St John's Buildings

Aaminah specialises primarily in Information Law and Regulatory work, with particular experience in data protection, having spent 11 years in-house at the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Whilst at the ICO, Aaminah advised on some of the most high profile and complex investigations undertaken by the ICO, including the Consulting Association (construction blacklisting case – undertaking the prosecution of the holder of the blacklist), Operation Spruce (ICO investigation of blue chip clients instructing private investigators) and was part of the legal team advising in Operation Cederberg (investigation into data misuse in political campaigns involving Cambridge Analytica/Facebook).Aaminah advises in all aspects of data protection and GDPR compliance, with a particular interest in data subjects’ rights such as Subject Access Requests (SAR), having experience of advising both data controllers and data subjects in respect of disputes arising from SARs, including in respect of making court applications for compliance orders. Whilst at the ICO, she advised in respect of the first Enforcement Notice issued in respect of a failed SAR, including conducting the subsequent appeal before the Information Tribunal. Aaminah also has experience of advising clients in respect of the handling and reporting of security incidents, as well as the subsequent regulatory investigation. She has developed particular specialist experience in relation to claims for damages and other remedies arising from data protection breaches, as well as breach of confidence and misuse of private information claims. Aaminah has also advised in respect of making applications for interim and final injunctions in disputes with a data protection aspect, Aaminah has extensive experience of advising in relation to and the prosecution of data protection offences, having been the lead in-house prosecutor at the ICO during her time at the employed Bar, advising from the early stages of an investigation up to and including confiscation proceedings. As well as prosecuting information law offences, Aaminah has a particular interest in the overlap with other offences and cybercrime more generally, having experience of the prosecution of Computer Misuse Act offences on behalf of the ICO. Aaminah has been a prosecutor throughout her career and has particular expertise advising on data protection issues that arise in the context of the criminal justice system, having been the lawyer with conduct of the ICO’s investigations into the data protection issues arising from Mobile Phone Extraction in policing and the use of complainants’ data obtained by third parties (linked Operations Kegon and Edessa). Aaminah also has experience of advising in respect of the wider range of Information Acts, including the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (on the application of exemptions and investigations into the offence of concealing or destroying information under section 77) and the Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations (advising on investigations into breaches and advice on electronic marketing). Aaminah is developing wider regulatory experience in professional regulation and has been appointed as a Legally Qualified Chair and Assessor for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service MPTS, as well as a legal advisor for the General Optical Council.

Adil Navaid

Adil is a specialist commercial barrister. He has a broad commercial practice incorporating various specialisms including contractual disputes, property and land disputes, landlord and tenant claims and consumer rights. He consistently is instructed to advise on such matters as well as draft pleadings on the same. Adil also has a growing practice in public law and judicial review. Adil has been instructed by both banks and consumers for consumer credit and mis-selling cases. Adil has regularly appeared both at trial and at dispute resolution hearings on PPI mis-selling claims and has been praised particularly on his arguments relating to compromise and settlement. Adil has advised and defended on claims relating to guarantees and security and is thorough in his research on the same. Adil regularly advises on, drafts pleadings for and appears at trials on various contractual disputes such as on the supply of goods and services, agency, construction and misrepresentation, and is thorough in his exploration of potential causes of actions to ensure his client has the best chances of success. Adil is also regularly instructed on data protection and privacy cases and is pragmatic in his approach to such a developing area of law. Adil has a growing practice in shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, directions’ disqualifications and defamation. Adil is regularly instructed on data protection and privacy cases and is well-versed in GDPR and DPA compliance. Adil provides advice to litigants who may have a claim in such areas with a realistic view of the damages they are likely to recover. Adil has a broad practice in and regularly advises on landlord and tenant cases and provides clarity to clients in an often-complex area of law. Adil has advised on business tenancies, residential tenancies, disrepair claims, service charge disputes, boundary disputes, housing claims, covenants, property trusts and proprietary estoppel, construction cases, possession claims, adverse possession, wills and probate and Inheritance Act claims. Adil has dealt with numerous possessions claims on both mandatory and discretionary grounds. He is alive to issues that may affect even mandatory claims, such as bankruptcy and breathing space policies, and has successfully manoeuvred around last-minute attempts to avoid possession claims by opponents in the past.

Alastair Wright

Alastair acts for both Claimants and Defendants in Personal Injury and Professional Negligence work, but has an exclusively Claimant practice in Clinical Negligence. He has represented clients before all levels of the Judiciary, including the House of Lords. His PI work encompasses maximum severity head and spinal injury litigation and his clinical negligence work includes cerebral palsy and other birth injury as well as surgical mismanagement. Alistair is Head of the Industrial Disease Litigation Group at St John's Building's.

Alex Platts

In his Company and Commercial practice, Alex provides advices and pleadings in matters across the spectrum of commercial and chancery law, in relation to liability, quantum and procedure. Alex has acted as a junior in cases worth seven figures, and in his own right on cases worth six figures. Alex regularly appears in court on commercial matters, in trials, interlocutory hearings and successful appeal hearings. Alex has particular interest in consumer law, and is instructed for both claimants and defendants in litigation within this area. Alex has also been instructed as counsel in several successful mediations concerning commercial disputes. Alex also accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury and clinical negligence work. He provides advices on both liability and quantum in a variety of clinical negligence, personal injury and industrial disease cases, and has experience of drafting pleadings and schedules across these areas both for claimants and defendants. He receives instructions on cases worth in excess of £25,000. In court, Alex regularly conducts fast-track personal injury trials for both claimants and defendants. Additionally, Alex has a particular interest in data protection law. He acts for both claimants and defendants, and receives regular instructions for advice on liability and quantum, and drafting letters of claim, letters of response and pleadings. When acting for claimants, Alex has twice appeared in the High Court. He is regularly instructed for infant approval advices and hearings, and interlocutory hearings. For defendants, Alex receives regular instructions from large companies and bodies facing claims, and had successfully had data breach claims dismissed at trial.

Alexandra Carrier

Alexandra has a mixed practice in Crime and Family. She currently accepts instructions for briefs in all aspects of criminal and family law. In her Criminal practice Alexa successfully represents defendants in trials at the Crown Court and Magistrates Court and prosecutes matters in both courts. Alexa has defended in dangerous driving cases, Public Order cases, and drug offence cases. Alexa has prosecuted hearings in cases of grievous bodily harm, drug charges, POCA, and indecent images of children cases, amongst others. Alexa accepts instructions for a wide range of criminal matters in the Crown Court and Magistrates Court, as well as Youth Court work, including trials in the Crown Court. Alexa is a CPS Level 1 Prosecutor. Alexa appears in hearings in the Family Court, in public law cases such as in a revocation of a Placement Order on behalf of the Local Authority, and private law cases, such as non-molestation order hearings. Alexa has also represented clients in matters at the High Court. Alexa has appeared on behalf of the Local Authority, respondent parent, and the Guardian representing the child in public law cases, and for applicants and respondents in private law matters. Alexa appears in children matters, and other matter such as Occupation Orders and Non-Molestation Orders. Alexa accepts instructions for private and public family law matters

Alison Whalley

Alison practises all areas of criminal law. She is a grade 3 Prosecutor on the CPS panel.

Andrew Bridgman

Andrew has developed a busy clinical negligence practice covering all areas of health care, with an emphasis on dental negligence, acting for both claimant and defendants. His previous professional expertise, and understanding of health care delivery, enables Andrew to provide invaluable guidance from the very early stages of a clinical negligence claim, often from as early as the initial enquiry. Andrew established his personal injury practice within a short time of coming to the Bar. He continues to have a thriving PI practice encompassing all areas, for both claimants and defendants. His PI practice overlaps with his Inquest work where deaths in custody give rise to Human Rights Act claims. As an Assistant Coroner Andrew has a thorough understanding of coronial law and the Inquest process. He has a well-established practice representing the families of those whose loved ones have died in the custody of the state. Andrew also receives instructions in all manner of inquests ranging from road traffic accidents to aviation accidents, hospital deaths and military deaths.

Andrew Mountain

Andrew has been involved in family law and the law relating to children for 40 years. Andrew qualified as a solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1980 and has a wealth of experience which includes complex and high profile cases involving child death and serious physical and sexual abuse. Andrew advises and represents parents, children, grandparents, wider family members and Local Authorities in the most complex of disputes. As a specialist family law advocate, Andrew has represented children in the Rochdale sexual abuse scandal and the gang-related murder of police officers and family members in Greater Manchester. He was an accredited member of the Law Society Children Panel and represented children involved in care, adoption and surrogacy proceedings as well as private law disputes between parents in every level of the family court system.

Andrew Green

Andrew defends and prosecutes all categories of serious crime including; rape, historical sexual abuse and domestic violence, computer crime, arson, serious assaults, fraud, armed robbery, drugs importation and distribution and public order offences. Andrew has been a Category 4 Prosecutor since 2003 and is a member of the Specialist Rape Panel. He provides training for the College of Policing (formerly NPIA) in relation to Surveillance and RIPA including Authorising Officers and Covert Human Intelligence Sources. Training is provided for officers to up to and including the rank of Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable. Andrew is developing a special interest in regulatory crime and in particular Health and Safety cases.

Andrew Bailey

With over 25 years in practice, Andrew has a wealth of wide-ranging expertise in all areas of criminal law. Andrew has particular specialism in serious sexual offences, acting for both the prosecution and the defence. He is often given the most challenging and complex cases and Defendants to represent. He is a very good communicator with Defendants, known for his pragmatic and genuine approach. He is a Grade 4 Prosecutor. Alongside his work in serious sexual offences, Andrew often undertakes a range of the most serious types of criminal case. He has been led in murder cases and has acted as a leading junior on occasions. He also commonly undertakes cases involving armed robbery, drugs conspiracy, and wounding/GBH with intent. Andrew has presented lectures for Chambers, including on the subject of abuse of process cases.

Andrew O"Byrne KC

Andrew O’Byrne KC is a leading Silk who practises throughout the country. He was Leader of the Northern Circuit (2014-2016) and has featured in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK. He is an extremely experienced, heavyweight practitioner who is well regarded by his lay and professional clients. In addition to his extensive Criminal practice, Andrew also accepts instructions in Regulatory matters and Criminal Fraud.

Andrew Haggis

Andrew specialises in family proceedings. He acts for parents and guardians in public law. Andrwe regularly acts for parents, Local Authorities, children and other family members and has extensive experience in complex cases including those involving non accidental injuries, sexual abuse, and fabricated illness.

Andrew Lawson

Andrew’s practice falls into four broad areas. RTA litigation, employers’ liability, occupiers’/ public liability and travel law claims. Simply put, cases vary from trials on liability, causation and quantum to interim hearings with significant experience of the new Multi-track CCMC regime and costs budgeting, including arguments over the applicability of CPR 45 and costs recoverability generally. RTA cases with alleged fraud issues and arguments over credit hire also covered. Andrew is regularly instructed in cases with allegations of Fundamental Dishonesty and applications to set aside QOCS protection. Travel cases of all complexity are undertaken from Rome II, the Package Tour regulations 1992 and Legionnaire’s cases. Andrew is experienced in presenting quantum cases based upon foreign legal systems. Andrew also frequently appears at Coroner’s Inquests, some recent cases involving asphyxiation at a chemical factory and a motorcyclist racing on the public highway. He appeared in the inquest of Emma Hughes v Estate of Dayne Joshua Williams (2012) which led to an adverse causation finding against a parent for not using a child seat correctly.

Andrew Lord

Andrew practises in all areas of family law. His experience of public law proceedings, in both the county and high court is extensive. This ranges from care/supervision proceedings but also applications in respect of the revocation of placement orders and opposing adoptions. This has lead to Andrew also acting in judicial review proceedings arising out of matters relating to children. Andrew often deals with cases involving serious injury to children and ones that involve complex factual or medical evidence. In private law proceedings he mainly represents clients in either fact finding or final hearings. Again his forthright approach leads to practical solutions for his clients. Andrew specialises in financial remedy proceedings and also TOLATA proceedings. He acts for husbands, wives and interveners in almost equal measure. His busy practice encompasses medium to high value cases. He likes to be involved at an early stage providing advice both on paper and in conference. At Court his forthright practical approach and his tough negotiating skills often bring cases to a cost effective and successful conclusion. His cases often involve hidden assets, ones requiring the application of section 37 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, inherited wealth and overseas assets. He has advised on Barder events.

Annette Gumbs

Annette is a specialist Employment Law barrister and former Head of the Employment Group. Annette appears regularly at the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal and often advises, acts and mediates in cases with a commercial element. These cases generally involve restrictive covenants and clients range from SMEs to high net worth individuals. Annette practises in all areas of employment law including constructive and unfair dismissal, breach of contract, TUPE and restrictive covenants. She has a particular interest in discrimination and whistle blowing (Public Interest Disclosure Act) claims. She is often instructed in claims for and against the legal profession. Her clients range from local authorities, trade unions, NHS employers, public limited companies to senior executives, professionals, teachers and governors and other employees. Annette has vast experience of discrimination claims acting for both employers and employees. She is regularly involved in long and complex cases. A background in personal injury and negligence cases allows her to maximise or minimise remedies in discrimination and occupational stress claims.

Antony Longworth

Antony is Criminal barrister who has conducted cases at every level, including cases of murder, manslaughter and serious violence, rape and other forms of sexual offences, including historic sexual abuse, conspiracy to defraud, and conspiracy to import cannabis. He is a skilled and active junior when being led, often being entrusted to argue or conduct specific parts of the case and ensuring that his leader has the benefit of his views and opinions. He is also able to conduct cases alone at the highest level, eg in a 2013 case of Conspiracy to Cause Explosions lasting twelve weeks he properly represented his client in a case in which the Crown were represented by a KC and two juniors and the five co-accused were each represented by two counsel, four having KCs.

Aqeel Qureshi

Aqeel’s practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation. He has wide experience across a broad range of commercial disputes, including sale of goods and supply of services cases, debt recovery claims, disputes concerning issues of contractual interpretation, and consumer credit disputes. Aqeel regularly appears in court and represents clients in a range of contexts, including small claims trials, fast-track trials, interlocutory hearings, and procedural hearings. Aqeel also has a busy paper-based practice and prides himself on his ability to meet tight deadlines.

