications together with intractable contact disputes and application for leave to remove. Kate has maintained her links with the Western Circuit, regularly presenting lectures for solicitors in-house, Resolutions and other organisations with an interest in issues relating to children law. Kate has a long-standing relationship with the Roberts Centre in Hampshire which provides family support services and staff and venues for short and long-term observed, supported and supervised contact and is a voluntary speaker for the Children’s Society.

Katharine Bundell

“Persuasive, honest and prepared to go the extra mile for clients” Legal 500. Katharine is approachable, knowledgeable and a determined advocate. She has been a pupil supervisor for 20 years and was trained early in direct access. Family Finance Katharine is a financial remedy practitioner who takes on complex cases often involving company structures, trusts, jurisdiction and international issues. She has a particularly long standing practice in trusts of land work which is most often found in cases with intervenors. Private Law Children Katharine is a very approachable barrister with a long experience of complex cases involving alienating behaviours, high conflict, domestic abuse and same sex relationships. She appears in the High Court and Family Courts across the country with a particular history in East Anglia. International Children Law Katharine undertakes international child abduction work under the Hague Convention. Non-court dispute resolution Katharine is training as an arbitrator. She has wide experience of arbitration, private FDRs, lawyer led mediation and round table meetings and is a great proponent of non court dispute resolution in the right case. Publications/Training Katharine has published a book on Schedule 1: financial support for unmarried parents. A second edition has been commissioned later this year. https://www.wildy.com/isbn/9781912687473/a-practical-guide-to-financial-provision-for-children-under-schedule-1-of-the-children-act-1989-paperback-law-brief-publishing Katharine provides a wide range of training for most of the main CPD providers, Resolution, individual solicitors firms and local practitioner groups. Katharine frequently lectures for MBL, Lawnet, Professional Conferences, For Media Group and Lexis. She lectures in person and online, both recorded and live. In the last year she has lectured for 4PB, lectured the Malaysian family bar and last Spring went to the US to lecture the New York State Bar Association’s first worldwide Symposium on Crypto currency The lecturing gives her a broad base of up to date legal knowledge at her finger tips. https://www.mblseminars.com/speakers/2439katharine-bundell https://proconferences.com/product-category/legal/?swoof=1&pa_disciplines=family-law&really_curr_tax=137-product_cat The Financial Times

Katherine Van Rol

Kate is a specialist family practitioner with a particular interest in matrimonial finance and private law disputes. The mercurial nature of family law is what attracted Kate to practice in this area and she is committed to keeping up with its numerous developments. Kate is dedicated to providing robust and realistic advice with a focus on early dispute resolution. If matters cannot settle away from the Court arena, Kate will present and defend her cases in Court with tenacity and determination. Her approach to cases, and clients, together with her advocacy skills has resulted in a busy and continually expanding practice. Family Finance Kate represents clients across the entire spectrum of matrimonial finance disputes. She is often brought in to advise at an early stage as to strategy and the merits of a case. She is regularly instructed in high-net-worth cases and those involving third party and business interests. Private Children Law Kate represents parties who are in dispute regarding the future arrangements for their children. She acts in cases with a complex factual basis and where serious allegations, of all natures, are made. Her focus is always on securing an outcome that works for the family. She will secure the best possible outcome, whether in Court or in negotiation, for her client. Non-court dispute resolution Kate acts as an early neutral evaluator in private Financial Dispute Resolution hearings. She is committed to providing a tailormade solution to the parties to aid them in their settlement discussions and has an extremely high success rate of cases settling with her assistance. She is also regularly instructed to act on behalf of one party in pFDRs and in arbitrations covering financial as well as private law issues.

Katherine Broger-Bareham

Kitty joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2022 following the successful completion of pupillage at 4PB. During the course of pupillage, Kitty was supervised by Nicholas Fairbank, Michael Gration KC and Joanne Porter. Kitty accepts instructions in all areas of care, private law children, Family Law Act and international children cases and regularly appears on behalf of parents, children, Local Authorities and separated couples. She has a particular interest in international children cases and frequently represents parents under Article 21 of the 1980 Hague Convention. Outside of her court-based work, Kitty has previously volunteered to train expert witnesses at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Prior to commencing pupillage, Kitty worked as a family law paralegal, predominantly assisting with public and private law children, and international child abduction cases. She also volunteered within the legal departments of several charities including the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, Marie Curie and Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit). In her spare time, Kitty enjoys running, yoga and playing the flute. Publications/Training • Deepfaked evidence – are lawyers ready? Law Gazette article, co-authored with Kieran Ball, November 2023 • Do not neglect pensions in divorce settlements – FT Adviser article, co-authored with Nicholas Fairbank, January 2023

Katie Wood

Katie is ranked as a leading junior barrister in the Legal 500 directory. Her established practice covers all aspects of private family law and she is regularly instructed in both the financial and children aspects arising from a relationship breakdown. Katie has considerable experience in both Schedule 1 applications and high net worth financial remedy cases involving nuptial agreements, off-shore assets, third party claims, pensions and complex business structures. Alongside her busy practice, she is regularly led by silks and has been praised for her meticulous preparation and command of the detail. She is repeatedly instructed in difficult children matters, often involving serious allegations of sexual abuse, violence and parental alienation, as well as cases with a long history of intractable or repeat litigation. Katie is known for her exceptional client care skills, “spot on judgement” and sensible, tactical advice. Her advocacy is both persuasive and robust and her focus from the outset is to achieve the best possible outcome for her client.

Kieran Ball

Kieran joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2023, following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Chris Stevenson, Sophie Connors, and Chris Barnes. Kieran has experience, and accepts instructions in financial remedies, TLTA and private children law. Kieran is a contributor to the financial remedies journal and is part of the 4PB team that authors ‘The Brief”: 4PB’s monthly update of financial remedies cases published in the Family law Journal. He is also the co-lead in the team tasked with 4PB’s new quarterly financial remedies update. Previously, Kieran studied for a D.Phil in early medieval history and his thesis analysed the role of friendship in Anglo-Saxon England. Kieran played rugby at an international level, and throughout his higher education continued to play semi-professionally. Kieran was awarded three ‘Blues’ for representing Oxford in the annual Varsity Match against Cambridge University. Family Finance Kieran specialises in family finance matters. He is regularly instructed in cases at all stages of proceedings and in an advisory role. Private Children Law Kieran is equally adept in private law children matters. He regularly deals with cases involving complex issues, complicated personal dynamics, and vulnerable parties. He has appeared against Counsel of all levels of seniority. Kieran has had recent success in appeals relating to private law children matters, appearing for both the appellant and respondent. Most recently, Kieran (i) successfully appealed a series of case management decisions made in a case in which his client was making allegations of alienating behaviour and negative parental influence; and (ii) acted on a pro bono basis to successfully resist an appeal against interim decisions made in the currency of a highly contested private children matter, involving cross allegations of domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, and alienating behaviours.

Laura Morley

Laura specialises in private law children cases, representing parents and guardians in disputes both domestically and internationally. She also has a thriving practice dealing with complex financial disputes arising from divorce and relationship breakdowns. In both fields she is widely recognised for her technical expertise, advocacy skills and crucially her ability to steer a path through complicated and contentious disputes. Laura has a growing reputation for her work in complex international children law cases, and cross-jurisdictional issues. She appeared in the High Court in the high profile wrongful retention case of Cambra v Jones [2014] EWHC 2264 (Fam), and has represented parents in many relocation cases. She is also sought out for her skilful handling of cases concerning arrangements for children in England and Wales. Laura has a thriving financial practice, representing married, civil partnered and unmarried parties in divorce, dissolution and separation cases, as well as disputes concerning financial provision for the children of unmarried parents. Laura has an interest and growing practice in advising and representing clients on the law relating to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (surrogacy, parental order applications and fertility treatment). She also regularly lectures on the subject. Clients frequently praise Laura’s refreshingly calm, approachable, reassuring and down-to-earth manner, particularly her empathy at difficult times where she supports clients through a difficult process. Her attention to detail and fearless advocacy contribute to successful outcomes for her clients. Laura is also trained in collaborative law and is committed to making non-court based dispute resolution work where the circumstances are appropriate. Away from work Laura has three children of her own, is a keen theatre-goer and enjoys pottery and keeping fit.

Lucy Logan Green

Lucy specialises in cases concerning children. She acts in both public and private law cases as well as those with an international element. In public law, she represents parents, local authorities and guardians. She has experience in cases involving injury, sexual abuse, FII and neglect. Public Children Law Lucy has experience in dealing with the spectrum of complex issues that arise across public law proceedings. She acted as junior counsel in London Borough of Barnet v AG & Others [2021] EWHC 1253, which involved complex legal arguments in respect of a serving diplomat. She has also acted as junior counsel in FII and NAI cases. Lucy has represented local authorities, parents and guardians in cases involving domestic abuse, substance misuse, alcohol abuse and sexual abuse. Private children law Lucy is regularly instructed in private law matters and has represented clients in cases in which there are allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. Lucy also has experience of cases with an international element, including applications to relocate abroad. Lucy is particularly interested in the law relating to assisted reproductive technologies and the evolving environment of the law of surrogacy in this country and in other jurisdictions. International children Lucy appears in the High Court representing both applicants and respondents to cases brought under the Hague Convention and also has experience of cases involving child abduction to non-Hague countries. Other experience Prior to commencing pupillage, Lucy interned at the Legal Action Group where she assisted in editing publications including the Court of Protection Handbook. Lucy also worked in between her studies as a paralegal in a busy family law department at a London firm. Lucy studied Russian at university and spent a year living in Moscow and St Petersburg. She remains interested in Russian language and culture.

Lucy Cheetham

Lucy is most well known as a specialist child protection barrister. She represents parties at all levels of court, often against leading counsel, in multi-day trials and has experience appearing in the Court of Appeal. Her forensic and analytical approach to cases means that she is in demand in the most serious cases where there is complex medical evidence (infant death, fabricated or induced illness and non-accidental injury). Earlier in her career, Lucy worked in the Court of Appeal as a Judicial Assistant to Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and to Sir Matthew Thorpe. She was the first family specialist to hold the appointment. She assisted the Advisory Committee which produced the Protocol for Judicial Case Management in Public Law Children Act Cases. Lucy was a member of the Law Reform Committee of the Bar Council as a family specialist between 2007-2009. She was also the Secretary of the Committee for the Centre for Child and Family Law Reform from 2004 until 2014; the Centre is affiliated to City University, with representation from the judiciary, the legal profession and academia, and has undertaken projects on forced marriages, tax reform for co-habitees, youth justice, secure accommodation, and was recently instrumental in the introduction of Binding Arbitration in family law. Public Children Law Lucy’s main area of practice is public law children work. She has extensive experience in representing local authorities, parents and other family members, as well as guardians. Her specialism is complex care proceedings, especially those involving contested allegations of serious inflicted injuries, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. She has built a reputation for her aptitude in forensic detail, together with her advocacy skills, whilst retaining humanity in her approach to such cases. Private Children Law Lucy primarily represents guardians in private law cases in which children are separately represented, often when the case is on the cusp of public law proceedings. She is accomplished in managing disputes between parents with sensitivity, but also in ensuring that the child’s voice is not lost in the midst of conflict between their parents. Court of Protection Lucy has been involved in the Court of Protection primarily in the context of its intersection with care proceedings, representing local authorities and parents of vulnerable young people as they reach adulthood. She has also undertaken cases involving both financial and contact issues in the Court of Protection.

