Children Law

Call 2006

Appointments:2008–2012Conducted cases for the Bar Pro Bono Unit

2011–2014Secretary of the North Eastern Circuit Family Law Bar Association

2014–presentSecretary of the Yorkshire Region of the Family Law Bar Association

Family Law Bar AssociationNorth Eastern Circuit

2008–2013Affiliate member of Resolution

Caroline has been practising exclusively in family and family-related civil law since September 2010. She has appeared in matters before all tiers of the Family Court, representing clients in care proceedings, financial-remedy hearings, intractable contact disputes, private children-law matters and family. She has represented clients on appeal, including appeals to the Court of Appeal.

Caroline has represented clients with learning difficulties and limitations to their physical capabilities, who lack capacity, and she has been involved in cases where a party requires reasonable adjustments or accommodations in order to participate fully in proceedings. She has considerable experience in cross-examining expert witnesses and those who are more vulnerable, including children and the victims of physical and sexual assault.

She is experienced in working with litigants in person, both as an opponent in family and criminal law and in work she has conducted for the Bar Pro Bono Unit.

Caroline has been instructed in complex care proceedings before the High Court and at circuit judge level, on issues including jurisdiction and fabricated or induced illness (FII). She has represented local authorities, the child/ren (as instructed by CAFCASS), and parents. She has made applications to determine the designated local authority responsible for care and supervision orders; applications for enforcement under the Children Act 1989; and applications for disclosure from the criminal to the family courts (on behalf of parents, CAFCASS and local authorities).

In private-law proceedings, she has acted under the Children Act 1989 (involving local authorities as third parties) and proceedings involving a Part-16 guardian

2001University of Sydney, Australia, BA (Hons) English

2005London Metropolitan University, PGDip in Law

2006College of Law, BVC