Archna Dawar

Archna is a Family: Finance specialist. After spending 15 years working in all aspects of family law, Archna now specialises in matrimonial finance, cohabitation disputes and private law children cases. Archna is a senior member of the Matrimonial Finance team, dealing primarily with high value cases. She has extensive experience of complex issues including farming, pensions, companies and trusts. In addition, she undertakes complex private law cases. Archna undertakes work in high value and complex cases financial remedy cases. She is regularly instructed at an early stage in order to assist with the smooth running of a case in particular on issues involving third party disputes over the ownership of property, trusts and disclosure. She is happy to give advice prior to the issue of proceedings to advise on the best approach in cases to try and reduce costs. Archna has a particular speciality in: Matrimonial cases typically involving high assets, business related issues including company valuation and liquidity, and also trusts, pensions and third party claims/interests. Complex cohabitation cases. Archna is regularly instructed for interveners in financial remedy cases when issues on ownership of properties arise.Archna practices in private law children cases with a particular speciality in: Removal from the Jurisdiction. Dealing with applications for child arrangement order involving parents entrenched in a bitter battle over their children. Features of cases include parental alienation, implacable hostility, physical abuse, sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Ashley Singh

Ashley accepts instructions in all aspects of matrimonial finance. She advises at the pre-hearing stage on settlements. She has experience at all stages of proceedings including maintenance pending suit, freezing orders, applications to enforce and set aside orders. She has frequently drafted advices on appeal as well as documents within proceedings including questionnaires, skeleton arguments and consent order.Ashley also has experience of applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and in dealing with former cohabitants under TOLATA. Ashley regularly represents local authorities, parents, children and interveners in public law proceedings. She has dealt with cases involving long standing neglect, alcohol and drug issues, emotional harm, sexual abuse and non-accidental injuries. Ashley also regularly advises local authorities in legal gateway and pre-proceedings meetings considering whether Threshold has been met and what steps should be taken throughout the pre-proceedings process and to prepare to issue a case. She also regularly provides urgent advice as to whether an Emergency Protection Order should be sought. Ashley regularly drafts case summaries, threshold documents, skeleton arguments, position statements and PLO compliant orders. Ashley regularly acts for parents, grandparents, other relatives, children and local authorities in respect of section 8 applications, including Child Arrangement Orders, relocation, removal from the jurisdiction, change of name and change of school. Ashley also regularly acts for Applicants and Respondents in relation to Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders. She has provided representation throughout proceedings from ex-parte, without notice hearing to the final hearing. She regularly advises upon what evidence should be provided, undertakings and drafts Scott Schedules. In Children Act and Family Act proceedings she has dealt with proceedings involving serious allegations of sexual abuse, injuries to children and domestic violence.

Ben Kelly

Ben is a specialist Defendant personal injury practitioner. He represents a number of large insurers in claims involving fraud and fundamental dishonesty and has been successful in obtaining numerous findings on behalf of his insurer clients. He is experienced in analysing the large volumes of financial disclosure usually involved in substantial credit hire claims and is frequently successful in defeating or substantially reducing such claims.

Ben Lawrence

Ben's main area of specialism is crime. He both defends and prosecutes. He has defended in cases of the utmost seriousness, including murder, rape, sex trafficking, conspiracy, complex frauds and money laundering. Through a strong grasp of the law and the facts of each case, Ben provides straightforward advice and represents clients robustly and with tenacity. Ben is a category 4 prosecutor and is on the rape, Proceeds of Crime and fraud panels. He was on the former RCPO panel and continues to receive instructions from the central fraud group. He is regularly instructed as a junior in complex cases, including drugs, money laundering and attempted murder. He has prosecuted trials instructed by the CCU. Ben frequently appears before the Court of Appeal, including successfully arguing a legal point in the leading authority on sections 119 & 122 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003: see R -v- Hulme [2007] 1 Cr.App.R. 26. Ben’s main specialism within crime is fraud. He prosecutes and defends and accepts instructions from legally aided or privately paying clients. His thorough preparation and consequent knowledge of a case is key to representing his clients. It also allows him to bring life to a case before a jury. Ben has experience of all major types of fraud, including missing trader frauds, corporate frauds, Ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, short and long firm frauds, alcohol, cigarette and tobacco duty evasion, VAT frauds, NHS frauds and trademark offences. Ben is available to advise and represent clients at all stages of a case. He provides pre-charge advice for the prosecution and will advise Defendants under investigation. He is a meticulous and tenacious trial advocate. He has a wealth of experience dealing with complex confiscation proceedings, including high value and high profile cases, equitable interests and hidden assets, and other aspects of proceeds of crime, such as pre-charge restraint, enforcement, contested High Court receivership applications and contested High Court certificates of inadequacy. Ben is also part of SJB Chambers’ strong Court of Protection team. where his main expertise is in health and welfare cases.

Bunty Batra

Bunty Batra is a criminal practitioner. He defends and prosecutes in all areas of crime. He has defended in many serious cases including murder, attempted murder, rape [including historical rape cases], the importation of large scale drugs cases, the importation of firearms and fraud. He has defended in many high profile cases both alone and with King’s Counsel. In addition, Mr Batra sat as an assessor in the GMC in the case of Craig. Mr Batra has lectured Registrars and Consultant Psychiatrists on giving expert evidence.

Callum Brook

Callum is a Public Law Children specialist, representing all parties in proceedings. Callum deals with proceedings at all levels, including complex finding of fact hearings and final hearings involving issues of inflicted injuries, domestic abuse, FII (Factitious Induced Illness) and sexual abuse. Callum also has significant experience in cases involving the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and regularly represents local authorities, parents, and acts on behalf children. He has experience of and encourages early Knowles J meetings between local authorities and the police that allows him a distinct insight into police disclosure in the preparation of complex finding of fact hearings.

Catherine Rimmer

Catherine's area of practice is Family Law and encompasses all aspects of the law relating to children in both public and private proceedings. Catherine undertakes work for local authorities, parents and children (whether directly or by their Guardians). She has significant experience of public law cases involving a wide range of issues including complex medical evidence relating to non-accidental injury and cases involving serious sexual abuse. Catherine regularly deals with cases involving issues of significant neglect, domestic violence, substance misuse, mental health and allegations of physical and emotional harm. In private law proceedings Catherine’s practice has included residence/ child arrangement applications involving sexual abuse or domestic violence, intractable contact disputes involving emotional abuse, injunction applications and international relocation. Catherine also has experience in cases involving the enforcement of child arrangement orders.

Cerys Williams

Cerys' practice includes all aspects of the law relating to children in both public law and private law proceedings. She regularly represents Local Authorities, parents, extended family members and children’s guardians. Cerys is also instructed in regard to injunction proceedings and Public Interest Immunity matters.

Charles Eastwood

Charles practises exclusively in financial areas within family law. Particular interest: Primarily in Matrimonial Finance, with work also undertaken in Schedule 1 and Inheritance Act claims. Matrimonial cases typically involving high assets, business related issues including company valuation and liquidity, and also trusts, pensions and third party claims/interests. Schedule 1 CA 1989 claims both for and against high net worth individuals. Cohabitation and Inheritance Act Claims.

Christopher Pare

Chris is a personal injury, clinical negligence and costs specialist. Having undertaken a common law pupillage, Chris is still, on occasion, instructed in other areas of civil work including housing matters (to include private and public landlord/tenant possession claims and mortgage possession cases), boundary and building disputes, commercial cases and TLATA claims. He is also interested in and actively developing a Court of Protection practice. In the personal injury arena, where he acts for both Claimants and Defendants across the full spectrum of personal injury litigation, Chris has a high-end fast-track and multi-track practice which regularly involves claims valued in excess of £100,000, and often in excess of £250,000. Whilst he has a particular interest in employers’ liability matters, he routinely represents both Claimants and Defendants in public and occupiers’ liability claims and all aspects of road traffic litigation to include, fraud, credit hire and LVI matters. He routinely deals with fatal accident claims and has been involved in a number of modest brain injury cases. He is regularly instructed in cases in which pain disorders are diagnosed or disputed. He is, therefore, well versed in the interplay between such conditions and allegations of exaggeration and/or fraud. Chris also undertakes clinical negligence work including dental negligence claims.

Christopher Moss

Christopher is a specialist in land law, housing and all matters property related. He is equally well experienced and specialises in commercial matters and regulatory prosecutions of the utmost severity including fatalities. He has particular expertise in land disputes (including boundary disputes, easements, restrictive covenants) and the recovery of property together with housing and commercial litigation. He conducts trials and produces written advices, pleadings and schedules/counter schedules on both the fast and multi-track with particular emphasis on the quick and efficient turnaround of paperwork. He is recommended by senior partners of leading law firms. Christopher also specialises in Health and Safety regulatory offences both prosecuting and defending. He is currently prosecuting a number of high profile health and safety fatality cases for local authorities in North Wales and continues to be instructed in breaches of the utmost severity by prosecuting authorities and large organisations alike. Christopher is often instructed in high value property cases and cases involving the most serious anti- social behaviour in respect of social housing. His work is particularly valued by social landlords and private landlords alike. Additionally Christopher appears extensively for both Claimant and Defendant in mediation hearings (Christopher was recently recommended by one of the country’s leading mediators) and before the lands tribunal. Christopher undertakes a substantial amount of work for local authorities and housing trusts and other such organisations also regularly appears in the County and High Courts for local authorities in housing, ASBI and possession cases. Christopher’s property litigation expertise includes boundary disputes, restrictive covenants, easements (including rights of way), nuisance, trespass (including damage by tree roots and all tree related matters including breach of tree preservation orders) and matters pertaining to environmental enforcement/protection including prosecuting and defending those enforcing/defending such breaches.

Clare Thomas

Clare’s practice encompasses all areas of criminal law and she acts for both the Prosecution and the Defence. She regularly receives instructions in respect of allegations of serious violence, sexual offences, dishonesty and drugs offences including confiscation proceedings. She also has significant experience in road traffic cases including tachograph offences. Clare also undertakes a substantial amount of social housing litigation work for housing associations and other such organisations. She regularly appears in the County Court on applications for Anti Social Behaviour Injunctions, committal proceedings for breaches of such injunctions and gas servicing injunctions.

Clare Grundy

Clare practises in all areas of family law (children, public and private law, finance and health and welfare in the Court of Protection). She began legal practice with an interest in discrimination law and combines a high level family practice at the Bar with sitting as a judge in the Employment Tribunal. Public law proceedings: care proceedings particularly involving child death cases through brain injury, drowning, shaking injuries, other “non- accidental” physical injury, burns and neglect. Sexual harm and grooming cases and emotional harm. Discharge applications, and contact to children in care applications. Clare is instructed by Local Authorities, parents and Guardians, the Official solicitor and Cafcass Legal and can view a case from all angles to give advice on tactical approach as well as substantive law.

Clodagh Maguire

For more than 10 years, Clodagh has specialised in care proceedings. She has a robust and tenacious approach, along with an ability to identify and analyse the issues in complex cases and to undertake multi-day and multi-week hearings including those involving contested expert evidence. Having successfully completed the FLBA Advocacy and the Vulnerable training [2022], she endeavours to ensure that a balance is struck between advancing her client’s case effectively, exploring the relevant issues, whilst ensuring vulnerable witnesses are not subjected to undue stress. Clodagh’s expertise includes issues of: Linked care and criminal proceedings Death of a child by overlaying whilst co-sleeping Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) Physical Injuries/ Non-accidental injuries (NAI) involving expert evidence as to causation Sexual abuse Child cruelty Chronic neglect Deprivation of Liberty (children) Adoption Discharge of care orders Forced Marriage prevention orders Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Clodagh is experienced in Re W [2010] applications to consider whether children should give evidence in proceedings and in re HDH and C [2021] proportionality arguments as to what allegations are necessary to be determined during finding of fact or composite final hearings with regard to the outcome to be achieved. Clodagh continues to accept instructions in matrimonial finances and in complex Private Law cases, including child arrangement orders where there are allegations of implacable hostility, finding of fact hearings regarding domestic abuse, specific issue applications and applications for temporary and permanent leave to remove from the jurisdiction.

Craig Lowe

Craig Lowe is a criminal specialist. Craig has a balanced practice of serious prosecution and defence crime involving serious sexual offences, violence, fraud, drugs and regulatory work. He practises throughout the North of England and beyond. He is a Grade 4 CPS Prosecutor and on the CPS Serious Sexual Offences prosecutors’ panel. He is Direct Access work accredited.

Cressida O'Connor

Cressida is a specialist junior civil practitioner with a particular focus on personal injury, clinical negligence and credit hire disputes. Cressida accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury. Cressida regularly provides written advices on quantum for infant settlement approvals, and has experience of drafting statements of case in a wide range of personal injury and clinical negligence disputes. Cressida is developing a busy practice in advising in road traffic accident cases as to quantum following the introduction of the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. Cressida prides herself on her ability to turn papers around promptly. Cressida welcomes instructions to advise and draft pleadings in clinical negligence matters. Cressida’s meticulous focus on detail makes her particularly good at reviewing medical records. She has previously assisted with drafting pleadings and schedules of loss in medical and dental negligence claims, and is keen to grow her practice in this area. In her Fraud practice, Cressida has successfully defended several road traffic claims, involving liability and credit hire disputes, on behalf of insurers. Cressida has successfully argued that even though the Defendant insurer had accepted liability for a road traffic accident, the Claimant was not entitled to recover any costs because the Defendant had made a Copley v Lawn-compliant intervention offer which the Claimant had rejected. Cressida has also used effective cross-examination of claimants in credit hire cases on a number of occasions to successfully argue for dismissal of such claims due to unenforceability of the hire agreement. Cressida is very alert to cases where the identity of a party has a bearing on the correct measure of loss. In a recent claim for basic hire in respect of which the Defendant had admitted liability, Cressida was nevertheless able to get the claim dismissed because the claimant was a limited company and the damaged vehicle was a profit-earning chattel, but no evidence of avoided loss of profits had been disclosed by the claimant. Cressida enjoys dealing with unusual legal and procedural problems. Cressida recently used a successful res judicata argument to secure a one-third deduction from damages awarded following a road accident, where the claim arose from the same circumstances as a previous claim in which liability had been decided by consent, but was brought by a different claimant against the same defendant. Cressida is able to deal with such problems sensitively where required, as in a recent case where she successfully argued that the claim was a nullity due to having been issued in the name of a deceased person.

Dafydd Roberts

Dafydd is an experienced criminal barrister who defends cases of all categories of serious crime including: murder rape and other serious sexual offences including offences committed using the internet arson serious assaults and public order offences fraud and other offences involving dishonesty robbery serious drug offences

Damian Sanders

Damian Sanders is a family practitioner and has experience of all aspects of family law. Damian has a formidable reputation for care work, acting for parents and guardians in matters concerning serious harm, abuse and deprivation of liberty.

Daniel Currie

Daniel’s practice encompasses all aspects of family law and the Court of Protection. In public law, Daniel represents parents, children (directly and via their guardian), intervenors and local authorities at all stages of proceedings. Daniel regularly drafts documents such as skeleton arguments and threshold documents. He has experience representing vulnerable clients with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties. Daniel appears in the High Court in his own right and as a led junior, and has drafted submissions filed in the Court of Appeal. Daniel has acted in cases involving factual issues such as historic and ongoing sexual abuse of children (including fabricated allegations of the same), honour-based violence and non-accidental injuries, including brain injuries. He has acted in cases involving complex medical evidence, expert testimony, and phone records. Daniel has particular experience of proceedings involving international elements, including placement outside the jurisdiction. Daniel has a developing practice in matters relating to deprivation of liberty and secure accommodation. He has acted in matters involving complex legal issues such as the exercise of the parens patriae jurisdiction of the High Court and is available to advise on matters of law. In private law, Daniel represents all parties, including parents, grandparents, wider family members and children in private law matters, including before the High Court. He has conducted matters involving complex issues such as implacable hostility, improper retention of a child after contact, parental alienation, domestic abuse and sexual assault. Daniel has experience of cases with an international element, including child abduction and applications to remove a child from the jurisdiction and has recently delivered a seminar on the subject. He has an interest in matters involving the acquisition and termination of parental responsibility and has conducted and advised upon matters involving such issues. Daniel acts in family finance and divorce matters. Daniel has represented parties within family finance proceedings of a range of complexity, from needs cases to cases involving multiple millions, both as sole counsel and as a led junior, including matters in the High Court involving non-disclosure, business interests and fraud. Daniel has experience of Court of Protection matters in welfare and in property and finance. Daniel has assisted with complex cases relating to the capacity to consent to sexual relations and the use of the internet. Daniel has conducted welfare matters such as section 16 and 21A MCA 2005 disputes. Daniel is instructed to act on behalf of local authorities, P and intervenors. Daniel has been instructed in matters involving complex capacity disputes and serious allegations against his client, including a matter in which his client was accused of attempting to murder P. Daniel is available to advise upon matters relating to the Court of Protection. Daniel has advised upon disputes as to local authority designation and has drafted opinions in relation to property and finance disputes.