Mai-Ling Savage

Mai-Ling Savage is a highly regarded and experienced practitioner in Family Law, recognised by Chambers and Partners as being “Forceful and totally committed to the client.” Mai-Ling has a robust practice in Family Law, with expertise in Court of Protection work , Children’s Law (including Public, Private and International cases), care proceedings, surrogacy and assisted reproduction and matrimonial finance. Children’s Law Mai-Ling’s practice includes residence and contact disputes, including internal and international relocation, disputes between same sex couples, fact-finding hearings and cases of parental alienation and recruitment of children against a parent by care givers. Mai-Ling has particular expertise in issues relating to surrogacy and assisted reproduction cases in which issues of legal parentage arise. Mai-Ling has particular expertise in care proceedings involving allegations of non-accidental injury with complex medical issues or disputed medical evidence, sexual abuse (including false allegations of sexual abuse), factitious illness and vulnerable adults. She also has expertise in cases involving forced marriage, FGM and radicalisation. Examples of recent cases include fractures to an 8-week-old baby, life-limiting injuries to a 6-week-old baby, sexual abuse allegations including a paedophile ring and inter-sibling sexual abuse. Mai-Ling has recently undertaken a number of cases involving breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998. She frequently advises in family proceedings concerning immigration and nationality issues as well as international adoptions, transnational care and child placement arrangements. Financial Remedies Mai-Ling has a wide experience of financial remedies and appears in courts of all levels including the High Court. She has also been instructed in applications under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees act (ToLATA). Court of Protection Mai-Ling has an established practice acting in health and welfare cases for all parties, including health and social care bodies and individuals. She has undertaken cases that involve best interest decisions, welfare and financial decisions and deprivations of liberty, including contested applications involving fact-finding hearings. Mai-Ling has acted in cases involving adults with learning disabilities, adults with acquired brain injury and people with dementia, including disputes about residence or contact with family members. She is instructed by the Official Solicitor, individuals and local authorities. Mai-Ling has particular expertise in cases where there is a crossover with family proceedings, for example, non-consensual marriage. Mai-Ling is a member of CoPPA. International Children Law Mai-Ling is experienced in cases of international abduction, and international adoption. She frequently advises in family proceedings concerning immigration and nationality issues as well as international adoptions, transnational care and child placement arrangements. Pro Bono Work In 2015 and 2017 Mai-Ling was shortlisted for Sydney Elland Goldsmith Bar Pro Bono Award, in recognition of an outstanding commitment to pro bono work. She is a trustee of Wheels for Wellbeing, an award-winning inclusive cycling charity, which helps people enjoy the benefits of cycling regardless of disability, age or health condition. Publications Contributor: Emergency Remedies in the Family Courts (Family Law, January 2000)(Chapters: Applications under the Children Act 1989) ‘Revoking an adoption order: unusual and exceptional’ (Family Law, November 2019)

Mani Singh Basi

Mani is an award winning barrister described as a ‘positive force in family law’. He is the winner of the Legal Personality of the Year 2024 award (LexisNexis) and the Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year 2023 award at the LexisNexis Family Law Awards. He is works nearly exclusively in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Mani has a broad practice covering all areas of family law with a particular focus on disputes relating to children. He has been involved in a significant number of authorities which appear at the bottom of this profile. Published cases: Mani has appeared in a number of published cases such as: Court of Appeal Cases: C v M (A Child) (Abduction: Representation of Child Party) [2023] EWCA Civ 1449 Re T (Abduction: Protective Measures: Agreement to return) [2023] EWCA Civ 1415 Allami v Fakher (Court of Appeal) [2023] EWCA 532 Re H (A Child) (Recusal) [2023] 4 WLR 64 High Court Cases: Samira Addou v Sidali Bennabi [2024] EWHC 2703 (Committal: Sentencing) Samira Addou v Sidali Bennabi [2024] EWHC 2702 (Committal) SD v MM [2024] EWHC 2593 (Fam) Omay Ali Elhag Elkndo v Elnoaman Gassam Elsyed (Committal: Sentence) [2024] EWHC 2230 (Fam) Re A and R (1980 Hague Convention: Return to Australia) [2024] EWHC 2190 Omay Ali Elhag Elkndo v Elnoaman Gassam Elsyed & Ors (Committal: Findings) [2024] EWHC 2204 MAS v ZK & Ors [2024] EWHC 1939 (Fam) A v M & Ors [2024] EWHC 2020 E v The Child and Family Agency of Ireland & Ors [2024] EWHC 1778 Re D (Wardship: Jurisdiction: Cutting Across Statutory Schemes), Re [2024] EWHC 1658 Re G and H (Children: Return to Ghana) [2024] EWHC 1453 Fakher v Allami [2024] EWHC 841 Re N (A Child) (Ukraine: Art. 13 (b)) (No. 2) [2024] EWHC 1282 Re N (A Child) (Ukraine: Art. 13 (b)) [2024] EWHC 871 R v M (Hague Convention; Withdrawal of Application and Art. 16 (Parental Responsibility)) [2024] EWHC 720 GM & Anor v EB & Anor (Rules of Evidence) [2024] EWHC 288 MB v KB & Ors (Costs) [2023] EWHC 3299 MB v KB & Ors [2023] EWHC 3177 EC v BM [2023] EWHC 3237 H v Usama Ikram Butt & Anor [2023] EWHC 3042 K v E [2023] EWHC 2890 (Fam) Re Z (A Child) (1980 Hague Convention) [2023] EWHC 2696 Re A (Minors) [2023] EWHC 3537 Sater v Sater [2023] EWHC 3509 Re A (Article 13b, Ukraine) [2023] EWHC 3524 NM v SM [2023] EWHC 2209 Re B (A Child) (Consent; Acquiescence, Intolerability) [2023] EWHC 2162 Re K & S (Article 13 (b)) [2023] EWHC 1883 C v M & Anor (No 1 Hague Abduction: Application for Re-hearing) Re Y (A Child) (Abduction: Romania Article 13(b) [2023] EWHC 1676 Z v Z [2023] EWHC 1673 Addou v Bennabi [2023] EWHC 2469 C v M & Anor [2023] EWHC 1182 R v P [2023] EWHC 914 Allami v Fakher [2023] EWFC 59 Re DQ (A Child) (Abduction: Defence of Consent) [2023] EWHC 891 Re Child E [2023] EWHC 584 Re T (A Child: Application to Permanently Relocate) [2023] EWHC 545 FB v MG [2023] 1 FLR 1151 T v V & Anor [2022] EWHC 2692 Addou v Bennabi (committal) [2022] EWHC 3465 Re N (Abduction) [2022] EWHC 3146 J v R [2022] EWFC 104 GTJ v LS [2022] EWHC 3688 ADK v ASI [2022] EWHC 2610 YP v HP [2022] EWHC 1954 F and S (Special Guardianship Order with Supervision Order) [2021] EWFC B19 London Borough of Southwark v A Family [2020] EWHC 3117 A City Council v A Mother & Ors (Care Proceedings Radicalisation) [2019] EWHC 3076, [2020] 1 FLR 515 International Children Law Mani is a specialist in cases that have an international element relating to child abduction and was recognised as the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year 2024 winner for his work in this area of the field. Mani deals with cases concerning applications for summary return under the Hague Convention 1980, the recognition and enforcement of foreign orders relating to the Hague Convention 1996, applications concerning wardship / the inherent jurisdiction and forced marriage. Mani is known for his experience in ‘stranded spouse’ cases and is the author of ‘A Practical Guide to Stranded Spouses in Family Law’ which is available for purchase here. He also co-authored an article in The Times about this topic. Further, Mani has published a book in respect of ‘A Practical Guide to Exercising the Inherent Jurisdiction’ which can be purchased here. Mani is also regularly instructed by intervenors and other interested bodies in cases concerning international disputes and the rights of children. Further, Mani is regularly instructed in cases where there are jurisdictional issues, applications for relocation and cases concerning surrogacy. Mani regularly writes on the topic of international child abduction and has featured in the International Family Law Journal, the Family Law Journal and New Law Journal. He is known for representing vulnerable clients across the world in international disputes relating to domestic abuse, stranding spouses and child abduction and in 2024 won the Legal Aid Barrister of the Year award. Private Children Law Mani acts in all areas of private law disputes concerning children that involve applications for child arrangement orders and enforcement proceedings. He is frequently instructed in cases concerning contentious residence and contact disputes where the issues involve allegations of domestic abuse, psychological harm, parental alienation and he also appears in cases involving domestic and international relocation. Mani is known for his experience in private law cases where there are reported safeguarding issues and local authority input and he has produced a number of articles on this area which have been published by the Family Law Journal (LexisNexis). He has appeared in extensive fact-finding hearings in private law disputes and works across the whole of England. Mani has extensive experience relating to applications under the Family Law Act 1996 for non-molestation and occupation orders. Public Children Law Mani regularly represents local authorities, parents and guardians in public law proceedings. He has appeared in contested cases relating to a case of the utmost gravity such as those concerning allegations of NAI, FFI and radicalisation. He is particularly sought after in public law disputes heard in the High Court and where international disputes arise such as those relating to abduction, forced marriage and FGM. Publications Mani is a well-established commentator in the field of Family Law. He regularly appears in leading newspapers and legal platforms and has been published in the Guardian, The Times, Law Society Gazette, International Family Law Journal, Family Law Journal, Counsel Magazine, The Solicitors Journal, Social Work News, Family Law Week. He is also an author of the following books: A Practical Guide to the Participation of Children in Family Law; A Practical Guide to Exercising the Inherent Jurisdiction in Family Law Proceedings; and A Practical Guide to Stranded Spouses in Family Law. Personal Information Mani has assisted with the expert witness training of paediatricians at the Royal College of Paediatrics and regularly delivers training and seminars to legal professionals. He is on the scholarship and diversity panel for the FLBA and is also an accredited pupil supervisor. Mani is also the current Deputy Editor at Family Law Week. Mani is in demand for speaking at a number of high-profile events and recently he spoke at: White Paper Conference on the issue of fact-findings in private law disputes, alongside Barbara Mills KC; JUSTICE Human Rights Conference alongside Teertha Gupta KC; LexisNexis 2022 Family Law Round Up, speaking on developments in international family law. LexisNexis 2023 Private Law Round Up ALC Conference on representing and securing the return of children from non-hague countries, alongside Tipstaff. LexisNexis 2024 – Transparency in Family Law alongside Teertha Gupta KC.

Mark Johnstone

Mark Johnstone’s practice is predominantly matrimonial financial provision although he has significant experience in Schedule one Children Act provision and TLATA disputes between cohabitees / co-owners.

Mark Jarman KC

Mark is a dedicated family advocate whose practice encompasses all aspects of family law. His easy approach, robust advocacy and user friendly demeanour make him a popular choice with solicitors. Children Mark regularly represents local authorities, parents and guardians in public law proceedings across all tiers of Court. Such cases involve non accidental injury including ‘baby shaking’ cases, infant death, sexual and physical abuse as well as neglect cases. In private law cases, Mark represents parents in relation to residence applications, including shared residence, contact and specific issue. International Movement of Children Mark regularly appears in the High Court representing parents in cases of Child Abduction, (both Hague and non Hague cases), Inherent Jurisdiction, Wardship, Brussels II and International Relocation of Children. Divorce Within the breakdown of marriage, Mark represents husbands and wives in ancillary relief cases, including “big money” cases, financial provision for children and CSA appeals. Increasingly Mark is instructed in cases where the court’s jurisdiction is questioned and the issue of “Forum Conveniens” has to be determined. Additionally Mark has appeared in the Care Standards Tribunal in an appeal against the incorporation of a social worker on the POCA list. Interests Mark’s interests include sailing, skiing and squash

Matthew Persson

Matthew’s practice encompasses public and private law proceedings with a particular emphasis on complicated residence/contact disputes often involving an international element (relocation/abduction), parental alienation and domestic violence. In addition, Matthew frequently appears in cases involving complex and/or conflicting medical evidence. Matthew’s practice also includes cases involving surrogacy and reproductive technologies, co-parenting arrangements and issues arising out of the breakdown of same sex relationships. Matthew regularly appears in the High Court and often appears against leading counsel.

