Children Law, Family Finance and Court of Protection & Adult Care

Call 2000

North Eastern CircuitFamily Law Bar Association

Children LawCatherine undertakes all aspects of both public and private Children Act proceedings in all courts, representing applicants or respondents. She is a strong advocate: her submissions are often referred to as forceful and persuasive. She prepares thoroughly for trial and is effective in cross-examination.

She gives realistic advice from the outset and has strong negotiation skills, enabling her to help lay clients and instructing solicitors work towards settlement rather than litigation. However, she is not afraid to challenge seemingly insurmountable evidence and she performs well in court.

Catherine enjoys a challenge and has undertaken a number of unusual and high-profile cases. She prefers to follow cases through to their conclusion but is also willing to undertake shorter hearings. She prefers to work together with instructing solicitors and often advises at short notice on drafting and procedure.

Catherine has a good track record of succeeding in defending care and placement applications against the recommendations of the local authority and children’s guardian.

Her very good working medical knowledge enables Catherine to undertake detailed analysis of expert evidence. She has undertaken numerous cases which involve serious non-accidental injuries to children, often appearing against Queen’s Counsel. She also has a particular aptitude for analysis of facts and the testing of evidence.

Family FinanceCatherine has a growing practice in financial remedies and often undertakes both the financial and Children Act private law proceedings arising out of particularly difficult and intractable relationship breakdowns.

She has undertaken high-value cases involving pensions, businesses, property abroad and interests of third parties, including TOLATA applications, but equally recognises the importance of achieving an appropriate settlement where there are more modest means available for division.

Her negotiation skills enable Catherine to work towards agreement, where possible, but she performs well in court and prepares thoroughly for trial. Catherine gives realistic advice from the outset to help lay clients and instructing solicitors work towards settlement rather than litigation but is not afraid to challenge seemingly insurmountable evidence when necessary.

Catherine is a strong advocate, with her submissions often being referred to as forceful and persuasive. She is effective in cross-examination.

Court of Protection & Adult CareCatherine has advised on Court of Protection matters and her experience dealing with child-care matters, both public and private, means she is well-attuned to the sensitivities required when conducting litigation in respect of vulnerable individuals. She enjoys a challenge and has undertaken a number of unusual and high-profile cases.

She has a good track record of success when defending care and placement applications which go against the recommendations of the local authority and children’s guardian.

Catherine has a very good working knowledge of medical matters, and can undertake detailed analysis of expert evidence. She has handled numerous cases involving serious non-accidental injuries to children, and has often appeared against Queen’s Counsel. She has particular skills in the analysis of facts and testing of evidence.

She prefers to follow cases through to conclusion, but will undertake shorter hearings. She prefers to work with instructing solicitors, and often advises at short notice on drafting and procedure.

1987University of Leeds, BSc (Hons) Mathematics

1999Leeds Metropolitan University, PGDip in Law (2.1)

2000BPP Law School, BVC (Very Competent)