Daniel Kinnear

Daniel is one of the country’s leading practitioners in dental negligence. Daniel is frequently instructed to settle statements of case, advise on merits, quantum and evidence (both in writing and in conference), and draft agendas for expert meetings. He regularly appears in the County Court for CCMCs, interlocutory applications and PTRs. He is often instructed to negotiate settlements at various forms of ADR (including counsel to counsel discussions, joint settlement meetings and judicial-led mediations). He has also represented Claimants in multi-track trials. Daniel’s experience extends beyond clinical and dental negligence to general (and sometimes obscure) disputes pertaining to the Civil Procedure Rules as well as costs litigation (having represented Claimants in detailed assessments).

Daniel Frieze

Daniel is Head of the Personal Injury Team at St John’s Buildings. His practice focuses on high value and catastrophic injury claims. His experience encompasses brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputation and chronic pain. He has a wealth of experience in dealing with issues of capacity, rehabilitation, care regimes, accommodation claims, prosthetic claims, interim payments and Periodical Payment Orders. In Clinical Negligence, Daniel is instructed exclusively by Claimants and receives instructions which encompass birth and neonatal injury cases, surgical negligence, delayed diagnosis of cancer and spinal injuries (paraplegia). The particular challenges in clinical negligence claims, particularly in relation to dealing effectively with the NHSR and private providers of health care coupled with his insights in respect of ADR and costs are considered an effective tool in resolving difficult disputes. Daniel is aware of the particular challenges Claimants face in this area and attempts to deal with these issues with empathy and understanding to reach a client’s objectives. Daniel is instructed regularly by Defendants in small and large personal injury litigation to pursue allegations of fraud, with regular findings of fundamental dishonesty. Daniel has a robust approach and is instructed for his forensic cross-examination and persuasive paper and oral advocacy. He is not afraid to hold those to account who wish to pursue unmeritorious claims. Daniel has a complimentary expertise in relation to costs. A past member of the CFA panel of the Bar Council, his interest in costs has been longstanding. He is instructed by both Claimants and Defendants in detailed assessment proceedings in respect of claims in his specialist areas. He is often instructed specifically for complex cost management hearings in respect of catastrophic personal injury and clinical negligence cases, where costs exceed £500,000.

Daniel Metcalfe

Daniel has a broad commercial and chancery practice and undertakes a wide range of advisory, drafting and advocacy work. He appears regularly in the High Court for trials, applications, appeals and case management hearings. Daniel is very experienced in a number of commercial and chancery areas including contract and tort litigation, intellectual property, consumer law, construction, insurance, insolvency, bankruptcy, professional negligence, property and land disputes, commercial leases, and procedural and jurisdictional issues. Daniel is attuned to the specific needs of his clients and represents clients from all backgrounds. He understands the array of motivations driving litigation, advises in a client appropriate manner and is particularly keen for clients to recognise the commerciality of their decisions. Daniel is known for his extensive and meticulous preparation for court hearings, so as to put his clients’ cases at their highest. In court, Daniel robustly and fearlessly represents his clients’ interests.

David Taylor

David is regularly instructed in the areas of Personal Injury and Insurance Litigation on circuit and nationally. David is fortunate to have a wide and varied practice both as an advocate and as an advisor. As his experience has grown so has the complexity of the work he is entrusted to handle. David is regularly instructed in high value, high complexity and catastrophic injury cases both at interlocutory level and to trial. The values of such cases regularly exceed £1m. David has experience of dealing with historic child abuse cases especially in the CICAP. David is continuing to expand his areas of expertise and his practice into areas of Public Law especially for Local Authority clients. David is especially interested in cases where there is a cross over between legal disciplines, such as in the reported case of Hinds v Liverpool City Council, where a Family case required satellite litigation within the civil court’s jurisdiction. Areas involving a breach of human rights and Judicial Review are also of interest.

David Baines

David is an experienced common law practitioner, whose areas of law largely comprise inquests and civil litigation. In 2021 David was appointed Junior Counsel to the Crown. David has extensive background in criminal law, having honed his advocacy in the criminal courts over a decade through regular appearances in the Magistrates’ and Youth Courts, Crown Court and Court of Appeal. David is an experienced jury advocate and a Level 3 Prosecutor on the 2020-24 Panel. David has a strong paper practice, advising and settling pleadings, schedules of loss etc. He also appears in fast track and multi track proceedings, in addition to the usual mix of interim hearings.

David James

David is an advocate specialising in cases resulting in serious and fatal injury and financial irregularities crossing Regulatory and Criminal offending and Inquests. His Criminal practice involves murder, sexual offences, fraud, drugs, and death or serious injury by dangerous driving. David is a Specialist Regulatory Advocate in Health and Safety and Environmental Law – List B.

David Pojur

David specialises in Regulatory law covering the areas of Healthcare & Professional Discipline, Inquests, Health and Safety, and Environmental law. He is regularly instructed by solicitors to act for many of the country’s large insurers, multinational corporations, medical defence organisations and high net worth individuals. He acts in both contentious and non-contentious work and is often called upon for his advisory work. He is frequently led by and appears against King’s Counsel. David is appointed to List A as Specialist Regulatory Panel Counsel in Health and Safety & Environmental Law, CQC, Ofsted. David is recognised as a leading inquest practitioner. David sits as an Assistant Coroner undertaking investigations and inquests both with and without juries. These are often complex proceedings with several interested persons addressing hospital, medical or care related deaths. David has been appointed by the Court as Counsel to the Inquest (CTI) on several occasions by Senior Coroners and in Judge led inquests. He also advises and represents coroners in judicial review challenges before the High Court. In his coronial practice, he deals with difficult Article 2 jury inquests where there are a number of complex issues and experts. These often relate to health and safety issues, deaths in police custody or prison and hospital settings and homicides. David prosecutes and defends the most serious crimes before the Crown Court and regularly appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal, where he has succeeded in having convictions overturned. He often appears alone against silks and enjoys a strong reputation. He is recognised as a leading junior and was appointed to List A of the Specialist Regulatory Panel Counsel for HSE, EA, ORR, CQC and Ofsted as well as being assessed as Panel 4 category Counsel and a Rape and Serious Sexual Offence (RASSO) specialist. He has prosecuted trials instructed by the CCU. He has experience of a breadth of work from multi-handed conspiracies to murder, gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and drugs importation cases as well as representing terrorists. David frequently represents companies and directors in serious injury and fatal health and safety cases of significant complexity.

David Berkley KC

General Commercial Litigation is the primary area of practice with an emphasis on major trial work. Music Litigation: David Berkley QC has developed a niche in this area. His famous clients have included Gary Barlow of Take That; Granada Television; Stone Roses’ management; and several well-known Manchester bands. Considerable expertise and experience in contentious security and receivership issues; civil and criminal fraud trials; directors’ disqualification work. Frequently advises in and acts on behalf of professional clients in partnership disputes including those relating to solicitors and accountancy professional practices. Considerable expertise and experience in commercial Landlord and Tenant matters and frequently advises property clients in relation to renewals and reviews. Qualified Mediator (College of Law credited) and willing to act as Arbitrator in commercial dispute. Member of the Commercial Law Panel of ADR Chambers.

David Flood

David is a specialist employment law practitioner with a particular interest in TUPE. David has nearly 30 years’ experience of representing both Claimants and Respondents in the Employment Tribunal, the EAT, the Court of Appeal and most recently the Supreme Court. He has conducted cases relating to all aspects of employment law. His Respondent clients have included the NHS, the Police, Royal Mail and Multinational Corporations. He is a member of the Employment Lawyer’s Association

David Jones

David specialises in Employment & Discrimination, Regulatory and Sports law work. David is regularly instructed to appear in employment tribunals across the United Kingdom. He has also appeared in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. He has successfully conducted hundreds of tribunal hearings and has experience of the Employment Appeals Tribunal. David undertakes both Claimant and Respondent work. He has acted for clients across a wide range of industries in the private sector (including construction, engineering, manufacturing, FMCG, retail, professional services, telecommunications, aviation, professional sports clubs and individuals). He has also represented public and third sector clients (including education establishments, local authorities and non-departmental government bodies). Recent cases include high value multi-day complex discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal claims. In terms of his Regulatory work, David has expertise in dealing with disciplinary proceedings in all professions and at all levels, from healthcare and education sectors, to assisting Police officers and staff. He is able to deal skilfully and efficiently with all stages of disciplinary proceedings of any type, from employers’ internal disciplinary procedures to proceedings before regulators. David is often asked to advise at an early stage in relation to internal disciplinary or grievance matters to ensure compliance with the ACAS code, internal policies and procedures, and ultimately minimise the risk of tribunal proceedings. In addition, David is able to conduct internal investigations as an external source of independent expertise, with an eye to avoiding the many pitfalls open to unwary employers. In industry and in professional life, this enables the employer to get on with their core activities, confident that investigations will be conducted with a detailed and forensic eye. Additionally, David has represented professional athletes, sports clubs, associations, and non-departmental government bodies in a range of regulatory and commercial matters. His experience includes: Disciplinary and regulatory proceedings Anti-Doping Employment issues and dispute resolution IP and commercial protection David is an accredited UKAD adviser and as former retained legal counsel for UKAD, he drafted a world first tripartite agreement between UKAD, WADA and RUSADA for the provision of testing and analytical services to Russian athletes in advance of the Olympic Games. This agreement since its inception has been widely publicised in the international press. As a trusted professional adviser, David has drafted and negotiated player and manager contracts and terminations on behalf of professional football league clubs and teams in the British Basketball League. Recent instructions include the representation of two professional football league clubs in high profile proceedings both internally and before UK tribunals.

Debra White

Debra is an established and experienced Criminal Defence Practitioner. She specialises in serious crime and has a strong reputation for being a determined and tenacious advocate. She accepts Legally Aided and Privately Funded cases in the Crown Court and has a developing practice in Courts Martial.

Dermot Hughes

Dermot specialises in Criminal law. For the last 15 years his practice has principally comprised work in the Crown Court. He has vast experience of defending in cases involving serious violence, sexual offences and drugs. Dermot has appeared in substantial cases as a leading junior. He represented the first defendant in South Yorkshire’s most prominent child sexual exploitation trial in recent times (R V RAZAQ), a case which lasted 9 weeks and which raised most of the difficulties associated with the cross-examination of vulnerable child witnesses. Dermot also represented the first defendant in the 2014 CSE trial of R v SPENCER and others, a trial which spanned 10 weeks and which gave rise to widespread national media interest. The latter case involved the use of intermediaries and child psychologists. The majority of Dermot’s work in the Crown Court revolves around cases involving allegations of the most serious sexual violence.

Diarmuid Bunting

Diarmuid (Dermot) is thorough, professional, and personable. He prepares meticulously for his court work. His advice is thorough and pragmatic. His main specialisms are Employment, Equality and Regulatory Law. He also receives frequent instructions, generally from Government Departments, in Inquests and Personal Injury claims. He acts for and against a broad range of individuals and organisations including large corporations, educational institutions, trade unions and individual litigants. Having previously worked as a solicitor, he is conscious of the workload and pressures under which those who instruct him operate. He offers practical guidance and is able to assist throughout the lifespan of a case. He is happy to provide training to solicitors and other professionals.

Douglas Denton

Douglas has developed a practice encompassing commercial litigation, medical negligence, professional negligence, personal injury and industrial disease. In addition he is regularly instructed on catastrophic injury claims and those of upmost severity.

Eleanor Keehan

Eleanor practices in all areas of children law. Eleanor has experience representing parents, children through their Guardian, interveners and Local Authorities in public law proceedings at all stages of a case. She is regularly instructed to draft documents including case summaries, threshold documents and skeleton arguments. Eleanor has acted in a wide range of care applications which have included an application for an emergency protection order of such gravity it was heard in the high court. Eleanor also regularly advises Local Authorities at Legal Gateway and Pre-Proceedings Meetings. Eleanor has gained considerable experience of preparing complex non accidental injury public law cases including fatal injuries and serious head injury cases, and cases in which the children have complex medical needs. Eleanor is regularly instructed in private law proceedings including applications for Child Arrangements Orders, enforcement orders, non-molestation orders and occupation orders acting for both the Applicant and the Respondent. Eleanor has experience acting in cases involving allegations of emotional, physical and sexual abuse including allegations of the utmost seriousness. In her Court of Protection practice Eleanor is instructed to act on behalf of Local Authorities as well as acting for P, through his litigation friend. Eleanor has conducted a number of section 21A appeals on behalf of P and the local authority. Eleanor has also acted for P in a case involving complex issues of fluctuating capacity, in particular whether the COP is the correct jurisdiction or whether the inherent jurisdiction of the high court might be better placed to determine the issues arising for P. Further, she has conducted a complex and sensitive case about capacity to consent to sexual relations and the development of, or protection from, intimate relationships for P where she may lack this capacity.

Elisabeth Cooper

Matrimonial finance now makes up over half of Elisabeth’s practice. Elisabeth is regularly instructed at all stages of financial remedy proceedings including pre-issue. Elisabeth also receives instructions to advise on settlement offers, to act on behalf of parties within applications for freezing orders and for variation and enforcement of financial orders. Elisabeth regularly represents high net worth parties and is frequently instructed in cases involving complex company structures and significant rental portfolios. Elisabeth routinely acts on behalf of appellants and respondents to appeals to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal in relation to CSA/CMS assessments. Elisabeth is regularly instructed to advise at initial stages as to prospects of success. Elisabeth has consistently achieved success in the Lower Tier Social Security and Child Support Tribunal and has represented parties on a number of appeals to the Upper-Tier Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. She is willing to provide in-house training with regard to the complex nature of CMS appeals. Elisabeth regularly acts in a wide range of private Children Act cases for parents, relatives and children with party status, as well as local authorities that require representation but are not parties. Elisabeth also routinely acts on behalf of local authorities, parents and children in public law proceedings, from the commencement of the proceedings until (and including) the final hearing.

Ella Fornsworth

Ella is frequently instructed on cases in the Crown Court. She has both prosecuted and defended Crown Court trials, as well as appearing regularly in committals for sentence, PTPHs, bail applications and sentences. She also often acts on behalf of the Probation Service, including having been entrusted to advise the Probation Service in relation to their policy on the extension of unpaid work requirements. Ella has a wide scope of experience prosecuting and defending in the magistrates’ court. When prosecuting, she has secured convictions in a range of cases, from domestic violence prosecutions to acquisitive crime and driving matters. Ella has represented several defendants in successfully advancing exceptional hardship or special reasons arguments to avoid driving disqualification following motoring offences.