Michael Sternberg KC

Michael Sternberg’s practice covers the two main areas of family work – financial remedy and child cases. He has a substantial practice in high-value financial cases and is instructed by a number of the top London firms. He regards negotiation as of great importance in getting the best result in the speediest time at the lowest cost to the client. So many of his cases settle avoiding the costs and publicity of what would otherwise be high profile contests. The financial work involves not only the latest developments in family law, but also a high degree of expertise in company law and valuation, farming divorce cases, prenuptial agreements, tax law and cases where there is a conflict of jurisdiction. Michael is currently only accepting instructions in matters where advice is required. Unusually Michael also has extensive experience in difficult child cases. He was instructed consistently in the past not only by the Official Solicitor, and Cafcass Legal, but also by local authorities in highly demanding cases in the High Court, Court of Appeal and House of Lords, which have raised difficult questions of fact and law. Michael is an expert in contests between England and Wales and other jurisdictions as to which should decide the divorce – both in respect of Brussels II (revised) and generally – also in relation to injunctions to prevent a party from proceeding with divorce in a foreign jurisdiction. He has lectured on the topic. Michael has acted as an advocate to the court in a series of reported decisions. He succeeded against the UK Government in relation to a breaches of Articles 8 and 12 of the ECHR, on behalf of a post-operative transsexual, heard by the Grand Chamber in Strasbourg (I v UK [2002] 2 FLR 518). Michael was previously listed as a leading junior in the relatively small list of practitioners in London within The Legal 500 since 2001. Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession also for many years rated him as one of the few leading juniors. Michael is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and he was the Assistant Secretary from 1986 – 1988. Michael is also the author of two chapters in David Davidson’s book “Pensions and Marriage Breakdown “ 3rd Edition (published by the Law Society in 2005). Michael was in 2009 nominated by the Chairman of the Bar to chair a joint tribunal set up by the Bar Council and the Law Society / OSS to resolve major dispute between a leading junior Barrister and a prominent firm of solicitors. Michael was one of only 3 Leading Counsel to be invited to appear as a principal speaker on issues of spousal support after divorce, at the Butterworths Lexis Nexis Matrimonial Finance and Divorce National Conference on 28th April 2010. On 4th February 2011 Michael chaired a day conference on advanced financial remedy topics at the RAF Club attended by over 100 solicitors at which 5 QC’s spoke. He chaired a similar financial remedy day conference for the White Paper Company in January 2013 and twice in January and April 2014. Michael is a Qualified Mediator and Collaborative lawyer. In September 2011 he attended the first course run by The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to become one of the first Family Law Arbitrators. In March 2013 Michael chaired Lexis Nexis webinar on all aspects of ADR. Michael is the Chair of the Trustees of the Three Faith Forum – the country’s leading active interfaith charitable agency, which since 1997 has been generating understanding, goodwill and friendship between Muslims, Christians and Jews, as well as people of other faiths and in the wider society.

Michael Gration KC

Michael has a particular specialism in the international movement of children, which he focuses upon in the context of all of the areas of family law in which he practices (specific details of which are set out below). He also acts in private and public law children cases involving serious issues including allegations of domestic and sexual abuse, and allegations of alienating behaviours. International Children Law Michael specialises in cases involving the international movement of children, appearing regularly in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in cases involving (but not limited to) Hague and non-Hague abduction, jurisdictional disputes, the recognition and enforcement of orders (pursuant to Brussels II revised and the 1996 Hague Convention), relocation (both internal and external) and public law cases with international or other jurisdictional issues. Michael has appeared in most of the leading cases in this field. He has represented parties (including parents, children and non-Governmental organisations) in the Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court in cases involving a diverse range of issues from the human rights implications of government immigration policy (R (on the application of Quila and another) and R (on the application of Bibi and another v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2011] UKSC 45) to jurisdictional issues concerning children and the application of the 1980 Hague Convention (In the matter of A (Children) (AP) [2013] UKSC 60, In the Matter of KL (A Child) [2013] UKSC 75, In the matter of LC (Children) [2014] UKSC 1 and Re K (A Child) [2014] UKSC 29, In the matter of C (Children) [2018] UKSC 8, Re NY (A Child) [2019] UKSC 49 and G v G [2021] UKSC 9). In addition to his domestic practice, Michael has appeared before the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. His cases before those courts include: Ferrari v Romania (Application No. 1714/10), in which Michael appeared on behalf of the applicant, successfully arguing that in failing to enforce an order made pursuant to the 1980 Hague Convention the Romanian authorities had breached the father’s Article 8 rights. X v. LATVIA (Application no. 27853/09), where Michael was one of a team instructed by the reunite International Child Abduction Centre to intervene in the proceedings. E-v-B; Case C-436/13, in which Michael represented the father in the leading case on prorogation of jurisdiction pursuant to Brussels IIa UD v XB; Case C-393/18 PPU, in which Michael represented the UK Government on a referral to the CJEU regarding whether a child could be habitually resident in a country in which they had never been physically present. He has also been part of a team representing an intervening party before the United States Supreme Court (Lozano v Alvarez – appeal judgment at 697 F.3d 41 (2d Cir. 2012)). Private Children Law Michael acts for parents and children in all cases that fall within the broad heading of ‘private children law’. He has particular experience in jurisdictional issues that arise following the international movement of children and in cases where it is proposed that a child should relocate abroad. He represents parties in cases involving serious allegations of domestic abuse, including alienating behaviours. Public Children Law Michael specialises in public law cases involving the movement of children across borders. In recent years, that has included the consequences for children of illegal entry into the United Kingdom (A & Ors (Case Proceedings: 1996 Hague Convention: Habitual Residence) [2024] EWFC 110 and A & Ors (Care Proceedings: Inherent Jurisdiction: Order for Return to Austria), Re [2024] EWFC 178) and the removal of a child abroad at a time when care proceedings were contemplated following a finding that the father had caused the death of a child (D, Re (Wardship: Jurisdiction: Cutting Across Statutory Schemes) (Rev1) [2024] EWHC 1658 (Fam)). He also advises upon and acts in cases involving international adoption and the jurisdictional and practical arrangements involved in the transfer of children abroad in a public law context (see, for example, E v The Child and Family Agency of Ireland & Ors [2024] EWHC 1778 (Fam)). Court of Protection Michael acts for parents and children in cases involving serious medical issues both under the inherent jurisdiction and in the Court of Protection (e.g. A Hospital Trust v P & Ors [2024] EWHC 313 (Fam), Raqeeb (by her litigation friend) v Barts Health NHS Trust [2020] 1 FLR 1376, Re D (A Child) (Residence Order: Deprivation of Liberty) [2019] UKSC 42). Due to his extensive experience of international family law, he has a particular interest in cases where the patient has travelled abroad (or it is proposed that they should travel abroad) for the purposes of medical treatment. Non-court dispute resolution Michael is frequently instructed to advise parties in relation to contemplated or ongoing mediation, and has experience of representing parents within mediation where they wish to have counsel present within or on the fringes of discussions. Michael is also instructed to attend discussions outside of formal mediation (for example round table meetings) in order to assist them in securing the best possible agreement in the particular context of their case. Publications / Training Michael is a contributing author to Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children (https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/products/rayden-and-jackson-on-relationship-breakdown-finances-and-children.html) Together with Mr Justice Williams, Henry Setright KC and Maria Wright he wrote International Issues in Family Law: The 1996 Hague Convention and Brussels II Revised (25 Sept 2015) (https://www.amazon.co.uk/International-Issues-Family-Law-Convention/dp/1784731528) He writes the chapter on International Child Abduction for International Family Law Practice (https://www.lexisnexis.co.uk/store/products/international-family-law-practice-sixth-edition-skuuksku9781784734770IFLP685589/details) Michael also frequently writes articles for prominent journals, and edits and writes for The International Family Law Blog (https://theinternationalfamilylawblog.co.uk/)

Michael Edwards

Michael has a broad practice ranging from international children law to public inquiries and cases involving national security. Michael has appeared in many of the leading international children cases over the past 5-10 years. He also specialises in private law cases, including leave to remove and cases with allegations of domestic and sexual abuse. He is also a child law arbitrator. Michael has also appeared in many of the leading cases on the validity of marriage, including Akhter v Khan [2020] EWCA Civ 122 and AP and JP v Secretary of State for Justice [2024] EWHC 1197 Fam Michael is the head of the Public Inquiries and Inquests team at 4pb. He is currently instructed in the Afghanistan Inquiry, the Covid Inquiry and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He is currently a member of the AG’s B Panel, having previously been a member of the C Panel for 5-years. Michael has been a Special Advocate since 2018, which enables him to appear in cases of national security. Michael has judicial experience, as a Deputy District Judge since 2021 and Recorder since 2024. He has also been appointed to a 3-member judicial panel to review the asylum claims of Sri Lankan Tamils present on British Indian Ocean Territory. International Children Law Specialist in child abduction and jurisdiction disputes. Michael regularly appears in the High Court and has appeared in many of the leading cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (see full case list below). As a member of the AG’s B Panel, Michael regularly advises and represents government departments on international family law matters. Private Children Law Appears regularly in leave to remove applications, cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse and parental alienation. Non-court dispute resolution Appointed as a child law arbitrator in 2022. Michael has conducted numerous children arbitrations since his appointment and has given seminars and lectures of the subject. Michael brings his judicial experience to his role as an arbitrator, having been a Deputy District Judge since 2021 and a Recorder since 2024. Public Inquiries and Inquests Head of the Public Inquiries and Inquests team at 4pb. Current instructions: – Afghanistan Inquiry; representing the MOD – Covid Inquiry: representing UKHSA – Omagh Bombing Inquiry: representing the Intelligence and Security Committee Previous instructions: – Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; representing Leicestershire County Council – Ellie Bulter Inquest; high profile inquest following the murder of Ellie by her father; instructed by the local authority Sports law Michael has lectured on child protection in sport, including to the British Association of Sports Lawyers. He has been appointed to a number of disciplinary tribunals: – 2018: Swim England Judicial Panel – 2022: The FA Judicial Appeal Panel – 2024: Swim England Judicial Appeal Panel Publications/Training Michael is the Co-Editor of International Family Law, the leading journal on international family justice.

