4PB

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.