Elliw Roberts

Elliw is a Family Law specialist. She is experienced in all areas of family law and regularly appears at all levels of the family court, including the High Court. Elliw has experience in a wide range of private law proceedings acting for parents, extended family members and children with party status. She has been involved in cases involving serious allegations of significant harm to children, international and internal relocation, removal to non-Hague countries and cases of implacable hostility. Elliw advises on issues of law and case management both in writing and in conferences and represents clients at all stages of the case and at all levels of the family court. She is regularly instructed to draft documents in the case including case summaries, skeleton arguments and applications for expert assessments. Elliw routinely receives instructions in relation to applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders acting for both the Applicant and the Respondent. Elliw also regularly represents parents, children, interveners and Local Authorities in public law proceedings. She is instructed at all stages of the case from case management hearings, finding of fact hearings to final hearings and has appeared at all levels of the family court. She has been involved in cases where the child has suffered non-accidental injury, cases involving the death of a sibling, sexual abuse cases and cases where there has been media interest. Elliw advises on issues of law and case management both in writing and in conference and is regularly instructed to draft documents in the case including case summaries, threshold documents, skeleton arguments, applications for expert assessments and appeals. Elliw advises Local Authorities at Legal Gateway Meeting and Pre-Proceedings Meeting and she further receives instructions in the Crown Court with regard to Public Interest Immunity matters. Elliw practices in all fields of Court of Protection work including health and welfare, property and affairs, medical treatment and associated human rights matters. Elliw regularly advises and appears on behalf of Local Authorities, Professional Deputies and individuals and their families. Elliw is a qualified mediator.

Emily Calman

Emily has been a criminal practitioner since 2019. She has experience in the Crown Court and the Magistrates Court. She has acted in a range of matters including: Violent offences, from common assault to murder Dishonesty offences, from shoplifting to armed robbery Fraud offences Drug offences Sexual offences Public Order offences Environmental offences Dangerous Dog Act related offences Motoring offences Football Banning Orders Proceeds of Crime Act Applications and Confiscation Enforcement Proceedings Emily welcomes instructions to act for both the defence and the prosecution.

Emmanuel Coniah

In his Criminal practice, Emmanuel prosecutes and defends across the full spectrum of criminal offences in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court. He is regularly instructed in cases involving violence, sexual offences, dishonesty offences and road traffic offences. Emmanuel is frequently instructed to defend in a wide range of road traffic matters which include drink driving, drug driving, speeding, careless driving and failing to provide a specimen. He has helped clients avoid disqualification by successfully advancing exceptional hardship arguments in the Magistrates’ Court. Alongside his criminal practice, Emmanuel has a growing regulatory and coronial law practice. Emmanuel accepts instructions across a broad range of regulatory matters, including professional discipline and regulatory prosecutions. Emmanuel is particularly interested in CQC and OFSTED appeals. During his pupillage, Emmanuel completed training in Chambers on advising and conducting appeals against OFSTED and CQC decisions.

Eric Shannon

Eric acts in all aspects of personal injury, commercial litigation, professional and clinical negligence, defending civil actions against the police, environmental law (public enquiries and regulatory actions), and defamation.

Fatima Zafar

Fatima practises in the fields of Crime, Civil, and Family Law. Fatima has been instructed by both Prosecution and Defence in the Magistrates’ Youth and Crown Courts. She has successfully prosecuted and defended trials in the Magistrates and Youth Court. Fatima has also appeared in the Crown Court for both Prosecution and Defence for sentencing, case management hearings and in appeals against conviction and sentence. Fatima has experience involving young witnesses and defendants, expert witnesses and vulnerable witnesses. Fatima also has experience of prison adjudication hearings. Fatima also has experience of representing both sides at a range of civil applications, Infant Settlement Hearings, MOJ Stage 3 Hearings, Small Claims and Disposal Hearings. Fatima also regularly provides advice on quantum for infants and protected parties. Fatima has notable experience in the area of credit hire litigation. Examples of cases involve bankruptcy petitions, housing repossession claims, claims for outstanding fees by universities and claims by energy companies for sums owed due to gas or electricity. In Children Law, Fatima has appeared on behalf of parties at contested interim hearings and applications for non-molestation orders.

Fiona Walker

Fiona has substantial and extensive experience in all aspects of family law relating to children. She is regularly instructed, particularly on behalf of parents but also by Local Authorities and on behalf of children, in cases involving serious allegations of physical, sexual and emotional abuse in addition to having substantial experience of dealing with cases involving complex medical evidence. Fiona has significant experience of acting for children by way of direct instruction and on behalf of extended family members in public law proceedings.

Frances De Navarro

Frances is a family law specialist. She has a particular interest in cases dealing with the financial division on divorce and is regularly instructed in high asset cases. Frances regularly advises in cases involving: Freezing Injunctions Setting Aside Dispositions Complex Pension Issues Inherited Wealth and Arguments Surrounding Non-Matrimonial Assets Pre-Nuptial Agreements Business Valuations Enforcement of Orders Variation of Periodical Payments Orders Frances also deals with cases involving property disputes between unmarried former cohabitants under TLATA 1996, financial provision for children under Schedule One Children Act 1989 and child support appeals. She has a wealth of experience of dealing with private law children cases in relation to Child Arrangements Orders. Frances also deals with applications for financial relief for unmarried parents under Schedule One Children Act (see practice profile Property and Private Client). Frances regularly advises in cases involving: Emergency and without notice orders Allegations of domestic violence Allegations of sexual abuse Enforcement of Child Arrangements Orders International relocation Internal relocation within the UK Special Guardianship Orders Urgent hearings seeking summary return of children following wrongful retention or removal.Frances regularly deals with property disputes between unmarried former cohabitants under TLATA 1996. This includes cases in which there are issues as to: The beneficial ownership of a property that is held in the sole name of one party Disputes in relation to the parties’ share of the equity in a jointly owned property Occupation rent and equitable accounting Orders for sale Frances also regularly acts in cases in which third parties to divorce proceedings assert a beneficial interest in property owned by one of the divorcing parties. She also acts in cases involving claims for financial provision by unmarried parents under Schedule One Children Act 1989.

Frances Heaton KC

Frances Heaton KC is Joint Head of Chambers at St John's Buildings. Frances practises in all aspects of family law concerning children, and sits as a Recorder (Family and Crime). She has a Section 9 ticket, so is permitted to hear certain High Court cases. Frances is in demand in very complex public law children proceedings in which the central issues include exceptionally serious injuries, non-accidental death / murder (child or parent), serious sexual abuse, child sexual exploitation, very serious neglect, torture, learning and mental health difficulties, fabricated or induced illness, reporting restriction orders and the curtailment of parental responsibility. In these she is instructed by local authorities, parents, children, grandparents and interveners. Her skill and expertise is sought after and she is regularly instructed in high profile cases. Frances undertakes judicial review, which most recently has included special guardianship allowances.She regularly appears in the Court of Appeal where the issues have included the revocation of placement orders and appeals against findings of fact. In addition Frances continues to accept instructions in complex private law children cases and she has a particular interest in issues of habitual residence, the international movement of children, relocation and child abduction. Frances also undertakes surrogacy cases and particularly those that have a foreign element. Colleagues and tribunals recognise Frances’ clear ability to assimilate and grasp the issues of the most complex cases. She is particularly noted for the sensitivity with which she handles these difficult cases and for her sensible, straight-forward advice and approach. Frances regularly provides seminars and lectures to family solicitors, social workers and expert witnesses.

Gareth Thompson

Gareth has an exclusively civil practise with an emphasis on claims arising as a result of personal injury. He acts on behalf of both claimants and defendants in all types of cases. He is happy to provide assistance both pre and post issue and indeed prefers to be involved early in the life of a case preferably in the form of a conference thereby enabling an early assessment of credibility. He is conscious of the practicalities of the modern litigation and is keen to utilise Chambers’ extensive telecommunications equipment to facilitate conferences by telephone or video-phone. Gareth provides papers turnaround in line with Chambers’ stated service standards but is willing to provide tailored turnaround as and when required. He has facilities to enable him to work from emailed instructions thereby avoiding the need for a paper brief. Prior to coming to the bar Gareth travelled the country as part of his family’s fairground. He retains membership of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain. His background has made him appreciate the need to deal with lay clients in manner that is both professional but also approachable. His background has also led to an interest in claims arising out of leisure activities both in this jurisdiction and abroad. He also has an interest in cases involving engineering evidence. Gareth also maintains a general common law practise and has experience of advising and representing clients in a wide range of disputes. He has acted in cases concerning subjects as varied as veterinary negligence, builders’ liability and conversion of a motor vehicle.

Gemma Maxwell

Gemma is Criminal barrister who has been involved in murders, historic sex cases, multi-handed rapes and large drug conspiracies. She is regularly first choice counsel by those who lead her. Her ability to grasp the facts and issues instantly are second to none. She is a persuasive advocate and popular with juries. The level of experience and success Gemma has achieved so far is commensurate with her outstanding ability. Gemma has a busy Crown Court practice and has built a strong reputation in cases involving sexual offences. She has significant experience in dealing with vulnerable witnesses and defendants. As a Grade 3 Prosecutor, Gemma is regularly instructed to prosecute all areas of general crime in the Crown Court.

Geoffrey Lowe

Geoff Lowe is exclusively a criminal practitioner dealing with all aspects of criminal offences, including the most serious offences. He is regularly instructed by both the defence and prosecution on offences of murder/manslaughter, robbery, rape and other sexual offences (including those involving children). Geoffrey is a leading member of the Chambers serious fraud practice group and has extensive experience in this area.

Ghazan Mahmood

Ghazan is an Employment Law specialist. He has a particular interest in whistleblowing, TUPE and discrimination claims involving multiple parties, although he is experienced in all fields of employment law. Ghazan regularly appears in the employment tribunals, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and carries out an increasing amount of litigation in the High Court (particularly in the field of restrictive covenants and restraint of trade). His practice is evenly split between Claimant and Respondent work. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions and has considerable experience of dealing with difficult discrimination based complaints. Ghazan has considerable experience of representing medical professionals both at the Employment Tribunal and before their regulatory bodies. He has been involved in several leading cases on the impact of MHPS. In his Regulatory practice, Ghazan is frequently instructed to defend professionals before the GMC, HCPC and GDC. He has represented numerous professionals over the years and has been involved in several of the leading cases on the affects of MHPS. He is also frequently instructed to defend Doctors in internal disciplinary hearings and appeals before an ARCP Panel. Ghazan sits as a Deputy District Judge (Civil) on the North Eastern Circuit.

Ginnette Fitzharris

Ginnette practices in family law. Ginnette has represented the Local Authority in the Family Proceedings Court, County Court and the High Court including complex cases. Ginnette has also been Junior Counsel in High Court cases concerning serious non-accidental injuries and complex multi-party final hearings. Ginnette regularly represents parents at all levels of tribunal. Ginnette is instructed regularly in cases by parties seeking leave to remove their children from the jurisdiction and/or parties who are refusing permission and wish their children to remain in the UK. Ginnette has experience of cases concerning education, medical treatment and change of name.

Ginny Whiteley

Ginny is an experienced family barrister, dealing exclusively with proceedings relating to children. Ginny is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents and children in public law proceedings, including complex cases involving serious injuries, abusive head trauma and allegations of sexual abuse. Her practice frequently brings her before judges of the High Court Family Division and she is comfortable and confident in managing difficult cases alone or as junior counsel. Her extensive experience in applications for deprivation of liberty means Ginny is often called upon by local authorities to provide advice and representation at urgent hearings. Ginny has also represented children and parents in these proceedings and has a detailed and up to date knowledge of the law. Ginny is particularly experienced in representing teenagers, whether as parents or subject children, and individuals with mental health difficulties. Her compassionate but realistic approach allows Ginny to build an excellent working relationship with clients. In addition to her public law practice, Ginny appears in complex private law proceedings including cases with elements of parental alienation, those requiring findings of fact and cases where there is a potential for public law proceedings to be issued. Ginny has completed vulnerable witness advocacy training and subsequently qualified to provide this training to others, making her an excellent choice where children or vulnerable adults will be required to give evidence.

Gordon Stables

Gordon Stables is the Head of Criminal Team in Sheffield. Gordon is experienced in prosecuting and defending fraud cases. He is meticulous in preparation and a very effective and successful trial advocate. Gordon practises in all areas of regulatory work. He is able to provide advice at any stage of the proceedings. He is a very effective and successful trial advocate. Gordon has practised in the field of personal injury since 1995. He has advised in thousands of cases, and prepared countless particulars of claim, defences and schedules of loss etc. He practises in all areas of personal injury including accident at work, deafness, VWF, fatal accident, general road traffic, public liability cases and cases against the MOD. He is known for his ability to produce detailed and case-changing schedules of loss in complex and substantial cases, and for his thorough and detailed pleadings and advice. Gordon has practised in the field of inquest work since 1995. His personal injury work and engineering background often compliment this work. He has appeared in many cases for families of the deceased or interested parties. Gordon has experience of inquest cases relating to apparent suicides of users of mental health services, and examined whether there had been failure of care, and whether the suicides had been foreseeable and preventable. He acted for parties who potentially fell to be criticised during the inquest process. All criticism was avoided. Skilled at cross-examination, and legal argument. In addition, he has 20 years of experience in the field of personal injury work, and so is adept at understanding medical reports and issues and causation etc. Gordon’s military background gives him a particularly good knowledge of firearms and he regularly acts for soldiers who find themselves before the courts, including Courts Martial and the Courts Martial Appeal Court. His former service leaves him uniquely placed to understand the jargon and the military establishment and the military family.

Graeme Wood

Graeme practises in the general field of chancery law including in particular mortgages, company shareholder disputes, partnership, covenants, easements, joint property, property trusts, proprietary estoppel, possession claims, title to land and adverse possession, neighbour disputes, wills and probate, succession, Inheritance Act claims, landlord and tenant matters including business and residential leases and disputes, restitutionary claims, injunctions and other equitable remedies; he also deals with agency and general contract and tort disputes. He is a qualified Mediator.

Hannah Bakshani

Hannah is a Court of Protection specialist. Hannah’s instructions span a broad spectrum of issues and she has advised on cases concerning fluctuating, retrospective and mixed capacity, covert medication regimes, the validity of Lasting Powers of Attorney, obligations of local authorities under the Care Act 2014, use of restraint, and the interaction between P’s Article 5 and Article 8 Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. Her experience of proceedings under section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 is expansive and built on a number of years of practise, both at the Bar and prior and she has acted in complex cases such as those concerning the transfer of P to another country, forced marriage and capacity to marry, excessive alcohol consumption and substance misuse and the intersection between the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983. Hannah advises generally, both in writing and in conference. Hannah turns around opinions, statements of facts and grounds and court ordered documents quickly and within required time limits. Her written work is focused and demonstrates a thorough understanding of her cases, the applicable law and the needs of her clients. Hannah’s experience prior to coming to the Bar and her time in pupillage exposed her to the craft of focus cross-examination and submissions. Drawing on this in her own practice, Hannah has represented P in a fact-finding hearing concerning allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour, at contested final hearings involving the cross-examination of social care professionals and in cross-examination of expert witnesses. Hannah has experience of challenging decisions of public bodies by way of judicial review applications and is fast developing a reputation as an expert in the field of adult social care (duties under the Care Act 2014) and also duties in relation to children leaving care. Hannah’s reputation as a specialist in Court of Protection health and welfare proceedings is enhanced by her lecturing at conference and facilitating training for solicitors in her field. She has a particular interest in ensuring that the best interests of those living with dementia are maximised within Court of Protection proceedings and works with local organisations to achieve this. As Joseph O’Brien KC’s pupil, Hannah observed a number of complex cases including those concerning P’s capacity to use the internet and social media, capacity to marry and the issue of forced marriage and capacity to engage in sexual relations. These cases were often determined at fact finding hearings and involved detailed cross examination of expert witnesses.

Hannah Walker

Hannah is a respected common law practitioner.