Miriam Best

Miriam has a busy practice in all areas of family law. She joined chambers in October 2018 after successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Henry Clayton, Jacqueline Renton and Cleo Perry QC. She has experience across public, private and international children law and in financial matters. International Miriam appears in the High Court in child abduction matters and represents parents in applications for leave to remove to Hague and non-Hague Convention countries. Miriam appeared in PG v PR [2018] EWFC 85 where she represented the respondent father in an application for the summary return of a child to Portugal. Miriam also appeared in SZ v DG & PG v LG [2020] EWHC 881 (Fam) seeking permission to make an Article 21 application whilst a Section 91(14) order was in place against her client. She has also represented parties in committal applications following non-compliance with passport orders. Private Law Miriam recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in Re H-N and Others (Children) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of fact hearings) [2021] EWCA Civ 448, led by Charles Hale QC and Rebecca Foulkes. The case concerned allegations of coercive and controlling behaviour; when and how fact-finding hearings should take place and the interplay with criminal law principles. Miriam presented a Resolution seminar on the Court of Appeal judgment alongside Adele Cameron-Douglas. Subsequently, Miriam appeared in the first reported case following the guidance in Re H-N namely Re JK (A Child) (Domestic Abuse: Finding of Fact Hearing) [2021] EWHC 1367 (Fam). Miriam is regularly instructed in complex private law matters across all stages of proceedings including enforcement. She frequently acts in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, parental alienation and consolidation with proceedings under the Family Law Act 1996. She has also successfully represented a client to obtain a declaration of marital status following a Syrian marriage and subsequent divorce. Public Law Miriam has been led by June Venters QC in a long-standing public law case, in which they represented a vulnerable mother who required the assistance of both an intermediary and interpreter. The case the Judge had to determine the remit of questioning that could be put to a child making allegations of sexual abuse: Re E (A Child: Questioning of Vulnerable Witness) [2019] EWHC 3808. There was a lengthy fact-finding hearing and welfare determination, both spanning a number of weeks and a large quantity of expert evidence. Miriam also maintains an active public law practice of her own, acting for local authorities, parents and children’s guardians in proceedings involving domestic abuse, sexual abuse, substance misuse and mental health problems. She also has experience in secure accommodation orders, forced marriage and deprivation of liberty. Miriam in particular successfully represented a mother opposing both a recovery order and deprivation of liberty order for her 17-year old vulnerable son to be placed in a residential placement. She has also assisted in training expert witnesses at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Financial Remedies Miriam has frequently represented clients at all stages of financial proceedings, including but not limited to MPS applications and enforcement. She has assisted with drafting Section 25 statements and First Appointment documentation on a regular basis. Miriam has recently co-authored an article with Henry Clayton about the impact of Brexit on jurisdiction in matrimonial proceedings. Previous experience Prior to her career at the Bar, Miriam worked as a family law senior paralegal at Stewarts, specialising in high net worth financial remedies and private children law. She has also volunteered for family schemes and charities, including the BPP Family Legal Advice Clinic and National Centre for Domestic Violence. Through her work she has gained valuable experience assisting litigants in person and advising parties on matters relating to financial remedies, child arrangements and applications for injunctive relief under the Family Law Act 1996. In her spare time, Miriam can be found travelling, taking photographs and attending concerts and theatre productions.

Nadia Campbell-Brunton

Nadia is barrister specialising in family law. She joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2023 following successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Andrew Powell, Francesca Dowse, Jonathan Evans and Michael Edwards. Nadia enjoys a busy practice across all of Chambers’ specialisms, appearing at all levels of the family court, including the Court of Appeal where she has been led by Jacqueline Renton. Nadia is regularly instructed at all stages of complex private law matters, including those with serious allegations of domestic abuse and complex factual disputes. . Nadia represents clients in all areas of private law, including applications for child arrangements orders, prohibited steps orders, injunctive relief and internal leave to remove applications. Nadia’s growing international practice involves international child abduction (both Hague and non-Hague), relocation, jurisdictional disputes, parental responsibility, and international contact disputes. Nadia represents clients at all stages of financial remedy proceedings involving a range of issues, including material non-disclosure, conduct and annulment. Nadia has a busy care practice, representing local authorities, parents and children at all stages of care proceedings. She has assisted in training expert witnesses at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Prior to commencing pupillage in October 2022, Nadia spent time as a paralegal at Withers LLP and at Sears Tooth assisting partners and associates with complex financial remedy and private law cases. In her free time, Nadia enjoys walking, cooking and watching Liverpool FC.

Nicholas Fairbank

Nicholas is the head of Chambers’ Financial Remedies Team. He practices exclusively in family finance, advising and representing in substantial asset and complex cases involving trusts, foreign assets, pre-nuptial agreements, inherited wealth, Schedule 1 Children Act and Inheritance Act claims. He brings a sharp forensic analysis to complex financial disputes. Clients appreciate his clear and commercial advice, his approachable manner and his professionalism and skill in the courtroom. As the directories record, he remains calm under pressure whilst forcefully advancing his case. Nicholas’s non-court dispute resolution and advisory work includes acting as a PFDR judge, advising both spouses jointly for The Divorce Surgery and advising upon and drafting pre- and post-marital agreements. Nicholas is often instructed in cases involving a Chancery element, for example with third party beneficial ownership issues or personal or corporate insolvency. His reported cases with a significant Chancery aspect include Teasdale v Carter and Teasdale [2023] EWHC 490 (third party beneficial interests in property), Kliers & Anor v Kliers [2018] EWHC 3245 (Ch) (interplay between proceedings in the Chancery and Family Divisions), DW & Anor v CG [2016] EWHC 2695 (Fam) (insolvency, third party interests, priority of charges) and Arif v Anwar v Rehan [2015] EWHC 124 (Fam) and [2013] EWHC 624 (Fam) (beneficial interests in property and the interplay between Chancery and Family Divisions). Nicholas has written and presented seminars for leading publishers and lectures widely to professional audiences.

Nicola Wallace

Following a successful career as a solicitor and partner specialising in family law, Nicola has practised at the Bar since 2006. With over 30 years of litigation experience, she is skilled to build the confidence and trust of parties to deal effectively with a wide range of disputes including divorce, separation, children, family wealth, inheritance, property ownership, TOLATA, business succession planning and trusts. Nicola is an experienced mediator. Trained in family, civil and commercial and workplace mediation, she assiduously mediates the most complex and intractable cases. Her further advanced studies at Harvard Law School have helped her develop the highest of standards in communication skills. With attention to detail, tenacity and focus, Nicola creates optimum conditions for successful mediation. Education 2015: MSc Art Law & Business (Distinction) (Christies/University of Glasgow) 2006: Called to the Bar (Inner Temple) 1991: Admitted as a solicitor 1989: Solicitor Finals & Law Society Prize: Innes and Howard Watson Prize for Family Law 1988: BA (Hons) Law and French 1986: Diplôme Programme de Civilisation Française & Européene Contemporaine Mediation Training Family Mediator (Resolution) Civil and Commercial Mediator (ADR Group) Civil and Commercial Mediator RICS Harvard Law School: Advanced Mediation: Mediating Complex Disputes Accredited Faith Dispute Mediator (BIMA) Workplace Mediator (CEDR) Multi-Level International Mediation. OxPeace, Oxford University. Panel Member Family & Civil ADR-ODR International Panel Member CAfA (Court of Arbitration for Art) The Hague. Mediation for Financial Remedy and Divorce Division of family finance within divorce is frequently highly charged. At a time when parties are navigating separation and transition to separate lives, with all the attendant emotional stresses of this, they each have to face a detailed assessment of financial needs and provision going forward. Letters passing between lawyers serve to increase costs and the issuing of court proceedings, whilst putting the process into a formal timetable, often generates additional fear, cost and stress. Gathering financial information in mediation, early in the process and clarifying the extent of the financial landscape can help ease this process and help start the discussions necessary to reach proposals which each party believes are workable. It is efficient both in terms of costs and time. All discussions are confidential and cannot be referred to outside of mediation. Parties can reach out to lawyers for independent advice throughout the process. Experts can be jointly invited into the process to assist in clarifying matters such as tax, valuations, pensions etc. Proposals can be written up into a final consent order, which can be submitted for sealing by a court without the need for any attendance. Mediation can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle. Legal representatives can also be present. Mediation for unmarried couples Separating couples who are not married experience all the same challenges as those divorcing. However their legal rights are treated very differently. Property division falls under different detailed law and some areas of children disputes are also considered by the courts using different criteria. Litigation for separating couples can be extremely costly. This is because the subject matter and the law are complex and it follows that the necessary pleadings also tend to be lengthy and complex. Further there are significant risks for each party having to pay the other’s legal costs, depending on the outcome of the applications. In addition, there are of course the stresses and emotional costs of being in contested litigation. Mediation in the light of this can be an extremely efficient and cost effective process. Mediation can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle. Legal representatives can also be present. Mediation for all Children issues. Issues surrounding arrangements for children upon separation are some of the most emotive areas for resolution. The issues come at a time when the whole family are navigating change and transition, and when the adults are often in conflict between themselves. Mediation allows for sensitive child-focussed discussions. Constructive solutions for successful separate co-parenting, addressing communication problems and joint parenting plans for the future structure of child arrangements can all be addressed in mediation. In this way the stresses and costs of contested proceedings can be avoided. Mediation for children issues can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle. Legal representatives can also be present. Mediation for Inheritance Act disputes. The death and the loss of a family member can affect people in a variety of ways. Families can often start disagreeing as early as finalising the arrangements for the funeral: selection of music, choice of photographs, type of coffin. There can even be disputes as to cremation or burial. When it comes to contesting bequests in a Will or the validity of a Will, there may be a number of interested beneficiaries. For disputes such as these to descend into litigation is extremely costly. The costs of litigation will often be paid by the estate, leaving significantly depleted funds for final division. Everybody loses. Agreeing to mediate in such circumstances is both cost effective and efficient. Mediation for disputes arising upon the death of a family member can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both. Legal representatives can be, and often are, present. Mediation for business succession and family wealth disputes Family wealth questions, such as what should be sold to pay for a parent’s care, or disputes as to how those exercising Powers of Attorney are making decisions, can be costly if allowed to escalate to litigation. Feelings run high and threats of litigation through solicitors tend to escalate situations. Mediation provides a time efficient and cost efficient way of entering constructive dialogue to reach proposals everyone can live with. Other family wealth issues can be the difficult discussions around the succession of family business, transfer of shareholdings, passing control to adult children can sometimes be fraught. Again, mediation with a neutral third party can assist in facilitating constructive processes and solutions , keeping l is sue s private. Mediation for family wealth disputes can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both. Legal representatives can be present. Mediation for Art and Cultural Heritage Disputes Nicola was awarded a distinction for MSc in Art Law and Business (Christies). Her time spent in both her international studies and in-house at Christies, London, has provided Nicola with a thorough understanding of the detailed workings and nuances of the art market. Nicola was part of the international steering group for the foundation of the Court of Arbitration for Art (CAfA), situated in the Hague, presenting at its inaugural launch. She is a frequent speaker at conferences & universities in UK and Europe on the role of mediation in Art and Cultural Heritage matters. Disputes regarding ownership, authenticity, insurances and a wide range of contract terms are all suitable for mediation. Mediation for art and cultural heritage matter can be arranged flexibly: online, in person, round table or shuttle, or a mixture of both. Legal representatives can be present. Training Nicola is a sought-after trainer both in the UK and Europe. In-house: Nicola regularly delivers in-house training at all levels: from paralegals to associates, supervisors & senior partners. She also works at a senior level with partners and senior managers at in-house ‘Away Days’. Bar Council: Author of the Bar Council’s Litigation Course Co-author of the Bar Council’s Public Access Course Co-author of the Public Access Sharpener Co-author Public Access for Clerks. Resolution: ‘Advocacy’; ‘How to Thrive and not just Survive in Family Law’; ‘Excellence in Communication Skills. Royal Academy, London/Maastricht University: Mediation and NCDR for the EMCL Cultural Masters Programme. Essex University: Annual one-day Mediation workshop. Speaking Engagements May 2024: Legal Keynote: Communication Skills Stowe Family Law, ‘Stowefest’, Leeds February 2024: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 19th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. January 2024: Delivery of Mediation Workshop for Reading Mediators. September 2023: Nicola asked by the Family Mediators Association to return to deliver her Mediation Skills Workshop at their annual conference. June 2023: Annual one-day Mediation workshop for University of Essex. April 2023: Training Jersey Family Law Association February 2023: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 18th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. January 2023: Nicola has been invited again as Guest Lecturer in Brussels by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership post graduate course. “ADR in Art and Cultural matters”. December 2022: Nicola has been made Head of 4PB NCDR Group in Chambers. December 2022: Nicola has been made Head of 4PB ADR Group in Chambers. December 2022: Nicola Delivered in-house training to solicitors in Oxfordshire: How to thrive and not just Survive in Family Law November 2022: Nicola delivered 3 days of bespoke advocacy training in St Helier, Jersey, to members of Jersey Family Lawyers Association. October 2022: Nicola was keynote speaker at University College Cork, Ireland: “I hear what you say, but what are you telling me? Understanding the language of disputes and using it to maximum advantage in Mediation.” September 2022: Nicola was asked by the Family Mediators Association to deliver a Mediation Skills Workshop: Skills for Diffusing and De-escalating Conflict in Mediation, at their annual conference. September 2022: Nicola Wallace was invited to deliver a workshop at the annual Family Mediators Association Conference, Kings College, London; “The interface between Family Law & Mediation…coming out of the shadows. Diffusing and de-escalating conflict: theory and practice.” June 2022: Nicola delivered a one-day Mediation workshop for the University of Essex. March 2022: Nicola has been invited again as Guest Lecturer in the Netherlands by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership post graduate course. February 2022: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 17th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. November 2021: Nicola was a panel member for Bar Council Complaints seminar. May 2021: Nicola delivered her one-day course Using Words Well for Resolution at their annual conference. February 2021: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 16th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. November 2020: Nicola was a panel member for Bar Council Complaints seminar. February 2020: Nicola was again invited to be a judge at the 15th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. January 2020: Nicola was invited as Guest Lecturer in Brussels by the Royal Academy/Maastricht University for their Executive Masters in Cultural Leadership course, The role of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Art and Cultural Disputes. November 2019: Nicola delivered a workshop Using Words Well at Resolution DR conference, Nottingham. September 2019: Nicola delivered 4 days of in-house advocacy training in Newcastle Upon Tyne. February 2019: Nicola has again been invited to be a judge at the 14th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. June 2018: Nicola was invited as a panel member to speak about succession planning and protection of personal property and assets in divorce at the Art Business Summit, Adare Manor, Ireland. June 2018: Nicola was invited to be part of the small team of International Lawyers, led by William Charron of Pryor Cashman LLP, New York, who have been developing a centre of excellence for Art and Heritage disputes “Court of Arbitration for Art” (CAfA) in the Hague. Nicola presented on the subject of Mediation at the launch of CAfA at the AiA Conference, The Hague. February 2018: Nicola was invited to be a judge at the 13th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. 3rd November 2017: Nicola was invited to speak as a panel member on the subject of mediation at The Art Business Summit, Dublin. June 2017: Nicola was part of the Faculty at Harvard Law School, assisting in the delivery of the Advanced Mediation Course: Mediating Complex Disputes. February 2017: Nicola was invited to be a judge at the 12th ICC Mediation competition, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris. November 2016: 21st Ius Commune Congress, Maastricht University: ‘The role of Mediation in Art & Heritage Disputes’. November 2016: As part of Art Resolve, Nicola presented ‘Mediation in Art and Heritage Disputes’: Art Law conference, Sotheby’s Institute. November 2016: Nicola presented ‘Mediation – Managing the Litigation Risk’: Art Law conference, K & Gates LLP. March 2016: Nicola was invited again to present at the MACCH conference, Maastricht University –‘The Role of Mediation in Art-related disputes.’ November 2015: Nicola was invited to deliver a lecture at Hague University of Applied Sciences.

Olivia Gaunt

Olivia is rapidly building a busy practice across all areas of family law, having joined chambers as a tenant in October 2022 following the successful completion of her pupillage. Olivia appears regularly in the High Court, Family Court and before Lay Justices. Olivia has conducted appeals in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and she has appeared both led and unled. Olivia is a co-author of ‘The Brief’, a monthly financial remedies update published in the Family Law Journal. Olivia was shortlisted for ‘Young Barrister of the Year’ at the 2024 Family Law Awards. Prior to commencing pupillage, Olivia worked as a paralegal in the Divorce and Family department at Stewarts for over a year, where she assisted on high-net-worth financial remedies matters and private children law matters. Olivia previously volunteered with the Personal Support Unit (now Support Through Court), with the National Centre for Domestic Violence and with the Schools Consent Project. Family Finance Olivia is regularly instructed at all stages of financial remedy proceedings. Olivia has experience of cases involving a range of complex issues, such as issues relating to the beneficial ownership of assets, material non-disclosure and non-compliance. Olivia has experience of advising in relation to the validity and recognition of a marriage. Private Children Law Olivia represents local authorities, parents and children at all stages of care proceedings, in cases involving domestic abuse, and drug and alcohol misuse. Olivia also has experience of applications for the deprivation of liberty of a minor. International Children Law Olivia appears in the High Court in child abduction matters both pursuant to the 1980 Hague Convention and the inherent jurisdiction, at all stages of proceedings. Olivia has experience of ‘stranded spouse’ cases. Public Children Law Olivia represents local authorities, parents and children at all stages of care proceedings, in cases involving domestic abuse, and drug and alcohol misuse. Olivia also has experience of applications for the deprivation of liberty of a minor.

Paul Hepher

Paul practices exclusively in cases involving children where he has an established reputation as a tenacious advocate, committed to achieving the best outcomes for his clients. He has been described by his clients as sympathetic and insightful, able to listen and give clear, focused and pragmatic advice. His particular strength lies in advancing his client’s case in court in a determined, compelling and persuasive manner. In handing down judgment in a complex and protracted dispute between parents in which Paul brought the challenge on behalf of the aggrieved parent, the trial Judge remarked on his skills in cross examination: “whilst fair and courteous, like a surgeon with a scalpel, he has enabled this court to cut through the lies, distortions, the fantasy, the deception and enabled the court to see the truth. This has, in my judgment, been an absolutely vital operation for this family, because its reconstruction must be built on facts, not fantasies.” (Re A & B (Children) (Fact Finding) [2014] EWCCB72 (Fam) – HHJ Tyzack QC). This typifies his approach. Paul often appears against leading counsel. He will not hesitate to take matters on appeal where required. He is frequently instructed in the Court of Appeal. A range of his reported cases appear on this website. He has a commanding and authoritative knowledge of current law and practice. He is a contributing editor to Rayden and Jackson on Relationship Breakdown, Finances and Children, the leading practitioner’s textbook on family law. He has been appointed as Special Advocate to the Court of Appeal. He presents lectures and seminars on topical issues of child law. He accepts instructions on a Direct Access basis. Private Children Law Paul’s practice focuses on acting for parents who are often locked into fraught and highly contentious residence, relocation (international and domestic) and contact disputes. These cases frequently involve allegations of domestic abuse, emotional, psychological, physical or sexual, including aspects of parental estrangement and alienation. He has been involved in a number of protracted and complex High Court parental alienation cases. He has the experience to bring into such cases wider professional expertise where required, with instruction of experts within the field to help cut through the issues. International Children Law As a member of the 4PB international child law practice group, Paul acts frequently for parents concerned with children moving across international borders and involved in international jurisdictional disputes. He is experienced in applications made by parents to relocate, domestic and international, where he takes on cases across the Family Court, often concluding at High Court level. He frequently appears in the High Court in inherent jurisdiction, wardship, child abduction, Hague Convention and non Hague convention proceedings. His expertise crosses over from representing parents to also acting for children and local authorities. Examples of the cases he takes on include Re TC and JC (Children:Relocation) [2013] EWHC292 (Fam) – securing a parent permission permanently to relocate, in that case to Australia, and Re L (Children) (2017) EWCA Civ 441, in obtaining orders for the return of abducted children, in that case from Romania. His experience in relocation cases and recovery of children has involved him in leading cases in a multitude of jurisdictions, most recently, amongst others, across Europe, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Iran. A number of Paul’s cases have attracted media interest. He has experience in securing press restriction orders as well as working with the media where required to obtain media publicity orders. The recovery of a young child from Spain, widely reported across the media, is one example (The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham v Jessica Richards & Elliana Shand [2017] EWHC 2863 (Fam) 2017 WL 05282158). Public Children Law Across the wide sphere of public law work, Paul acts for parents, grandparents, competent children, Guardians and Local Authorities. His focus is on medical cases involving allegations of non accidental injury, including infant deaths and near fatal incidents. He acts frequently in cases with mental health issues. He has acted in a number of cases involving allegations of fabricated or induced illness. His public law practice takes him into the Court of Protection where he represents private individuals and public bodies, drawing from his wealth of experience within the parallel best interest jurisdiction. He has expertise in adoption and special guardianship, with a focus on Human Rights’ arguments. He has mounted and resisted applications for revocation of Placement Orders and Adoption Orders, appearing in the High Court case of Re AW (a Child: Application to revoke Placement Order: Leave to oppose Adoption) 2013 EWHC 2967 (Fam). He is adept at dealing with expert witnesses, including cross examining experts where challenge is required. He was instructed for a parent in the lead case in alcohol and drug testing (Re H (A Child) (Hair Strand Tests) 2017 EWFC 64).

Piers Pressdee KC

Shortlisted as 2024 Family Law Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards and 2024 Family Law KC of the Year at the Family Law Awards and consistently ranked in the top tier for children law by the Legal 500, Piers is considered one of the foremost children law barristers in the country. He practises exclusively in the field of children law, undertaking significant and complex cases at first instance and appellate level. He has a predominantly private children law practice and is particularly well-known for his expertise in relocation cases (international and domestic) and in disputes over child arrangements and related issues (including those involving allegations of domestic abuse and alienating behaviours). In the public children law field, Piers has vast experience of undertaking cases entailing allegations of the most serious physical, sexual or emotional abuse. His practice also includes cross-border abduction and jurisdictional disputes. Piers is typically brought in from the outset of cases to strategise and run them from start to finish. He regularly acts for high-profile, UHNW and HNW individuals and his recent clients have included leading figures from the worlds of sport, business, finance and entertainment. Piers has appeared in numerous reported cases and has for almost 20 years been recommended for children law by the major guides to the legal profession. A former co-chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children, he co-authors the leading practitioner work, Dictionary of Private Children Law, published annually. He took silk in 2010 and joined 4PB in 2021. Private Children Law Shortlisted as 2024 Family Law Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards and 2024 Family Law KC of the Year at the Family Law Awards and consistently ranked in the top tier for children law by the Legal 500, Piers is considered one of the foremost children law barristers in the country. He practises exclusively in the field of children law, with a predominantly private children law practice, undertaking significant and complex cases at first instance and appellate level. He is particularly well-known for his expertise in relocation cases (international and domestic), in child arrangements disputes (including those involving allegations of domestic abuse and alienating behaviours) and in proceedings over schooling and other parenting issues. He is typically brought in from the outset of cases to strategise and run them from start to finish. He regularly acts for high-profile, UHNW and HNW individuals and his recent clients have included leading figures from the worlds of sport, business, finance and entertainment. Piers has appeared in numerous reported cases, including recently in the private children law field GM & Anor v EB & Anor (Rules of Evidence) [2024] EWHC 288 (Fam), MG v AR (Security for Costs) [2022] 2 FLR 583, MY v FY (Contact) [2021] 1 FLR 883 and AY v AS and another (Relocation) [2020] 1 FLR 536. Public Children Law Shortlisted as 2024 Family Law Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards and 2024 Family Law KC of the Year at the Family Law Awards and consistently ranked in the top tier for children law by the Legal 500, Piers is considered one of the foremost children law barristers in the country. He practises exclusively in the field of children law, undertaking significant and complex cases at first instance and appellate level. He has vast experience of appearing at first instance for local authorities, parents, other family members and guardians in cases entailing allegations of the most serious physical, sexual or emotional abuse and has been instructed in a number of appeals involving important points of law and practice. He has appeared in numerous reported cases, including recently in the public children law field R (Care Proceedings: Joinder of Foster Carers) [2022] 1 FLR 395, CTD (A Child: Rehearing) [2021] 1 FLR 868, EF, GH, IJ (care proceedings) [2019] EWFC 75 and M (A Child) (Secure Accommodation) [2018] EWCA Civ 2707. Piers is a former co-chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children and served on the National Family Justice Board. International Children Law Shortlisted as 2024 Family Law Silk of the Year at the Legal 500 Awards and 2024 Family Law KC of the Year at the Family Law Awards and consistently ranked in the top tier for children law by the Legal 500, Piers is considered one of the foremost children law barristers in the country. He practises exclusively in the field of children law, undertaking significant and complex cases at first instance and appellate level. He is particularly well-known for his expertise in international relocation cases and his practice also includes cross-border abduction and jurisdictional disputes. Piers has appeared in numerous reported cases, including the international relocation cases AY v AS and another (Relocation) [2020] 1 FLR 536 [2020] and Re F and H (Children: Relocation) [2008] 2 FLR 1667. Piers is a former co-chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children and served on the National Family Justice Board. Non-court dispute resolution Piers is trained in collaborative law and provides early neutral evaluation across the full range of private children law disputes. Publications & Training Co-author, Dictionary of Private Children Law (Class Legal, annual). Revised and updated the ‘Children and Young Persons’ volumes of Halsbury’s Laws of England (5th edition, 2012). Co-author, The Public Law Outline: The Court Companion (Family Law, 2008). Co-author, Contact: The New Deal (Family Law, 2006). Contributor to Family Law journal and Family Law Week. Regular lecturer of judges and practitioners on children law topics (including most recently on challenging section 7 reports for the 2023 White Paper Children Law Conference). Interviews on children law and practice to The Times, The Observer, The Independent, BBC and Sky News.