Hannah Wood

Hannah specialises in matrimonial finance and private law children cases. She is regularly instructed in complex Child Arrangements Order applications involving allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She also has extensive experience in cases where there are allegations and/or evidence of a parent’s implacable hostility towards the other parent. Hannah spent a number of years at the Criminal Bar before transferring to Family Practice. Her wealth of advocacy experience in Crown and Magistrates’ Courts is invaluable in contested hearings where she excels at the cross-examination of witnesses. Hannah has considerable experience of dealing with finding of fact hearings in domestic abuse cases. She has recently been instructed in a finding of fact hearing involving allegations of rape and attempted murder. Hannah is also instructed in enforcement applications, appeals and both internal and international re-location cases. One of Hannah’s key strengths lies in her negotiation skills and that, coupled with an eye for detail, renders her a strong choice for matrimonial finance matters. She provides settlement advice pre issue and beyond and takes instructions in all hearings including FDAs, FDRs, and contested final hearings. She is approachable with clients and is happy to speak to solicitors on an informal basis throughout the duration of a case. Hannah regularly receives instructions to advise in respect of the validity of separation agreements, the merits of appealing final orders and the merits of applications to set aside final orders. She has considerable experience in both advising on and representing at MPS and LSPO application hearings.

Harriet Jones

Harriet specialises in all areas of the law relating to children. Harriet is regularly instructed at all stages of public law proceedings, with particular focus on multi-day final and fact-finding hearings. She takes instructions from all parties, ranging from vulnerable clients, intervenors, parents, children, and local authorities. She has appeared at all levels of proceedings, including lengthy proceedings in the High Court. Harriet is frequently instructed to represent parties at urgent hearings at short notice. Harriet’s workload includes, but is not limited to, dealing with a wide range of issues such as neglect, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, non-accidental injury, and parental alienation. Harriet has experience of drafting detailed threshold documents, case summaries and providing advice to clients at all stages of proceedings. Harriet also regularly acts for parents and relatives in disputes over contact and residence. She has experience in working for complainants or alleged perpetrators in domestic violence cases. Harriet has a particular interest and experience of dealing with complex cases involving medical issues and serious allegations and has appeared in a number of multi-day final and fact-finding hearings.

Helen Crowell

Helen practises in all areas of family law. She has a particular interest in public law proceedings and matters in the Court of Protection. Helen recently completed the FLBA Advocacy and the Vulnerable training. Helen has experience representing Local Authorities, parents, interveners, and children through their Children’s Guardian in care proceedings at all stages of a case. Helen is adept at the drafting of documents, including skeleton arguments and advices, often on short notice. Helen has appeared in a range of public law proceedings, including issues of domestic violence, neglect, substance misuse, non-accidental injury, deprivation of liberty, and children with complex medical needs. Helen has experience in cases involving issues such as jurisdiction, vaccination of children, cultural and religious background of the parties, and issues of capacity of the parties. Helen has represented parties with learning difficulties and/or mental health issues. Helen has dealt with public law cases which involve consideration of lengthy medical records and complex medical evidence, including allegations of non-accidental injury and of fabricated and induced illness. Helen has experience of dealing with expert evidence on other technical matters. Helen has growing experience in the area of deprivation of liberty of children, including in complex cases where there may be overlap with the Court of Protection. Helen has appeared at all levels up to and including the High Court, both in her own right and as a led junior. Helen regularly acts in private law proceedings including applications for Child Arrangements Orders, non-molestation orders, and occupation orders, and enforcement applications. Helen has experience in acting for parents, interveners, and children through their Rule 16.4 Guardian. Helen’s experience in private law cases has involved allegations of domestic abuse and violence, non-accidental injury, emotional abuse, and parental alienation/intractable parental dispute, including in fact-finding hearings and up to and including final hearing. Helen also has experience in Court of Protection welfare matters and is keen to develop her practice further in this area. She has been instructed to act on behalf of local authorities as well as on behalf of P, through their litigation friend. Helen has dealt with proceedings relating to sections 15, 16 and 21A MCA 2005 disputes, including hearings before the High Court. Helen has experience of matters involving young persons before the Court of Protection where there is overlap with family law.

Helen Maguire

Helen specialises in all areas of family law, with a particular emphasis on matrimonial finance work. Helen acts in all aspects of family finance proceedings, including matrimonial finance, enforcement, applications pursuant to TOLATA 1996, and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. During pupillage she was exposed, and assisted with complex financial work with her supervisor, including cases concerning non-matrimonial property, trusts and substantial assets. In financial proceedings, Helen is regularly been instructed at all stages of financial remedy proceedings including pre-issue. Helen receives instructions involving significant assets, often advising clients with business interests requiring complex business valuations, clients with substantial income and capital assets, including overseas assets, as well as acting on cases involving large pensions. Helen has also worked on cases involving intervening parties where there were disputes as to the ownership of property and whether it should be included as part of the matrimonial settlement. Helen also has experience in a wide range of private law proceedings acting for parents, extended family members and children with party status. Helen advises on issues of law and case management both in writing and in conferences and represents clients at all stages of the case and at all levels of the family court. She is regularly instructed to draft documents in the case including case summaries, skeleton arguments and applications for expert assessments involving the following issues: Disputes about with whom the child(ren) should live Disputes about the nature/frequency of the time a parent should spend with a child, including cases resulting in ‘no contact’ orders Leave to remove the child from the jurisdiction – permanently and temporarily Internal/domestic relocation Change of the children’s school Non-accidental injury allegations Sexual abuse allegations Drug and alcohol misuse Serious domestic violence/domestic abuse requiring findings to be pursued Emotional abuse Parents with psychiatric and/or psychological disorders Intractable contact disputes. Helen routinely receives instructions in relation to applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders acting for both the Applicant and the Respondent. Helen routinely acts on behalf of local authorities, parents and children in public law proceedings, from the commencement of the proceedings until (and including) the final hearing. This often involves drafting case summaries, threshold documents and orders involving the following issues: Non-accidental injury Sexual abuse Serious emotional harm and/or behavioural difficulties requiring residential placement or secure accommodation Disabilities; of the parents and/or the child(ren) Cultural issues Serious drug/alcohol misuse Chronic neglect.

Helen Varty

Helen is a Children Law specialist. Helen accepts instructions from all parties in all aspects of Children Law matters, including local authorities, parents, children and intervenors. Helen has extensive experience representing parties in care proceedings, during her 16 years’ experience as a Solicitor and since becoming a Barrister. She is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, and children in public law cases, often involving domestic abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual and physical abuse, neglect, and cases where there are parties with mental health issues. She also has experience in representing clients in cases of non-accidental injuries. She regularly works with professional clients and lay clients, and has often had to take instructions directly from children. Helen has expertise in representing clients where applications have been made for injunctions under the Inherent Jurisdiction in the High Court. Helen is regularly instructed to represent parties in private law proceedings, including cases where there are allegations of parental alienation, intractable contact disputes, and where domestic abuse allegations are made. She has experience in representing parties in finding of fact hearings. Helen is instructed regularly to represent children via their guardian in private law proceedings where a guardian has been appointed to represent the child, due to complex matters regarding living arrangements for children.

Helen Wilson

Helen has extensive experience in children cases. She has appeared at all levels of the family court. She is regularly instructed to act on behalf of local authorities, parents and children in both private and public law proceedings. Her experience and expertise includes the following: Chronic neglect Domestic violence Alcohol and substance misuse Serious non-accidental injury Sexual abuse Emotional abuse Child-trafficking Removal from the Jurisdiction – permanent and temporary Factitious illness Parents with learning disability/ difficulties Public interest immunity Designation of local authorities Secure accommodation Order applications Contested adoption and Placement Order applications Applications to discharge Care Orders Applications for Child Arrangements Orders.

Helen Wrenn

Helen practises in all areas of family law. Helen has 20 years’ experience of financial remedy cases arising out of divorce and relationship breakdown. She has a solution-based approach to complex matters and a good eye for detail. Her expertise includes: Applications for injunctions for the preservation of matrimonial property and property held by third parties Interim maintenance and orders for the payment of legal costs Property and pension transfers under the Matrimonial Causes Act Appeals seeking to set aside consent orders on the grounds of non-disclosure Applications relating to property held in Trusts and the breaking up of family trusts Dispositions of property under Schedules 1 of the Children Act TOLATA applications involving the property of unmarried couples Enforcement of financial orders and committals for contempt.Helen’s experience in children cases is extensive and she has appeared at all levels of the family court, frequently appearing before High Court Judges. She is regularly instructed to act on behalf of children, guardians, parents and step-parents, local authorities, intervenors and grandparents in both private and public law proceedings including care, adoption and special guardianship orders. She is a trusted and popular advocate who brings tenacity, attention to detail and a practical focus to complex issues. Her cases have included: The rights of parents to be fully involved in all aspects of their children’s upbringing, including spending time with them and making decisions relating to their education and health Denied or concealed paternity Domestic violence, neglect and emotional abuse of children Serious sexual abuse Homicide and suicide of both parents Child abuse within an international, cultural or religious context The return of children from Hague and Non-Hague Convention countries International adoptions Child-trafficking and prostitution Factitious illness Parents and children with learning difficulties, disabilities, and genetic disorders affecting parenting Physical abuse across a range from bruising to baby-shaking and complex brain injury Multiple sibling deaths within the context of possible inherited genetic defects Fabricated allegations of children towards a parent Court of Protection work Instructions from the Official Solicitor.

Helen Davey

Helen is a Family Law specialist. Helen’s practice is primarily focused on Children Act cases, both public and private law. Helen regularly represents local authorities in public law proceedings and advises on issues such as designation and jurisdiction. Helen also represents parents, children and grandparents in both public and private law Children Act cases involving issues including non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, international jurisdiction and parental alienation. Helen’s friendly and sensitive manner means that she is often instructed to represent very vulnerable clients including victims of domestic violence and parents with learning difficulties. She also has a particular interest in cases involving linked criminal and care proceedings and private law cases involving same sex parents and surrogacy.

Henry Vanderpump

Henry specialises in Personal Injury and undertakes work in three distinct areas – disease, clinical negligence and catastrophic injury claims. He acts on behalf of Claimants and Defendants in equal measure and has also been involved in providing strategic advice to a large national firm of solicitors in relation to noise induced hearing loss claims. Henry has also worked as a Consultant in house for a large national firm of solicitors specialising in asbestos litigation.

Hunter Gray

Hunter has specialised in criminal law for over 20 years. He represented clients at all stages of the criminal justice system from police stations to Youth Courts, Magistrates Courts and in the Crown Court. Hunter has acted for a number of clients charged with high profile murders. He has developed his specialism in relation to clients charged with sexual offences bringing his non-judgemental approach to conferences and instilling confidence in those he represents. Hunter has also acted for clients charged with the full range of offences within the criminal calendar including drug conspiracies, arson, serious assaults, death by dangerous driving, fraud etc.

Ian Goldsack

Ian Goldsack is a Criminal Law specialist and is experienced in all fields of criminal law. Criminal instructions are equally balanced between prosecution and defence work. Grade 4 Crown Prosecutor for a number of years, currently accredited across the North Eastern, Northern, and Wales and Chester circuits. Also accredited for the CPS Rape Panel. Practice in more recent years has focussed upon serious crime, including murder, manslaughter, serious sexual and other violent offending, dangerous driving (including where death has resulted), offences involving firearms, arson, and offending contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act, with particular recent specialism in both fraud and sexual offending work. Has advised and appeared in cases concerning the recovery of costs, confiscation pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act and asset recovery, and before the Divisional Court regarding matters which have been case stated. Ian has experience over many years conducting proceedings before Coroner’s Courts, including appearances in several high profile and long duration cases. The majority of the inquest work has arisen in circumstances where Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights is engaged, particularly following deaths in custody, although has also acted on behalf of midwives and local authority carers.

Jacqueline Swain

Jacqui Swain is an experienced barrister in personal injury work. She also undertakes work in clinical and cosmetic negligence. Jacqui represents claimants and defendants in all aspects of multi-track and fast track personal injury litigation. Areas of expertise include serious and fatal road traffic collisions – in particular, cases involving pedestrians, motorcycles or heavy goods vehicles; fraud and fundamental dishonesty; employer’s liability, accidents at work; public liability; occupier’s liability; and product liability. Jacqui has a special interest in personal injury cases involving: Scarring and burns injuries Cosmetic negligence Head injuries resulting in hearing loss and/or tinnitus Claims brought on behalf of children or protected parties

Jade Abraham

Jade’s principal practice is in Family Law and encompasses all aspects of the law relating to children in both public and private proceedings. She regularly receives instructions to appear for Local Authorities, parents, other extended family members, children able to give their own instructions and children’s guardians. Jade has an active interest in the development of Family Law and regularly attends conferences/seminars organised by the Family Law Bar Association, Family Law publishing companies and open forum seminars.

James Hudson

James specialises in criminal law, both prosecuting and defending. He enjoys a busy Crown Court practice and has been involved in large-scale drugs conspiracies, firearms offences, serious organised crime and sexual offences. He is a Category 2 Prosecutor and has started to accept instructions in RASSO youth cases. Since joining Chambers in August 2023, James has had some impressive results, including a successful appearance in the Court of Appeal which resulted in his client’s immediate release from prisons. James has the ability to quickly grasp the real issues in a case. He has a down-to-earth approach with clients and provides detailed and considered advice, thinking through issues from all angles before deciding on a course of action. James is always thoroughly prepared which is evident in his advocacy.

Jamie Jenkins

In Employment law, Jamie acts for both Claimants and Respondents in a wide range of employment tribunal cases, advising clients at all stages from initial negotiations through to the final hearing and, if necessary, to appeal. As well as his extensive discrimination experience, Jamie is frequently instructed on cases that involve issues of unfair dismissal, breach of contract, redundancy, whistleblowing and restrictive covenants. Jamie also has a broad commercial practice that encompasses areas that overlap with other aspects of his practice as well as distinct areas of commercial litigation. His practice primarily focuses on contractual disputes, including the sale of goods and supply of services, construction and insurance. Jamie has built a strong education practice predominantly representing educational institutions, including private schools, universities and local authorities in cases relating to the education sector, including in education law as well as cases involving employment law, discrimination and breach of contract. Jamie has extensive experience of representing clients in a range of courts and tribunals, including the First Tier Tribunal, Employment Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal.Jamie is consistently involved in new and developing issues in education law. He has recently both represented provided extensive advice to educational establishments on issues arising out of the coronavirus pandemic, including matters such as refunding tuition fees, mandatory testing for students, and accommodating pupils with special educational needs following lockdown. Jamie provides training to local authorities and educational establishments directly on a range of issues in educational settings, including discrimination and special educational needs.

Jane Wheatley

Jane specialises in all law relating to children and regularly represents Local Authorities, children, parents and wider family members both within and outside South Yorkshire. Jane has been regularly instructed on behalf of the police in relation to applications for disclosure in particularly serious cases of child injury or death. Jane is recognised for her clear advice, common sense approach and tenacious representation of her clients. She has considerable experience in the conduct of complex cases involving disputed expert evidence and the cross examination of medical experts. Jane also has considerable experience in dealing with parental disputes concerning children from straightforward child arrangement order applications to finding of fact hearings involving serious allegations including allegations of rape. Jane also has a particular interest in international relocation cases involving cases inside and outside of Europe.