Pippa Sanger

Pippa is a specialist Family Law practitioner with a particular focus on financial remedies and private children law. She is often instructed for her forensic attention to detail and calm, measured approach. Prior to coming to the Bar, Pippa worked as a forensic accountant. She has utilised these skills to great advantage in cases involving expert accountancy or valuation evidence, multi-jurisdictional assets, complex tax issues, non-disclosure and enforcement. She has an enviable record in relation to applications for expert accountancy evidence, and applications for contempt in the face of non-compliance. Pippa is also regularly instructed in a range of private children work with issues involving domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health and intractable opposition to contact. Pippa provides joint advice to separating couples as part of the Divorce Surgery, and sits as a private FDR judge. She is often chosen in these roles as a result of her accountancy expertise. Family Finance Prior to coming to the Bar, Pippa worked as a forensic accountant at KPMG. This provided her with a broad range of experience of financial matters from multi-jurisdictional asset tracing to analysis of complex financial transactions. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 2013 and retains her membership of the ICAEW. As a result of these expertise, Pippa has been instructed on cases involving expert accountancy or valuation evidence, multi-jurisdictional assets, complex tax issues, non-disclosure and enforcement. She has been led by Charles Hale KC on a number of such cases in the High Court and within arbitration. Pippa has an enviable record successfully applying for or opposing applications for expert accountancy evidence. She has had further success on a number of committal applications within financial remedy proceedings following non-compliance with court orders. Pippa has an interest in cases relating to ‘non-marriage’, void and voidable marriages, and the cross-over with financial remedies. She was recently led by Christopher Hames KC in PF v QF [2024] EWFC 10(B), successfully opposing a husband’s application to strike out the wife’s financial remedy claim based on her alleged bigamy that rendered the marriage void. Private Children Law Pippa is regularly instructed in a range of children work with issues involving domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health and intractable opposition to contact. Pippa is a co-editor of leading textbook Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters having authored the section relating to procedure in children law cases. She has assisted in expert witness training at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Non-court dispute resolution Pippa provides joint advice to separating couples as part of the Divorce Surgery. Pippa also sits as a private FDR judge and can provide an early neutral evaluation. She also regularly acts for parties for pFDRs and within arbitration. She is often valued for her accountancy expertise. Inquests and Public Inquiries Pippa was instructed as part of the 4PB team that worked on the investigation by IICSA into sexual abuse allegations against Lord Janner. Publications/ Training Pippa is a member of chamber’s Financial Remedy Practice Group committee. She is interested in supporting other juniors within this field and runs a training day for pupils as well as an annual essay competition for students. Pippa acts as a mentor through Gray’s Inn. Pippa regularly provides seminars on financial remedies and private children law topics to a range of solicitors. Pippa is a co-editor of leading textbook Rayden & Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters having authored the section relating to procedure in children law cases. She has assisted in expert witness training at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. In her spare time Pippa enjoys cooking and playing tennis. She lives in South East London with her children.

Professor Marilyn Freeman Phd

Marilyn Freeman was called to the English Bar (Middle Temple) in 1986 after completing an LL.M at Kings College, London. She then spent some time teaching Law, raising a family, and in practice at the Bar. She joined London Metropolitan University (previously City of London Polytechnic and London Guildhall University) in 1992 as Senior Family Law Lecturer, after which she was appointed firstly as Reader in Child and Family Law, and subsequently as Professor of Family Law. During this time, in addition to holding a specialist door tenancy at chambers for many years, Marilyn concentrated her research efforts and practical work in the areas of international child abduction and international children issues, gaining her doctorate in international child abduction, and is widely acknowledged as a leading expert in these areas in which she remains actively involved. Marilyn publishes widely and is regularly invited to address both national and international conferences on her work. She has undertaken several ground-breaking research projects, some supported by government departments (Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Justice), including research into the effects of both international child abduction and relocation, and is currently involved in further research in these areas, as well as in the issues relating to forced marriage. Although much of her work concerns international matters, Marilyn is also actively involved in domestic Family Law issues, including those relating to divorce, parental responsibility, residence and contact. This long-term involvement with Family Law matters and their outcomes has resulted in Marilyn’s enduring concern for those who are affected by them, both in relation to the relevant law and practice which govern the disputes which arise in their cases, and the most helpful ways for resolving these complicated and testing family situations. It is this commitment which has led to Marilyn qualifying as a Family Mediator able to undertake direct consultations with children. Marilyn is Co-Director of The International Centre for Family Law, Policy and Practice (ICFLPP) which she established in 2009 in recognition of the need for all those connected to family law issues to work together in order to properly serve those who are involved in these cases. The concept has been well received, as evidenced in the success of the multi-disciplinary international conferences which she organised in 2010 on the linked themes of International Child Abduction, Forced Marriage and Relocation, and in 2013 on the topics of Parentage, Equality and Gender. Baroness Hale of Richmond, a former academic and a member of the Supreme Court with a keen interest in the developments in Family Law, is the very active Patron for the ICFLPP and is often involved in its activities. The ICFLPP’s on-line, peer-reviewed journal continues the aim of bringing together the academic and practical sides of Family Law, and has an editorial board which includes key academics, lawyers, and judges.

Rachael Kelsey

Rachael is a founding Partner of SKO- the largest niche Family Law firm in Scotland. She won ‘Private Client Lawyer of the Year’ at the inaugural Legal 500 Scottish Law Awards in 2023, is the only ‘Star Individual’ in the current Edition of Chambers and Partners, the only Scottish lawyer in band one of the UK-wide, Chambers High Net Worth Guide (2024) and was the first Scottish lawyer in the Spears 500 Family Lawyers Guide. Rachael was elected President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) in 2023- the first Scot and the only woman from the UK in the thirty-seven year history of the Academy. Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 have both described Rachael as, “the doyenne of Scots family law”. She was The Times Scottish Lawyer of the Week in July 2020 and is accredited as a Specialist in Family Law and as a Family Mediator by the Law Society of Scotland. The Legal 500 report that “Rachael Kelsey is a superstar and I just don’t know how she does everything she does in the hours there are. She is so engaging, very pragmatic and no-nonsense, yet also sensitive and responsive as her clients and the circumstances require.” Rachael has cases in both the Court of Session and the Sheriff Court. She also provides expert opinions on Scots law for courts outwith Scotland. Many of her cases have international or intra-UK jurisdictional issues, an area of specialism for which she is particularly well known and in respect of which she has built up a UK-wide practice. She has a particular interest in the issues that arise when acting for individuals in same-sex relationships. Rachael is known as someone who is adept at using her considerable knowledge of the law to deliver novel, yet practical, solutions for clients. She is particularly experienced in acting for individuals for whom there are privacy concerns and is used to managing the issues that flow from people’s private lives being in the public eye. Rachael has lectured widely- nationally and internationally- on pure family law issues as well as on dispute resolution (DR) generally. She enjoys writing, and talking, about Scots family Law, both for lay-people and other lawyers, and is widely published and regularly appears on the broadcast media. In 2022 Rachael was re-appointed by the Lord President to the Family Law Committee of the Scottish Civil Justice Council for a third term of office. She participated in the Hague Conference in Private International Law Parentage and Surrogacy Project Experts’ Group for 3 years and is now participating in the follow-up Working Group. She is a FLAGS (Family Law Arbitration Group Scotland) Arbitrator and trainer, is the only Scottish Arbitrator on the IFLAS (International Family Law Arbitration Scheme) panel. Rachael is a past Chair of the Family Law Association; was Chair, a Director and Trustee of Family Mediation Lothian for eight years, until 2017 and was Treasurer of CALM (the organisation of accredited family solicitor mediators in Scotland) for nine years until 2016. She was the co-author in 2020 and 2024 of the Scottish Chapter of the ‘Blue Book’- the most widely read international comparative family law guide) published by Thomson Reuters. In 2016 Rachael was on the Scottish Law Commission Arbitration Advisory Group for the Review of Contract Law: Third Party Rights.

Rachel Chisholm

Rachel is a specialist family law barrister with a particular interest in the financial aspects of family breakdown and the arrangements for children after parental separation. She handles a broad caseload of complex financial remedy matters and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 disputes. Rachel is regularly instructed in private law children matters involving issues of shared care, intractable opposition to contact and those in which the local authority have become involved due to allegations of harm. Rachel is a Resolution trained family mediator, registered with the FMC. She mediates both financial and children related matters. Rachel is in training as a psychodynamic psychotherapist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust. She holds a position as an Honorary Psychotherapist within the NHS. Rachel’s combined training and expertise offers client’s a unique and holistic approach to the resolution of their disagreements. Rachel has a particular interest in intractable private law matters. She co-authored and presented a paper for the 6th World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights in Sydney, Australia on this issue. Rachel was awarded the International Professional and Legal Development Grant to assist her in presenting this paper in Sydney. Rachel has also been led in the Supreme Court in the matter of A (Children) [2013] UKSC 60 by Baroness Scotland QC and Ruth Kirby on behalf of the Centre for Family Law and Practice. Rachel regularly represents clients in all levels of the family court and High Court. Rachel has wide-ranging experience of public law children matters. She has been led by Jane Probyn and Alison Grief QC in a number of lengthy fact finding hearings concerning the death of or serious injury caused to children. In 2014, Rachel was awarded a Pegasus Scholarship which enabled her to work with the legal charity ‘TRIAL: Tracking Impunity Always’ in Sarajevo, Bosnia for three months. Rachel worked as a paralegal at the Children’s Legal Centre in London before starting pupillage. She has also worked in the United States as an intern at The Louisiana Capital Assistance Center in New Orleans.

Ralph Marnham

Ralph joined Chambers in October 2020 following successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Andrew Powell, Lucy Cheetham and Harry Gates. Ralph specialises in public, private and international children law, as well as the law relating to surrogacy. He has experience appearing at all levels in the Family Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He is known for his empathetic, constructive, and practical approach. Ralph has also worked as a judicial assistant in the Family Division of the High Court. Before joining Chambers, he worked as a family paralegal at TV Edwards where he gained experience in all aspects of family work. He has volunteered as an advocate and independent visitor for the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS), as a refugee support caseworker for the British Red Cross, at the Personal Support Unit (now known as Support Through Court) and as a prison mentor for young offenders. Prior to coming to the bar, Ralph worked in management consultancy and public relations. He is bilingual in French having worked and studied in Paris. In his spare time, he enjoys cycle touring, tennis and running. International Children Law Ralph has a busy practice in child abduction cases and regularly appears in the High Court on applications under the 1980 Hague Convention, Wardship and the Inherent Jurisdiction. He has been instructed on a number of reported cases, including Re M (A Child) [2020] EWCA Civ 992, a seminal case on the scope of the High Court’s parens patriae jurisdiction to protect British children abroad. Private Children Law Ralph is regularly instructed in complex private law cases, representing parents, children and grandparents at all stages of proceedings, including fact finding and final hearings. He frequently acts in cases involving relocation, allegations of parental alienation, intractable hostility and domestic violence. He has successfully appealed final orders and has experience in enforcement proceedings. Ralph is particularly interested in the developing area of surrogacy law and has represented parties at final hearings on applications for parental orders in the High Court. Public Children Law Ralph has an active public law practice. He often represents parties in proceedings that involve non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and deprivation of liberty. Ralph has acted as junior counsel in complex High Court cases, and has experience in issues relating to capacity and mental health. Inquests and Public Inquiries As a pupil, Ralph worked on the IICSA inquiry (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse), Children in the care of Lambeth Council strand. Ralph assisted 4pb barristers who were representing the core participant, Lambeth council. Publications/Training Alongside his practice, Ralph frequently delivers lectures to solicitors and has assisted with the expert witness training of paediatricians at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Rebecca Foulkes

Rebecca is a formidable advocate, recognised for her intellectual rigour and strategic thinking. She is a specialist in children law, both private and public, with expertise in legally and factually complex and challenging cases. She is a good tactician, with a keen forensic eye for detail. She has represented clients in all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and has appeared in many reported cases. Private Children Law Rebecca is in demand from leading solicitors for her robust yet sensitive approach to private law children cases. She is acutely aware of how hard litigation can be for parents and keeps their concerns at the forefront of her mind at all times. She is vastly experienced in applications for child arrangements, prohibited steps and specific issue orders. Rebecca is recognised for her skilful handling of disputes arising from assisted reproduction and cases brought under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, appearing in the Court of Appeal in Re G (Children) [2014] EWCA Civ 336. Rebecca also accepts instructions to act for applicants and respondents in applications for injunctions under the Family Law Act. Public Children Law Rebecca’s public law practice includes acting for local authorities, parents and children’s guardians and she has appeared in several high-profile reported cases. She has particular expertise in non-accidental injury cases which involve complex medical evidence and in the field of adoption. International Children Law Rebecca has considerable experience of abduction cases and applications for return made under the Hague Convention, appearing successfully for both applicants and respondents. Court of Protection Rebecca has acted for local authorities and parents in the Court of Protection. Publications/Training Rebecca has written and presented seminars for leading publishers.

Rex Howling KC

Rex enjoys a broad family practice. He has most recently gained a strong following and reputation as a care practitioner but this has not detracted from his core skills as both an ancillary relief and private law children specialist. He particularly enjoys cases with either an international element, such as relocation cases, or legally or factually complicated ones which require an eye for detail and careful analysis. Rex also practices in civil work, particularly those areas which can loosely be considered to have a family or financial element to them, such as trusts, wills and probate. Rex prides himself on being hardworking and thorough with a keen awareness for the need for careful strategic and tactical planning. His catch phrase is “careful planning prevents a poor performance”. He is well liked by solicitors and respected for his strong people skills. He believes that a robust sense of humour and re-assuring manner are vital tools in any family case. In the recent case of Young v Young, Rex recieved praise from J Moor: “92. I also wish to pay tribute to Mr Howling QC and Miss Johal who have appeared on behalf of the Wife, ably supported by their instructing solicitors. This case has been as complex as any this Division has ever encountered. They took on the case at the last minute yet have managed to become completely conversant with the huge volume of paperwork. The case was presented to me with great ability. Nothing more could have been said or done on their client’s behalf.`’

Rhiannon Lloyd

Rhiannon is a family barrister specialising in financial remedies, regularly representing high net worth clients in marriages and civil partnerships. Her cases often involve issues around complex trust structures, offshore matters, non disclosure, pre and post nuptial agreements. She also specialises in private law children work, believing there is a distinct advantage to the client in being able to offer assistance on both the financial and child law aspects of their case. Rhiannon prides herself her compassionate and approachable manner with clients, believing this to be particularly important in the emotional context of family law. However she is straight talking and has a reputation as a tenacious and forceful advocate, who works tirelessly for her cases. She is particularly skilled in forensic analysis which is put to equally effective use in financial cases and children cases involving serious allegations. She is known for her tactical brain and tough negotiation skills. She regularly gives lectures and seminars on various aspects of the law on financial remedies and children. She has been quoted in The Times, Financial Times and many other publications. Rhiannon is co-author of The Brief, the monthly financial remedy update in the Lexis Nexis Family Law Journal. Private Children Law Rhiannon’s practice in private law is focused on the most complex cases involving abuse allegations, alienation, relocation, transfer of residence and specific issues like vaccination and schooling. She never loses sight of how important the subject matter of private law is to the clients, there can be nothing of more profound importance than a child’s relationship with their parent. Rhiannon was invited to speak to Judges and other family law professionals in Japan about parental responsibility and child arrangements on account of a movement for reform of Japanese law, and the law has subsequently changed to more resemble the UK system. Family Finance Rhiannon has a wealth of experience in financial remedies, with her cases usually involving some of the most difficult and complex issues, such as off shore wealth, complex company and trust structures, capacity, non-disclosure and high net worth individuals. She is sought after by solicitors on account of her tactical prowess and negotiation skills as well as her written and oral advocacy, these qualities are deployed highly effectively to secure the best result for the client. Recent reported cases include: https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2023/3098.html&query=(Williams)+AND+(v)+AND+(Williams) https://www.bailii.org/cgi-bin/format.cgi?doc=/ew/cases/EWHC/Fam/2023/3479.html&query=(Williams)+AND+(v)+AND+(Williams) Rhiannon’s legal knowledge in this area is unparalleled and she is a lead author of the monthly Lexis Nexis Family Law Journal case law update called The Brief.

Rob Littlewood

Rob is a specialist children law practitioner. A large proportion of his work involves complex public and private Children Act cases. He represents Guardians, parents and local authorities. He is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor and has represented vulnerable adults at the Court of Protection. Rob has been instructed by the NSPCC He has particular expertise in the following areas: Serious injuries to children; infant death and near fatal injuries Complex neglect/emotional abuse Sexual abuse of children, child pornography; he has extensive experience of representing child and adult victims of inter-familial and/or generational abuse Head injury and other complex medical injury cases Complex private law proceedings; representation of rule 9.5 Guardians and parents Cases involving learning disability and Mental Health Act issues Factitious/Induced illness Cases involving the death of a parent Adoption, Special Guardian and Wardship Case management in concurrent criminal cases He practices at every level of the family court system and is regularly instructed in High Court Cases. He has extensive experience of legal advice work and teaching. He has worked as an advisor to a Law Centre and to a number of voluntary groups.

Robin Barda

Robin specialises in all aspects of childs work including residence and contact disputes, adoptions, child abductions, and public law applications. He carries out a considerable amount of work for local authorities, guardians and parents, mostly in the High Court at the Principal and other District Registries, but also in County Courts and in the Court of Appeal. Robin’s cases have involved clients across a broad spectrum of wealth, including well-known personalities, and cases which have received media attention.

Rosanne Godfrey-Lockwood

Rosanne has been exposed to the full spectrum of family law, both in her first two years of practice and throughout her training. Having completed her pupillage at QEB, she specialises in financial remedy proceedings, in addition to her private children practice. Rosanne has experience of the Child Maintenance System, providing both advice and representation at First and Upper Tier Tribunal level. Rosanne has assisted clients in difficult multi-jurisdictional cases involving pre-marital agreements, complex intervener applications, foreign marital regimes and jurisdiction races. She has made and resisted applications under Part III of the MPFA 1984. Rosanne’s most recent appearances in the High Court have involved the radicalisation of children and applications for leave to remove children from the jurisdiction to Non-Convention countries. Rosanne assisted Lewis Marks QC in the high-profile Part III Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act litigation of Z v Z and Others [2016] EWHC 911 (Fam) and NR v AB [2016] EWHC 277 (Fam), both of which entailed complex asset structures and preliminary legal arguments on the strength of which the main proceedings stood or fell. Rosanne has also assisted Tim Amos QC on a German finance case before Holman J, attending the hearing and assisting with research and preliminary documentation. Before coming to the Bar, Rosanne worked with incapacitated Dementia and Alzheimer patients at the Surrey Royal Country Hospital. She later moved to Belgium to join a large EU lobbying firm based in Brussels, attending meetings and speaking with European Commissioners in the European Parliament, Council and Commission. In 2014 she worked in-house on the LIBOR scandal for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Last year Rosanne worked in Kuala Lumpur at two of South East Asia’s largest law firms, and has good links with the Kuala Lumpur Regional centre for Arbitration.

Ruth Kirby

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.

Sally Bradley

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.

Sam King KC

Sam’s main area of practice is in children’s law. She is regularly instructed in both private and public law cases. She represents all parties in complex cases involving allegations of sexual abuse or where there are psycho-sexual factors in issue, non-accidental injury, psychiatric ill-health, intractable contact cases and where shared residence is in issue. Sam’s practice increasingly reflects her interest in the law relating to surrogacy, reproductive technologies and co-parenting arrangements. She also appears in leave to remove applications and domestic and international adoption cases and is a member of chambers’ international movement of children group. Sam has an interest in forced marriage and the children’s law cases which arise in that context. Sam often gives lectures and seminars to lawyers and other professionals. Her lectures include talks on the subject of evidence gathering in respect of sexual abuse (LexisNexis), recent developments in the area of private law (LexisNexis), adoption and placement orders (4pb and Family Law Week). She has recently given seminars on routes to parenthood under the HFEA 2008 (Resolutions London) and in respect of international adoption and surrogacy.