Jane Walker

Jane is an experienced practitioner in public and private law proceedings, used to handling complex cases acting for and advising Local Authorities, parents and Children’s Guardians under the Children Act 1989. She has also advised in placement and adoption cases, and acted for separately represented teenage clients in sensitive and difficult cases. Jane appears regularly in the High Court as well as before circuit and district judges. She has appeared in a number of Court of Appeal cases. The work she undertakes involves cases of the most serious nature, including allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse and factitious illness. She frequently receives instruction in cases involving parents and children suffering from learning difficulties and developmental disabilities (e.g. autism and Asperger syndrome), forms of mental illness and serious psychological problems. Jane is often instructed in cases involving other jurisdictions and immigration issues, including cases involving applications to remove children from the jurisdiction. Her theological background and training brings extra knowledge and understanding to cases involving religious and cultural complexities. Jane’s work also includes applications made under the Inherent Jurisdiction and Human Rights legislation and medical treatment cases. She has been recommended as an expert in children’s cases over several years.

Jane Dagnall

Jane is a rape and serious sexual offences specialist and enjoys a varied practice engaged by both prosecution and defence. She attracts high calibre work and regularly acts in serious crime and multi-handed conspiracies. Jane has worked as a Magistrates’ court clerk and a Senior Crown Prosecutor. She holds a certificate in Advanced Computers and is fully computer literate in Windows and Mac. She is regularly instructed in cases involving the use of technology such as the making of indecent images. Jane is one of a small number of barristers appointed as a national External Assessor engaged to assess the advocates employed by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Jason Searle

Jason Searle is a specialist employment and equality law barrister, representing employers and employees in employment and HR litigation. He generally acts for high net worth individuals, law firms (and other professional advisory firms) and a range of FTSE listed companies/SMEs. He is proud to be the head of the St Johns Building’s Employment Law Team and immensely enjoys the responsibility of this role. ason acts for employers and employees, with an even split. Jason has a wealth of experience of discrimination cases. He has successfully resisted and presented claims brought by doctors and senior NHS executives. He has been responsible for presenting some of the most heinous campaigns of discriminatory treatment before the employment tribunals.Jason has become the ‘lawyer’s lawyer’ and is regularly instructed by solicitors privately and in house barristers. He has advised in cases for and against National firms of solicitors and is often against Leading Counsel. He has acted in cases involving National Security and has been responsible for training solicitors and others in discrimination law. He frequently appears in the Employment Tribunal; EAT; County Court and High Court.Jason is also an expert in Social Media in the Workplace and the legal ramifications for employers and employees. He has handled a number of cases where the use of Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and other social networks has led to disciplinary action (including dismissal) by an employer, leading to Employment Tribunal cases. He is frequently called upon to advise when solicitor’s employee clients find themselves accused of IT misuse. Jason has also appeared in regulatory and disciplinary tribunals. He has advised teachers, doctors, nurses and those involved with FCA compliance.

Jemma Gordon

Jemma specialises in criminal law and is instructed in a wide range of criminal matters. Jemma has a busy criminal practice, dealing with cases which include sexual offences, serious violence and large-scale drugs conspiracies. In particular she has a developing practice representing youths accused of serious sexual offending. Jemma is very experienced in sensitively dealing with vulnerable clients and witnesses, including those with disabilities or other additional needs.

Jessica Purchase

Jessica is a children family law specialist. She is experienced in all stages of proceedings, including multi-day fact-finding and final hearings, and in appeals. Jessica has a particular interest in cases with an international element and non-accidental injury cases. Jessica is regularly instructed in public law proceedings, acting on behalf of local authorities, parents and children through their Guardian. Her practice encompasses a wide range of issues which includes but is not limited to: domestic abuse; non-accidental injury; neglect; drug/alcohol misuse; sexual abuse; parents and children with disabilities, and child abduction. Jessica also has experience in cases involving deprivation of liberty and secure accommodation. Jessica is experienced in drafting case summaries, threshold documents, skeleton arguments and schedules and summaries of findings. Jessica also has extensive experience representing parents and extended family members in private children matters. She is regularly instructed in sensitive and highly emotive private children cases including those with allegations of domestic violence, rape and parental alienation, and private law cases with a public law dimension. She is equally adept in cases involving specific issues such as change of name or school and prohibited steps. Jessica has a particular interest in matters with an international element and has experience of advising and representing parties in internal and international relocation cases.

Jessica Denton

Jessica represents Claimants and Defendants across a broad spectrum of Personal Injury work, including road traffic accidents, public liability, employer’s liability and product liability with a focus on serious injury claims. Jessica also acts in fatal accident claims. She has recent experience of conducting complex and/or high value claims including polytrauma, long-term psychiatric injuries, neurological injuries and pain cases. As an experienced discrimination practitioner, Jessica also has a growing practice in advising and pleading personal injury claims pursued under Equality Act 2010, frequently involving claimants with disability. Jessica practises in claims on the Fast and Multi-Track of the County Court. Jessica undertakes advocacy at all stages of a claim and conducts trials (Fast and Multi-Track), CCMCs, application hearings, assessment of damages’ hearings and appeal hearings. Jessica is frequently instructed to advise in conference in serious injury claims. She also has a busy paperwork practice and drafts Advices, Particulars of Claim, Defences and schedules/counter-schedules in all Personal Injury matters. Jessica has a keen interest in and in-depth knowledge of clinical negligence. She accepts instructions for Claimants and Defendants in clinical negligence claims. She provides advocacy and advisory services across a broad range of clinical negligence claims. Jessica has acted recently in claims involving delayed diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, birth injury (to mother and child), delayed diagnosis of cancer and radiological errors. Jessica has acted in a number of claims involving complications arising from orthopaedic injuries and/or surgery. Jessica accepts instructions in all matters of Employment Law for both Claimants and Respondents. She acts at all stages of claims within the Tribunal and has experience advising prospective Claimants and Respondents on pre and post-termination settlement agreements governed by section 111A ERA 1996. Jessica is regularly instructed to provide written advices and pleadings in a wide range of Employment claims. Jessica undertakes work in a broad range of travel claims with a particular interest in aviation law.

Jessica Southcote-Want

Jessica practises in the fields of Family Law and Personal Injury. Jessica has acted for parents and other parties in public law proceedings. She has appeared on behalf of parties at contested interim hearings, directions/review hearings, Issue Resolution Hearings and Final Hearings. Jessica regularly acts for parents at all stages of private law proceedings. Jessica has experience of dealing with disputes relating to residence and contact (Child Arrangements Order applications). Jessica has also dealt with cases involving applications for Specific Issue Orders and Non-Molestation Orders. Jessica undertakes work both in an advisory role and at court hearings. She regularly acts for both Claimants and Defendants at small claim and fast track hearings. Jessica has experience of representing Claimants and Defendants at a range of civil applications, Infant Settlement Hearings, MOJ Stage 3 Hearings and Disposal Hearings. Jessica regularly provides advice on quantum and has experience of drafting pleadings.

Jim Conlon

Jim has extensive experience of addressing the disputes that may arise out of the breakdown of a marriage or civil partnership, and of acting for both parties and intervenors. Jim’s attention to detail, approachability and practical advice coupled his robust but pragmatic approach to negotiations, allows best scope for cases to resolve both successfully and cost effectively prior to a final hearing. Jim is also noted for his work in court, particular his robust and effective cross examination of witnesses. Jim’s experience in this area includes: Overseas assets Business assets Hidden assets Dissipated assets (including applications to prevent or recover) Inherited wealth Intervenors Applications to vary Enforcement proceedings. Jim also has experience of providing advice in respect of the drafting and effect of both pre-nuptial and post nuptial agreements. Family finance: cohabitees Jim’s practice also encompasses disputes arising out of co-habitee relationships, particularly those in respect of the family home. Jim has extensive experience of TOLATA 1996 and LPA 1925 proceedings within the civil courts and also of applications made under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 and under the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 in the Family Court. As with his wider practice, Jim is available and prefers to provide assistance in conference or writing from an early stage with a view to delivering best results for lay clients, particularly in those cases which have to proceed in the civil costs jurisdiction. Jim also specialises in private law Children Act 1989 proceedings, and has represented parents, grandparents, other relatives, children and children’s guardians in a wide variety of applications, including for: Child Arrangement Orders Specific Issue Orders Prohibited Steps Orders Section 91(14) orders Permission to re-locate overseas Jim deals with all elements/stages of the private law process, including finding of fact hearings, and is also regularly instructed in respect of matters involving domestic abuse, alcohol/substance abuse, child abuse (including alienating behaviours) and other cases involving vulnerable parties/children. Domestic abuse Jim’s practice also encompasses proceedings under the FLA 1996 for both non-molestation and occupation orders. Jim is often instructed on behalf of respondents, particularly in respect of applications for occupation orders or where there are wider proceedings in prospect in respect of either property or children.

John Ratledge

John has an established employment practice focusing principally on unfair dismissal, discrimination and whistleblowing at ET and EAT level. Commercial clients include both private enterprises and PLCs. John is an experienced personal injury specialist and accepts instructions in a broad range of Multi-track injury matters (road traffic, work accidents and public liability claims) but has become best known for motor fraud cases, including fraud rings, staged accidents, those that never happened, and bogus passenger claims. He is the preferred counsel for a number of large insurers in this area. Credit hire is also a topic regularly covered in John’s road traffic practice. John’s employers’ liability practice covers spinal and subtle brain injury, for claimants and defendants, as well as the full range of more prosaic work-related injury, for example lifting and falling. He has also provided advice and representation in industrial disease claims for over a decade (deafness, asbestos, respiratory conditions, skin disorders and upper limb conditions/RSI). All aspects of these claims are handled from pre-litigation advice through to CCMCs, trial and costs. Public liability claims have recently included fireworks display burns, animal bites and crushes, ice slipping accidents, product liability matters and school claims.

John Oates

John has a considerable Criminal practice with an inevitable bias toward Prosecuting and covering the widest range of Criminal work from the most minor Road Traffic offences through to the most serious of Crimes. He has a particular interest in fraud stemming from the time when he was the instructing Solicitor in the Greenall Whitley conspiracy as long ago as the 80’s, and which interest he maintains at the Bar. John is equally at home defending in which his lengthy experience of prosecuting and intimate knowledge of the Police is a considerable advantage and he applies the same tenacity to Defending as he does to Prosecuting.

John McKenna

John specialises in public law care proceedings, including representing children via their appointed Guardians as well as taking instructions from and providing representation to children within proceedings directly, including the representation of children who have given live oral evidence within proceedings. John’s patient and sympathetic approach towards young people, ensures that they are provided with a form of representation which is in line with their age and level of understanding. He is highly organised with a meticulous attention to detail when preparing cases. His friendly, no-nonsense approach ensures a strong relationship with both lay and professional clients. John represents all parties in all private law applications involving applications for Special Guardianship, and all Section 8 Children Act applications, including Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders, including complex proceedings involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse and implacable hostility.John often provides representation to parties within the most complex private law cases when a Guardian has been appointed on behalf of the child(ren) pursuant to Rule 16.4 Family Procedure Rules 2010, including representation of the children within such cases, pursuant to rule 16.4.

Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan is a Family Law specialist and has been so since he started in practice in 1991. He has an interest in all types of family law. He deals with financial remedies and has extensive experience conducting care proceedings acting for Local Authorities, parents, extended family members and Guardians. He frequently acts for children via their Guardian in private law matters.

Jonathan Thompson

Jonathan practises in all areas of family law and also has extensive experience in personal injury work. Jonathan has a particular interest in care proceedings and has appeared in complex and lengthy child protection hearings, including those involving child death, serious non-accidental injury, sexual harm, grooming, neglect and serious emotional harm. Jonathan’s experience includes representing NHS trusts in High Court disputes over medical treatment for children, representing CAFCASS Legal in the High Court and civil actions for professional negligence against social workers. Jonathan is instructed by local authorities, parents, Guardians, the Official Solicitor and CAFCASS Legal and is able to view a case from all angles and advise on tactical approach as well as substantive law. Jonathan’s experience also includes cases involving an international element, child witnesses, complex adoption applications, secure accommodation orders, applications for discharge of care or placement orders and for contact with a child in care. Jonathan’s practice covers both private law children and matrimonial finance work. This breadth can provide clients with the significant advantage of retaining him for both potential areas of dispute following marital or relationship breakdown. Jonathan appears in complex disputes resulting in applications for child arrangements orders, including those involving issues of mental capacity, parental alienation or shared parenting, as well as international and internal relocation cases and more discrete specific issue or prohibited steps order applications. Jonathan is also experienced in personal injury work at all levels from higher end multi track to fast track. Jonathan is instructed by both claimants and defendants and is able to view a case from both angles and advise on the best tactical approach as well as substantive law.

Jonathan Bellamy

Jonathan regularly appears in the Family Court on a wide range of children matters, including applications for care and placement orders, special guardianship orders, child arrangements orders, specific issue orders and secure accommodation orders. Jonathan has a particular interest in cases involving ethico-legal issues, such as surrogacy, and has acted in matters before the High Court which have necessitated the use of the court’s inherent jurisdiction. In addition to representing parties before the Family Court, Jonathan also regularly represents parties before the Court of Protection. This means Jonathan is well placed to act in proceedings where it is considered that a party lacks capacity to litigate and those proceedings which cross the jurisdiction of the Family Court and the Court of Protection, for instance, cases which concern the deprivation of liberty of those aged 16 and 17. Jonathan has appeared in a number of high profile and long running inquests, many of which have engaged Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. He is particularly skilled in those inquests touching upon the practices and procedures of mental health and social care professionals.

Jonathan Dickinson

Jonathan is a well respected and highly experienced criminal barrister working in all areas of criminal law and related fields. Jonathan is a CPS Grade 4 prosecutor. Jonathan is regularly instructed in rape and serious sexual violence, serious violence and large scale public disorder cases. He has also been involved in major drugs conspiracies, fraud, money laundering and other dishonesty cases. He is experienced in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings. He appears frequently for both defence and prosecution in cases of serious child sexual exploitation and familial sexual abuse. Also: Multi Defendant and Complainant cases of sexual abuse Cases involving cross gender defendants Cases involving ‘false memory syndrome’ and cases involving complainants with severe mental health problems. He has a particular interest in wildlife offences. He advises on and has appeared for claimants in civil jury trials relating to complaints against the police.

Joseph O'Brien KC

For many years Joseph has been recognised as a leader in the field of adult social care and Court of Protection proceedings. He is regularly instructed by local authorities, hospitals, CCGs and other health care providers. Joseph is also instructed by the Official Solicitor and family members. He regularly advises pre issue providing comprehensive guidance on evidence and focussing on the issues which need to be determined. Joseph appears in medical and welfare cases, and is often instructed in contested property and affairs applications. Joseph’s Family Law practice has extensive cross-over with his Court of Protection expertise, involving issues including medical and welfare issues (both of parents/guardians and children), capacity, care, residence, placement, restrictions and health. A number of the cases set out in his Court of Protection section include vulnerable children and issues relevant to the family courts, where there is considerable cross-over between the two jurisdictions. Joseph also has a formidable reputation as a personal injury specialist. Since the onset of the argument about what is ‘deprivation of liberty’, Joseph has been at the cutting edge of this jurisprudence. He has appeared in a number of the leading cases and lead in the Supreme Court in the case of P v Cheshire West and Chester Council [2014] UKSC 19 (leading Ian Goldsack). Joseph’s experience of public law, human rights, mental health and personal injury/clinical negligence ensures that his advice and representation is of the highest quality. In the field of adult social care he has regularly advised public authorities on service provision, commissioning and procurement issues. He appears regularly in the Administrative Court on applications for judicial review.

Josephine Chu

Josephine is a family law specialist with extensive experience in both public and private law applications relating to children. Josephine is regularly instructed to represent local authorities, parents and children through their Guardians. She has considerable experience in conducting multi-day final hearings, finding of fact hearings, and application hearings in cases involving neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, substance and alcohol misuse and non-accidental injuries. Josephine has also represented parents, grandparents and children in applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Prohibited Steps Orders. She has extensive experience in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, alcohol and drug abuse and child abuse as well as cases involving leave to remove from the jurisdiction and non-molestation applications.