Samantha Woodham

Praised by clients, colleagues and the legal directories alike, Samantha specialises in complex and high-value financial disputes and in contentious private law children cases. She is a fearless advocate with a keen intellect, yet possesses a warm and approachable manner that puts clients at ease. Samantha is recognised as leader in her field in Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, Spears, Citywealth and the Tatler High Net Worth Guide. From her extensive experience representing husbands and wives in the Family Court, Samantha was convinced there was a better way to resolve family change than requiring each spouse, from day one, to seek advice from separate legal teams. In 2018 she, and fellow barrister Harry Gates, set up The Divorce Surgery, which was the first regulated law firm to enable separating couples to share a lawyer on divorce. The Divorce Surgery was named as one of the FT50 most innovative law firms in Europe. Samantha is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR), for which she has received numerous awards, and appears regularly in print and broadcast media. Samantha and Harry were commissioned by Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot. Samantha was appointed to the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in 2024, which is tasked with reform of the pre-court space. Non-court dispute resolution Samantha believes passionately that for the right cases, Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) can bring a more efficient, cost-effective and dignified outcome for families. From her extensive experience representing husbands and wives in the Family Court, Samantha was convinced there was a better way to resolve family change than requiring each spouse, from day one, to seek advice from separate legal teams. In 2018 she, and fellow barrister Harry Gates, set up The Divorce Surgery, which was the first regulated law firm to enable separating couples to share a lawyer on divorce. The Divorce Surgery was named as one of the FT50 most innovative law firms in Europe. Samantha is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR), for which she has received numerous awards, and appears regularly in print and broadcast media. Samantha and Harry were commissioned by Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot. Samantha was appointed to the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in 2024, which is tasked with reform of the pre-court space. Private Children Law Samantha is sought out for her work on cases concerning living and contact arrangements for children, both within this country and internationally. She is often instructed in factually complex and difficult cases in which her charm, down-to-earth professionalism and unwavering support are appreciated by clients involved in litigation over their children’s futures. Samantha is now increasingly in demand from families who want joint legal advice, either before court proceedings are issued or as a route out of litigation. Family Finance Samantha is in high demand from clients with complex financial circumstances, both domestic and international. She is known for her meticulous preparation, and her understanding of the corporate world. She speaks conversational French and Spanish, and qualified as a solicitor at a magic circle law firm before joining the Bar, giving her a good grounding in corporate law. In addition to representing married or formerly married clients in financial disputes, Samantha has considerable expertise in financial cases relating to children (Schedule 1 cases) where the parents may not have been married and claims by unmarried cohabitants under trusts of land legislation. This is a specialist area, and Samantha is widely recognised for her skill and success in representing her clients who find themselves in a very different legal landscape to married couples. She is recognised as an expert in complex and high value cases. Publications/Training Samantha is a leader in the field of Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR), for which she has received numerous awards, and appears regularly in print and broadcast media. She gives regular lectures and seminars on NCDR and the development of family law. Samantha and Harry were commissioned by Harper Collins to write a book about how couples can divorce well: The Divorce Surgery: The Art of Untying the Knot. Samantha also co-wrote the relocation chapter in the re-published Rayden and Jackson on Divorce and Family Matters in 2016. Samantha was appointed to the sub-committee of the Online Procedure Rules Committee in 2024, which is tasked with reform of the pre-court space.

Simon Rowbotham

Simon’s practice began in Manchester, where his work included all areas of family law. Since 2018, he has practised from London exclusively in private law, family finance and the Court of Protection. He sits as a Recorder on the Midlands Circuit and has been appointed to the Family Justice Council. He has appeared as a legal guest on television and radio, including BBC Breakfast and Radio 4’s Today programme. Simon is an experienced practitioner in financial remedies following divorce and the dissolution of civil partnerships. He receives regular instruction in cases ranging from modest means to high-net worth, involving pensions, companies and trusts. He is experienced in working with expert evidence (particularly in relation to forensic accountants, surveyors, pensions and health) and has conducted hearings at all levels, including the Court of Appeal, see Ratcliffe v Ratcliffe [2021] EWCA Civ 247. He has experience of drafting pre- and post-nuptial agreements and has worked with cases involving the interpretation of the same, including H v H [2015] EWHC B24 (Fam). He acts in high-net Schedule 1 applications and cohabitation cases under ToLATA 1996. His children work encompasses all areas of private law, including applications for child arrangements (both residence and contact), removal from the jurisdiction, relocation cases and issues of surrogacy and parental responsibility. He also acts in cases of international child abduction and wardship proceedings, see e.g. H v B (BIIa: Enforcement of Domestic Return Order) [2020] EWHC 961 (Fam), [2020] Fam Law 856. He has significant experience of highly-contested contact disputes and applications to relocate both within and outside of the United Kingdom. He often represents clients in tandem with on-going financial remedy proceedings on divorce or applications for occupation and non-molestation orders, appearing with or against silks. Simon is regularly instructed in cases concerning allegations of abuse and controlling and coercive behaviour, as well as cases involving substance misuse and vulnerable adults. He has considerable experience of conducting lengthy fact-finding hearings, including those involving allegations of child sexual abuse and intractable or high conflict disputes, see e.g. M v F (Appeal: Fact Finding) [2019] EWHC 572 (Fam) and M (Children) [2019] EWHC 39 (Fam). Simon undertakes a significant amount of pro bono work through Advocate. In 2022, his representation of a father in a private law finding of fact hearing came to the attention of the President and earned a special mention at the 2022 Bar Pro Bono Awards. Publications ‘Are we nearly there yet? Life at the LGBT+ Bar since the Vaughan-Mason Study’, Counsel (Lexis Nexis, April 2021) ‘The Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill: So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, nisi’, Family Law Week (June 2020) [online] ‘Care proceedings: uncertain perpetrator cases’, Westlaw UK Insight (Westlaw, 2014) [online] ‘In the matter of Cretney v. Bromley (1974); Stephen Cretney’s Principles of Family Law: A Student’s Perspective’ in Probert and Barton (Eds), Fifty Years in Family Law: Essays for Stephen Cretney (Intersentia, 2012), pp. 39-52

Sophie Connors

Sophie Connors is barrister specialising in matrimonial finance and private law children work. Her parallel strengths in these areas allow her to represent clients throughout their relationship breakdown. She is a tenacious advocate who combines practical, sensible and proportionate advice with a determination to get the best outcome in every possible case. She undertakes work at all court levels including frequently undertaking cases with an international element and representing high net worth clients. She has extremely good relationships with her solicitors and lay clients alike. Family Finance Sophie is equally experienced in matrimonial finance and schedule 1 proceedings. She frequently acts for High-Net-Worth clients in both areas. She considers it exceptionally important to keep proportionality in mind no matter the size of the case. Private children law Sophie has a broad practice covering all areas of private law children work with a particular emphasis on relocation cases and complex cases where contact might have broken down. Non court resolution Sophie undertakes private FDR hearings as an adjudicator. Sophie regularly undertakes work for The Divorce Surgery and relishes the opportunity to assist parties in resolving their financial arrangements post-separation as amicably as possible.

Stephen Lyon

Stephen has a wide range of expertise in all areas of family law, from leading child care cases to complex ancillary relief disputes. Although family law is Stephen’s specialist area of practice, his background includes extensive experience in both civil law and criminal law, which gives him highly developed skills as an advocate. Stephen’s principal specialism is ancillary relief, in which he has built up a successful practice built upon a reputation for incisive analysis and, where appropriate, robust advocacy. His civil expertise lends itself well to “big money” cases in which he is able to demonstrate a rigorous and structured approach to complex financial issues. Stephen has been described by the legal press as “approachable and dependable”. He is in great demand by leading family solicitors both in London and the regions and as a consequence enjoys a nationwide reputation as a leading family lawyer. Stephen places great importance on an open and friendly relationship with both solicitors and lay clients, and is a firm believer in providing a service which is practical, realistic, and tailored to meet the needs of individual clients. Stephen is an active participant in the continuing education of solicitors, by way of lectures and seminars.

Susannah Burley

Susannah joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2024 following the successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Katharine Bundell, Michael Edwards and Greg Davies. Susannah is gaining experience in and accepts instructions across every aspect of Chambers’ practice areas. Prior to Undertaking Pupillage, Susannah worked as a Family paralegal in a Surrey Law Firm for over 2 years, working on Financial Remedy and Private Child Law Cases, where she developed her experience and interest in these areas. Previously Susannah has undertaken Pro Bono work through Law Clinic’s and charities, advising clients who are going through Family proceedings, dealing with issues surrounding housing and benefits and has also supported families during inquests. Private Children Law Susannah is regularly instructed to represent, mothers, fathers and interveners in private child law proceedings for child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders. She has regularly undertaken contentious cases and has been praised for her ability to negotiate and narrow the issues between parties outside of court. Family Finance Susannah is adept in financial remedy matters having gained much experience in this area throughout her legal career. She is meticulous in her preparation and has the ability to negotiate and advocate with equal vigour. International Child Law Susannah has appeared in the High Court and has undertaken private law proceedings which include an international element. Susannah practices in international children law with a particular interest in leave to remove and relocation cases. Public Children Law Susannah accepts instructions from both Local Authorities and parents in public child law proceedings. She has been instructed to act for vulnerable clients and is known for her supportive approach. Inquest and Inquiries Susannah has a keen interest in inquests and public enquiries, having undertaken several pro bono cases supporting families who are going through inquests, without recourse to Legal Aid. Susannah has also undertaken bereavement training through her volunteer work, allowing her to sensitively support her client’s through difficult proceedings.

Teertha Gupta KC

Teertha is a specialist senior barrister and trial advocate with over 30 years of experience. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2012 and a (Family) Deputy High Court Judge in 2016. Teertha also sits as a part time Circuit Judge (a Recorder) in the Criminal and Civil courts. Teertha is an award winning barrister including the Jordan’s Family Law Barrister of the year and Chambers and Partners Family Junior before taking silk. As a silk has been nominated many times and won the prestigious Legal 500 Family Law Queen’s Counsel of the year award in 2018 additionally Teertha was the Lexis-Nexis National Family Law QC of the Year in 2021/22. He often lectures and chairs at prestigious, highly regarded family law events and has been interviewed on Radio Four: Face the Facts and Law in Action. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01l7wq5 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/law_in_action/3965871.stm In the last year alone, Teertha has lectured in Abu Dhabi, Armenia and Cape Town. Teertha Represents NGO’s pro bono and conducts many trials and consultations on a Direct Access basis. Teertha is a father of four and knows how difficult parenthood can be. He is unshockable. International Children Law Teertha’s practice is widely spread geographically across England and Northern Ireland (and the Eastern Caribbean) in all levels of court from County court to the CJEU (before Brexit) . He has been involved in over 10 full appeals in the UKSC/House of Lords. Private Children Law His areas of expertise include complex domestic and international children cases such as relocation, cross-border parental abductions and acrimonious private law disputes. Teertha is also the ‘go to’ person for Forced marriage, FGM and stranded spouse cases. He has spoken in the House of Commons and was named by Lord Lester in the House of Lords as one of the four senior pro bono lawyers behind the Forced Marriage Civil Protection Bill which became a statute in 2007. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70126-0001.htm Hotly contested proceedings for clients who are running unpopular arguments before the courts are his forte. He has developed the ability present any case in its best possible light and has been known to have changed Judges’ minds in the most difficult of cases. He examines cases in detail and leaves no stone unturned. Public Children Law Teertha has conducted many public law matters over the years, representing Local Authorities, parents and children in complex matters. He travels extensively throughout the jurisdiction and abroad when he is needed. Teertha successfully led a team of lawyers in the UK Supreme Court in Re T Children [2012] UKSC 36) for CAFCASS making submissions “…on behalf of all future children who are subjects of fact-finding hearings in care proceedings, to ensure that their interests are protected and are seen to be protected..” Non-court dispute resolution Teertha has trained as a mediator and a collaborative lawyer. His aim is to provide a cost effective, knowledgeable and straight forward service. In recent years, because of his diplomatic and unflappable manner, Teertha’s mediation practice has been on the increase, as parties try to avoid far more costly, lengthy proceedings . Teertha’s model is “shuttle mediation” (where the parties do not meet and sometimes attend with their respective lawyers). Please note Teertha does not provide MIAMS mediation. Inquests and Public Enquiries Teertha been the Advocate to the Court -instructed by the Attorney General (Re S a child [2008] EWHC 3013 (Fam). He intervened on behalf of the Attorney General in MA and JA and The Attorney General [2012] EWHC 2219 (Fam).

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