Julian Shaw

Julian enjoys a broad civil practice with a particular emphasis on Chancery law. He is frequently instructed in property matters, ranging from boundary disputes and cases involving easements to issues involving agricultural holdings and tenancies. Recent cases have included substantial multi-party disputes over rights of way, cases involving serious trespass to land and the assertion and enforcement of prescriptive rights including rights to light. He has vast experience of trusts matters, encompassing cases arising under the Inheritance Act 1975 and the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 (TOLATA), as well as matters involving resulting and constructive trusts, equitable and restitutionary remedies, applications relating to the construction of wills and issues arising from breaches of trust by trustees. He also acts frequently in wills and probate cases, particularly those involving contentious probate issues or removal of executors. Julian has recently delivered talks on issues arising under TOLATA and on litigating right to light claims to solicitors. Julian also regularly undertakes professional negligence cases, with a particular emphasis on solicitors’ negligence and negligent advice by conveyancers, architects and surveyors. Current ongoing cases involve a claim arising from negligent advice by valuation agents, claims relating to negligent management of financial investments and mis-selling of investment products, and a number of cases involving defective structural surveys or architects’ negligence. With regards to his Family Finance practice, Julian is regularly instructed in high value cases, particularly those involving family business, trusts and issues relating to farms and agriculture. He is a recognised expert in cases involving pensions and issues arising from a party’s bankruptcy, and has presented seminars on these subjects in the past. Julian’s trusts expertise and extensive experience in TOLATA cases means that he is ideally placed to advise in respect of complex matters relating to equitable title to shared homes, and a significant percentage of his practice relates to such matters. His ‘money’ practice regularly finds him acting in matters where the assets comfortably exceed £1 million in value, and he has extensive experience of cases involving an international element, applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, litigants seeking to subvert the legal process and cases involving hidden assets.

Julian Lloyd

Julian is a Children Law specialist. His public law practice involves Care Proceedings (For all types of parties including Local Authorities, Parents, Children, Grandparents and other Intervenors) including complex cases involving, for example: Alleged factitious injury by proxy by a parent (so-called “Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy”) One or more parents allegedly involved in very serious criminal activity or serving lengthy periods of imprisonment Children having allegedly suffered serious sexual and/or physical abuse at the hands of parent(s) or others Parents with serious mental health and/or physical disability issues Adoption Proceedings and Special Guardianship (whether in the context of Care Proceedings or otherwise) including: Post adoption contact applications not only by natural parents but also by non-adopted or separately adopted siblings The consequences of the breakdown of adoption His private law practice covers disputes of all types including complex or unusual cases involving Child Arrangements Orders (until recently called Residence Orders and Contact Orders) and other forms of court order regulating or safeguarding children’s circumstances. For example: A parent who has undergone or is contemplating Gender Reassignment (so-called “sex change”) surgery Actual or allegedly intended abduction of children internally within the jurisdiction or internationally Disputes involving children where the parties are or include people other than parents, such as grandparents, siblings, step-parents or other relations including situations where one or both parents have died, or lack the capacity to conduct litigation Parents with serious mental health and/or physical disability issues

Julian Taylor

Julian undertakes a wide variety of cases from being led in murder trials to cases of drugs supply, dishonesty and violent crimes. He has also been involved in cases involving children and internet pornography. One of the trials resulted in a conviction for a murder that had occurred 20 years before the defendant was arrested and extradited from the United States of America. Julian also has wide experience in undercover Police operations and cases involving covert listening devices.

Julie Richardson

Julie is a Family specialist and represents parents and children in all aspects of private and public law. Julie has been involved in trial advocacy as a solicitor since the start of her practice and transferred to the Bar in 2017. She has represented Local Authorities, parents and children since that date. Julie also has experience in the Court of Protection where she has represented parents and the Official Solicitor.

Justine Cole

Justine’s practice includes all aspects of family law, with a particular emphasis on complex care cases. She is regularly instructed in care proceedings on behalf of Local Authorities, parents who are subject to proceedings, and children. She has also represented parents who lack capacity, being instructed by the Official Solicitor.She has appeared in the High Court and the County Court in care cases involving child death, significant non-accidental injuries with complex medical evidence, sexual abuse, physical abuse and serious neglect cases. She has also been involved in a number of Secure Accommodation cases.Justine also receives instructions on all aspects of private law work such as residence, shared residence, intractable contact disputes and domestic violence cases.

Karl Rowley KC

Karl represents local authorities, parents and extended families, and children (whether directly or by their Guardians) in the public law arena. He has appeared at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court and regularly represents parties in the Court of Appeal.He has a particular interest in cases involving complex medical evidence, including NAHI; alleged bone disease; child death; and purported poisonings. His experience covers applications such as for contact by former parents after the death of adopters; those involving foreign adoption; care cases with international elements; inherent jurisdiction cases concerning proposed medical treatment of minors; and applications to restrict publicity. In private law proceedings Karl’s practice has included multifaceted residence applications involving sexual abuse or homicide, protracted contact cases, international relocation, and cases concerning children with special needs. Karl advises and appears for local authorities and families in welfare cases. There is considerable overlap between his work in medical treatment cases and those in respect of children resolved under the inherent jurisdiction.

Kashif Ali

Kashif is an employment law specialist with over 15 years of experience. He was appointed a FP Employment Judge in 2021. Kashif is regularly instructed in complex and difficult unfair dismissal claims, discrimination claims and whistleblowing claims. He has extensive experience across a large spectrum of employment law matters acting for both Claimants and Respondents.Kashif regularly acts for public bodies and a number of English and Welsh local authorities including: Greater Manchester Police, Lancashire County Council, Rotherham MBC, Wrexham CBC and Denbighshire County Council.Kashif also has considerable experience in negotiation, and has represented parties effectively in mediations, including the ET Judicial Mediation Scheme. He is a fully trained Mediator and can be instructed to help resolve employment disputes between parties.

Kate Burnell KC

Kate practises solely within Family Law and has specialised in children cases for over 15 years. Her practice involves both public and private law proceedings and she represents local authorities, parents, carers, members of the extended family and children, whether via their Guardians or directly. Kate has extensive experience dealing with vulnerable clients. Kate has a developing Court of Protection practice covering health and welfare cases and property and affairs. She has a particular interest in deprivation of liberty cases.

Kate Spence

Kate practices in all areas of children law. Kate is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents and children at all stages of public law proceedings, including final hearings, fact-finding hearings and appeals. Kate has experience of drafting case summaries, detailed threshold documents, skeleton arguments and schedules of findings. Kate is frequently instructed to represent local authorities, parents and children at urgent interim care order applications or emergency protection order applications at short notice in cases involving serious neglect, non-accidental injuries and domestic violence. Kate has experience of providing detailed written advice in relation to remedies under the inherent jurisdiction, designation arguments between local authorities and prospects of success. Kate has a particular interest in cases involving non-accidental injuries and international elements. Kate regularly acts for parents in disputes over contact and residence. Kate has experience of acting in applications for child arrangements orders, specific issue orders (e.g. to change a child’s surname) and prohibited steps orders. Kate has represented applicants and respondents in cases involving allegations of serious domestic violence, child abuse and sexual violence. Kate is also regularly instructed to represent children in private law proceedings.

Kate Morley

Kate is a family law specialist with extensive experience of public and private law matters. Kate regularly represents local authorities, parents and children in all stages of care proceedings, including EPOs, contested ICOs, finding of fact hearings, final hearings and subsequent matters such as applications to discharge care orders. The range of issues Kate deals with are broad, and include NAI, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, substance misuse, and mental health issues including acting for clients who are represented by the Official Solicitor. Kate also has significant experience in representing both parents and children via their guardians in private law proceedings. Kate undertakes all stages of proceedings including finding of fact hearings, final hearings, leave to remove from jurisdiction matters and non-molestation orders.

Katherine White

Katherine is a confident and approachable criminal advocate. Katherine is a Grade 2 Prosecutor and has experience in prosecuting and defending cases in the Crown Court. She strives to undertake more complex and challenging criminal work, including as a junior alone and as a led junior Since September 2020, Katherine has prosecuted trials, remand and case management courts in the magistrates. She has experience in the Youth Court, including prosecuting serious offences, and dealing with remand and sentencing considerations In addition, she has developed a familiarity with road traffic offences and consideration of special reasons and exceptional hardship applications.

Keith Harrison

Keith specialises in all areas of criminal work and acts for both defence and prosecution. He has over 20 years’ experience and has been involved with many major cases both on the Northern Circuit and on other Circuits. His work has included cases of homicide and serious violence, sexual offences, substantial drugs offences, robbery and fraud. Keith has acted as leading Junior in complex matters. He is a category 4 Prosecutor and has been retained to prosecute for British Telecom. He is preferred defence counsel for The Foster Parents’ Association. Keith has appeared on numerous occasions before the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.

Kelly Hutchinson

Kelly is a junior common law barrister. Kelly appears on behalf of Claimants and Defendants across a broad spectrum of Personal Injury claims. Kelly is also frequently instructed to appear in claims involving credit hire disputes. Kelly attends Application Hearings, Infant Settlement Hearings, Stage 3 MOJ Hearings, Small Claims Hearings, CMCs, CCMCs, Disposal Hearings, Fast Track trials, and Multi-Track trials. Kelly has a keen interest in coronial law and is keen to develop this area of her practice further. Kelly has considerable experience in drafting Statements of Facts and Grounds and initial orders in applications under section 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Kelly is frequently instructed in applications brought pursuant to s15, s16, and s21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Kelsey Marron

Kelsey is a specialist family law barrister welcoming instructions in all children matters and applications brought under the Family Law Act. Kelsey adopts a personable approach in her practice and is client-focused in all aspects of her work, striving for resolution at every stage in the proceedings. In her diverse public law practice, Kelsey receives repeat instructions from all parties. She is frequently instructed to represent local authorities at court hearings and prepare written documents. Kelsey adopts a solution-focused approach which is welcomed by those who instruct her. Kelsey also routinely acts for parents including those who are young and with vulnerabilities. She maintains an empathetic approach to all clients and provides realistic advice throughout the proceedings. Kelsey represents parents, Guardian’s and individuals who require leave to bring an application under the Children Act. Her practice spans across a wide range of areas including child arrangements orders, cases involving domestic abuse, intractable contact disputes, internal and external relocation. Kelsey has succeeded in establishing serious findings of controlling and coercive behaviour and sexual abuse in a number of cases following multi-day finding of fact hearings.

Kerri O'Niell

Kerri specialises in matrimonial finances and private children. Kerri has a reputation for attention to detail, law and procedure. Kerri is known for her ability to connect with clients outside of court and robust cross examination in court. Kerri specialises in matrimonial finance matters and has conducted FDAs, FDRs and final hearings. Kerri has undertaken cases with: Large debts Pensions (including multiple pensions and complex pension reports) Investment property portfolios in UK and Europe Trading companies Disability based needs Third party disclosure applications based on non-engagement in proceedings Enforcement of financial orders Non-engagement of other side Litigants in person Third party disclosure orders Kerri comes from an agricultural community and has an understanding of family, land and asset dynamics in such communities. Kerri has a developing interest in farming cases.

Kerrie Broughton

Kerrie Broughton has specialised in children’s law for over 20 years, initially as a solicitor (including with higher rights of audience). Kerrie has represented local authorities, children and parents (including teenage parents and those with mental health or learning difficulties, including through the Official Solicitor). She has handled complex proceedings involving non-accidental injury, from long-term ongoing bruising to those involving serious injuries – including shaken-baby syndrome, multiple fractures, and factitious illness syndrome. She has made applications under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. She has dealt with matters involving serious disputed allegations of domestic violence; allegations of sexual abuse (including where children have given evidence); disputed jurisdictional issues; long-term cumulative neglect cases; and inter-country adoption. In Private Law, Kerrie has represented alleged victims, perpetrators and children in cases involving serious allegations of domestic violence and sexual abuse. She has handled proceedings involving allegations of implacable hostility and/or ‘parental alienation syndrome’.

Kerry Holt

Kerry practises in all areas of public and private children law, including injunctive relief. Kerry has extensive experience representing local authorities, parents, extended family members and children in all matters of sensitive and complex public law cases. She frequently appears in care proceedings in which the central issues involve allegations of neglect, chronic domestic violence, substance misuse, serious inflicted injuries (including non-accidental death/murder) and sexual abuse (including cases involving historic and interfamilial allegations and allegations against multiple perpetrators as well as cases involving numerous local authorities and large-scale litigation). She deals with all matters relating to adoption and special guardianship applications. Kerry has a broad private law practice and is regularly instructed in complex applications which include issues of sexual, physical and emotional abuse of both adults and children, implacable hostility and parental alienation, relocation issues and removal from the jurisdiction. Kerry has a particular interest in cases involving parental alienation allegations and has been instructed in numerous matters that have involved allegations of coercing or coaching children to make false allegations of abuse.

Kevin McNerney

Kevin is an established senior member of the St John's Employment Group and practices only in Employment Law. Kevin has appeared in the EAT in several reported cases and regularly advises on all aspects of Employment Law with a particular emphasis on whistleblowing and NHS related litigation; having spent 11 years as a Senior Legal Officer for the Royal College of Nursing he understands the Healthcare sector intimately. Kevin has also appeared at the Health & Care Professions Council on professional regulatory matters. Professional regulatory law is a developing area of Kevin’s practice and he sits as the independent member on Police Misconduct Hearings. Kevin has experience of representing Healthcare professionals when their practice has been investigated at the HCPC and teachers before their professional body on disciplinary matters. He has experience of representing Healthcare professionals when their practice has been investigated at the HCPC and teachers before their professional body on disciplinary matters.

Kevin Jones

Kevin practises exclusively in Criminal Law. He is a Grade 3 prosecutor. Kevin has built a healthy defence practice covering a broad range of work and has seen great success in cases after the cross examination of prosecution witnesses.

Khurram Karim

Khurram represents private clients, corporations, law firms and regulatory bodies, providing advocacy and advisory services of the highest quality. He practises in the areas of Commercial Law, Commercial Immigration and Professional Misconduct and Negligence and is accustomed to representing international clients in foreign jurisdictions (US in particular). Khurram has represented limited liability and publicly held companies both in an advisory capacity and also in contentious matters in court. Khurram has represented and advised on professional negligence and misconduct in particular with respect to the legal profession. Khurram has represented a number of individuals and companies in the UK wishing to move to the US or to transfer managers and essential personnel to the US.

Lance Dodgson

Lance is highly regarded for his public law children work, and is regularly instructed by local authorities, guardians, parents, other relatives and intervenors, and appears at all levels up to and including the High Court, dealing with cases at all stages including regularly conducting finding of fact and final hearings. Lance has experience of complex and varied cases involving allegations of serious sexual abuse of children, serious non-accidental injury to children involving complex facts and medical evidence, serious domestic violence, physical abuse, emotional harm, and long-standing parental neglect. He also has experience of cases involving the Court’s inherent jurisdiction. Lance’s private law children practice covers parental alienation and specific issue applications including relocation of children both within and outside the jurisdiction of England and Wales, change of school and change of a child’s name.

Lara Holsgrove

Lara specialises in personal injury work and has acted for both Claimants and Defendants in clinical disputes, public and employer liability cases, road traffic litigation, high value Criminal Injury Compensation cases, inquests and catastrophic injury litigation. Lara has a particular interest in cases involving acquired brain injuries and serious spinal injuries. Lara also has a keen interest in housing disrepair and has extensive experience of claimant litigation. Lara has undertaken a wide variety of work having been involved in all aspects of the litigation process including conferences, drafting particulars of claim, interlocutory hearings and trials.

Laura Twist

Laura specialises in all aspects of Court of Protection law, with extensive experience in both the health and welfare and property and affairs jurisdictions. Laura is regularly instructed to act on behalf of the Official Solicitor, local authorities, NHS Trusts, ICBs and family members. She has experience of many aspects of health and welfare law in the Court of Protection, including serious medical treatment, Covid vaccinations, cases involving issues of coercion and control, challenges to contact arrangements, deprivation of liberty and best interests disputes. Laura has dealt with a number of complex cases, which have included disputes surrounding the correct legal framework for detention of an individual lacking capacity and the interplay between the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act. Laura also has extensive experience from her previous practice in the practicalities of day-to-day property and affairs management. She is instructed in cases where deputies or attorneys have had their appointments revoked for misconduct, financial abuse cases, disputes surrounding P’s capacity and to advise on the appropriateness of deputyship in individual cases. Laura regularly accepts instructions in financial Court of Protection matters, including contested proceedings involving deputyship appointments and removal of attorneys and deputies. Deprivation of Liberty and Mental Health Act Laura accepts instructions from NHS Trusts and ICBs in cases under the Children Act 1989 which involve complex issues around deprivation of liberty under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court. Many of the cases Laura has appeared in have involved an interplay with the Mental Health Act 1983. Laura has a particular interest in inquests involving residents at care homes and hospitals who are deprived of their liberty under Schedule A1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Laura Halsall

Laura is a civil practitioner, with focus on employment law, and as such welcomes instructions for all civil, employment and education law matters. Laura acts in matters in the Employment Tribunal, First-tier Tribunal (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and in the civil courts. She has been instructed to draft opinions and pleadings in relation to those areas and is happy to assist with papers requiring a fast turnaround. Although Employment Law is Laura’s primary area of focus, Laura has had the opportunity to experience other areas of law and in particular education law and discrimination claims in both the County and High Court. The experience Laura has in relation to Employment Law and the Equality Act 2010 has proven invaluable to developing this area of her practice. Laura is part of the Attorney General’s Junior Juniors scheme and carries out pro bono work for Advocate.

Laura Marshall

Laura is a Criminal Law specialist. She is a grade 4 Prosecutor and enjoys a mixed Prosecution and Defence Practice. Laura is regularly instructed in cases which involve vulnerable witnesses and defendants, in particular sexual offences and cases which relate to the Mental Health Act 1983.Laura appears regularly in the Crown Court and has represented Appellants in both the Court of Appeal and Divisional Court. Laura is regularly instructed to represent young offenders in a variety of different types of cases, including sexual offences and offences of violence. Laura also undertakes a significant amount of road traffic offence cases. Laura prosecutes a wide range of cases, in particular offences of violence such as assault and robbery. Laura works with South Yorkshire Police, representing the Bar in training courses carried out with local Police officers in relation to the video interviewing of vulnerable witnesses. Laura has been led by Junior Counsel and KC’s in cases ranging from murder to third party wasted costs appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Lauren Maires

Lauren is a family law barrister; she practises in all areas of children law. She joined Chambers as a tenant in October 2023 following successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Ginnette Fitzharris and Jonathan Taylor in which she gained experience in all areas of family law.

Liam Murdin

Liam is an experienced and highly regarded personal injury practitioner. He is a specialist in insurance fraud, leads the St John’s Buildings fraud team, and is the head of Lawyers Against Insurance Fraud. Liam represents both Claimants and Defendants at all stages of litigation. He has significant experience in road traffic litigation, actions arising out of public liability, employers’ liability, and occupiers’ liability claims. He is usually instructed in multi-track litigation, and is frequently asked to draft Schedules, Counter-Schedules and high value advices. He has attended many JSMs and CCMCs. Liam is the Head of Lawyers against Insurance Fraud, and the Fraud team within St John’s Buildings. He has developed a significant reputation for fraud arising out of motor accidents, and is panel Counsel for most of the major insurers. He is regularly instructed in claims dealing with the following: staged accidents, accidents that never occurred, counterclaims against dishonest Claimants, Low Velocity Impact claims, bogus passenger claims and deliberate slam-ons. He is very experienced both at trial, and in conferences with clients and engineers; he is able to draft Defences, and questions to engineering and medical experts, with speed and precision. He is currently involved in several High Court actions where a declaration of fraud is sought, and/or contempt proceedings have been issued. He is particularly skilled at robust and forensic cross-examination, dealing with multiple parties and multiple accidents. Liam practises in all areas of employment law, including constructive and unfair dismissal, contractual claims, TUPE, and restrictive covenants. He has developed a particular interest in discrimination and whistle-blowing claims, and frequently appears in the Employment Tribunal, Employment Appeal Tribunal, County Court, High Court and Court of Appeal. He is available for advisory work, representation at mediation and internal or professional disciplinary hearings.

Lisa Houghton

Lisa represents local authorities, parents, extended family members and children in public law cases. She frequently appears in complex care proceedings where the central issues involve allegations of inflicted injuries including head injuries, shaken baby syndrome and multiple fractures requiring expert medical evidence. Her case load includes fabricated illness, serious neglect, mental illness, psychological impairment and sexual abuse involving historic and interfamilial allegations. She has dealt with cases involving child death both with and without leading counsel. Lisa has been instructed in care proceedings involving child sexual exploitation following high profile criminal investigations. She is experienced at dealing with care proceedings and concurrent criminal proceedings and attending linked care and crime directions. She has dealt with a number of cases involving the application of Brussels II Revised where the court had to consider the appropriateness or otherwise of transferring the proceedings to another jurisdiction. She deals with all matters relating to adoption and special guardianship applications, whether in the context of care proceedings or otherwise. In private law proceedings Lisa is instructed in multi-faceted applications which include issues of sexual, physical and emotional abuse, familial homicide, implacable hostility, children with a reduced life expectancy and/or special needs, and removal from the jurisdiction. She acts on behalf of children following the appointment of a Guardian pursuant to r.16.4.

Lisa Partington

Lisa practises in all areas of family law including Care proceedings, Adoption, Contact, Residence, Domestic Violence Injunctions and Committals, all aspects of Ancillary Relief, removal of children from the jurisdiction of the UK and Public Interest Immunity.

Lorraine Cavanagh KC

Lorraine practises in all areas of children law, in the health and welfare law field of the Court of Protection and conducts judicial review and Human Rights claims with a focus on community care provision and child rights. Lorraine has acted in complex care cases including fatal injury cases and catastrophic injuries to children. She has dealt with a number of NAHI and non-accidental injury cases with areas of medical complexity. She has a wealth of experience acting on all sides of these applications. Lorraine’s practice in medical treatment law has caused her to become involved in end of life care cases for children with profound illness and/or disability. This includes a case involving the force feeding of children and their detention for the purposes of medical treatment. Lorraine acts for children directly without a Guardian and through their Guardian.Lorraine also acts, in these cases, for local authorities, Hospital Trusts and parents. Due to her experience as a noted practitioner in the Court of Protection Lorraine has acted in numerous complex care cases involving learning disabled parents and children, including concurrent care proceedings for the child and COP proceedings for the parents. She has extensive experience of acting through the Official Solicitor. Lorraine has also acted in a number of High Court public law cases involving linked Human Rights Act claims and Judicial Review proceedings in which she also acted on behalf of the clients. Lorraine has also acted in cases involving Care Proceedings, Adoption, Inherent Jurisdiction/Medical Treatment and Children's Rights. She has been junior in the leading case shaping the rights of children in care. The landmark and grave case of A & S v Lancashire County Council was a Human Rights application by two children, represented by Lorraine, and her leader, to bring into account the local government, the national policy and legislation that had come together to permit the boy’s parlous conditions and unlawful legal status to persist. Lorraine has a specialist interest in cases that involve the marriage and sexual relations of incapacitous persons which have resulted in children (i.e. concurrent care proceedings) or which result in concurrent matrimonial litigation (i.e. petitions for nullity). Lorraine’s background in child law and matrimonial law has led to her representing P in all facets of the family court litigation and the Court of Protection.

Louise Stanbury

Louise has wide experience in a full range of Children Act proceedings including public law applications, private law applications and adoption cases and has successfully appeared in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Within her public law practice Louise is regularly instructed to represent parents and other family members and has considerable experience representing children through their Guardians.She is frequently instructed to advise and represent local authorities in complex public law cases. Louise deals with cases including those involving: Complex or conflicting medical evidence Child death Non accidental injury Chronic neglect Allegations of serious sexual and/or physical abuse She also has experience in dealing with cases involving Brussels II Revised (BIIR). Louise is regularly instructed in lengthy and complex finding of fact hearings and has successfully represented parents in applications for revocation of a placement order. Louise has busy and varied private law practice. Her experience covers the full range of Children Act applications such as: Protracted contact cases including those where one parent is implacably hostile Cases involving allegations of sexual abuse or domestic violence Applications to permanently remove children from the jurisdiction Cases involving families in same sex relationships and sperm donors Specific issue applications in relation to schooling, names and religious practice.

Louise Reevell

Louise has an established prosecution and defence practice in the Crown Court and the Appellate Courts including Attempted Murder, Manslaughter, Rape and Serious Sexual Offences, Driving Offences (involving serious injury or fatality), Child Cruelty, Drugs offences, Money Laundering and Fraud. She has conducted cases as Junior Counsel and has appeared alone to prosecute against Queen’s Counsel. Louise has extensive prosecution and defence experience in dealing with cases involving very vulnerable persons including very young children, those with learning disabilities and those with significant psychiatric and psychological conditions. She regularly appears in trials with Defendants and Witnesses requiring the assistance of a Registered Intermediary. She appears at Courts Martial in the UK and abroad representing members of all parts of the Armed Forces and Civilians subject to Service Law for a wide range of offences and including those of a disciplinary nature specific to the Armed Forces. Louise has a wealth of experience in dealing with Members of the Armed Forces who have serious psychiatric and psychological issues, particularly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder arising from active service.

Lucinda France-Hayhurst

Lucinda receives instruction at all tiers of the Court of Protection in Welfare and Financial matters. She acts frequently for the official solicitor, and regularly advises and trains local authority legal and social care departments on the law. Lucinda is well-versed in handling matters in which care and court of protection proceedings overlap. She has extensive experience in DoLS challenges but her practice has evolved over the years to include matters of complexity including: capacity to consent to sexual relations, historic physical abuse, sexual abuse, honour-based violence, forced marriage, chronic alcohol consumption, experimental treatment, mental health and learning disability. Lucinda routinely represents children, parents and local authorities in sensitive and complex Public and Private Law matters concerning children. The subject matter of her care cases ranges widely but includes: complex mental health in children and adults, non-accidental injury, historical sexual abuse (including in large-scale litigation and allegations against multiple perpetrators), neglect, alcohol and substance misuse. Lucinda is an accredited, all-issues mediator.

Lucy Marshall

LUCY MARSHALL Email: [email protected] Phone: 0161 214 1500 Year of call: 2005 Book BarristerDownload Details Lucy is a specialist family law barrister providing advice and representation in all aspects of children law and family finance matters. Her practice involves representing local authorities, children and parents in public law proceedings as well as handling private law disputes between parents in respect of child arrangements and the financial consequences of relationship breakdown. Within public law proceedings, she regularly deals with the most serious of allegations including sexual abuse, FII, substance misuse, chronic neglect, domestic abuse and serious injury to children. Within private law proceedings, Lucy routinely deals with complex and/or acrimonious private law children applications, including cases involving allegations of sexual assault or domestic abuse. She has also represented clients in a number of international and internal relocation cases. Lucy is very experienced in handling all aspects of divorce and Financial Remedy Proceedings. Lucy represents a broad spectrum of clients bringing the same professional approach to clients with a high level of assets, as to those with more modest means. Lucy combines practical, sensible advice with a determination to get the best outcome for the client.

Maria Brannan

Maria specialises in criminal and regulatory work, including Armed Forces Law and Motoring Law. A category 3 prosecutor, she is regularly instructed to defend and prosecute, combining a pragmatic and user friendly approach with an attention to detail and robust preparation. She is frequently instructed in cases involving vulnerable clients and witnesses, including those with mental health issues. She has a particular knowledge of issues faced by those on the Autistic Spectrum, and places great emphasis on working closely with her instructing solicitors to ensure the client’s case is effectively presented. As junior counsel, she is regularly led in cases involving murder, manslaughter, large scale complex fraud and money laundering. She is adept in the investigation and presentation of complex phone and financial data, cell site evidence and complex forensic issues. She has considerable experience of multi-handed, document heavy cases, with complex disclosure issues.

Mark Connor

Mark is a criminal law specialist. He is a Grade 4 Prosecutor and is on the Wales and the Northern circuit panels for serious crime and rape and serious sexual offences.Mark’s experience covers a broad spectrum of criminal offences both for the defence and prosecution including murder, manslaughter, serious offences of violence, large scale public disorder including football related violence, robbery, firearms, death by dangerous driving, serious sexual offences including, rape, historical cases and the possession, taking and distribution of indecent images of children, domestic violence, drug trafficking, POCA applications, money laundering and fraud including benefit fraud. Mark’s experience in dealing with all types of sexual offences is extensive; regularly appearing in the crown court on such matters. He has vast experience in dealing with clients charged with offences involving rape and other sexual offences including child sexual abuse allegations.

Mark Roberts

Mark is a Family Law specialist. He is experienced in all fields of Family Law and has a particular interest in Care cases, working for parents, other family members and Local Authorities. At present he undertakes a significant caseload for both parents and Local Authorities. Mark has significant experience of Public Law cases involving allegations of Non Accidental Injury with the attendant difficulties of complex medical evidence. He also has particular experience acting for clients with learning difficulties and other additional needs and has a special interest in advising and acting on behalf of clients who have been diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Mark also has an interest in the statute, case law and practice in relation to the making of special Guardianship Orders in both the Public and Private Law arena. Mark also undertakes Private Law cases of all types in relation to children, where he acts for both parents, grandparents and court appointed guardians in a wide cross section of applications. Mark also acts for both applicants and respondents in relation to applications for financial orders and in relation to applications under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act.

Mark Senior

Mark has appeared at every level of the Family Court since 1989 over almost the entire range of applications that are dealt with by this court. As his practice has developed, although he still appears in private law disputes and Hague Convention/relocation cases, his time is predominantly spent acting in public law proceedings under the Children Act 1989 in which he acts for local authorities parents and children. He is regularly instructed to appear in cases which involve allegations of physical and or sexual abuse and complex expert evidence. He has been instructed to appear in the Court of Appeal on a number of occasions and two cases from which he derives particular satisfaction are appeals that he successfully brought on behalf of the children who were the subject of the proceedings.

Matthew Burdon

Matthew enjoys a mixed common law practice, with a mix of crime, civil and regulatory law. Matthew’s criminal practice comprises both defence and prosecution work in the Magistrates’ Court, Crown Court and Court of Appeal. Matthew’s civil practice is predominantly trial focused personal injury work.

Matthew Carey

Matthew is a specialist children family law barrister with a particular interest in public law and the arrangements for children after parental separation. He is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, those with disabilities, learning difficulties and cases that may require the official solicitor. Matthew is regularly instructed to act for parents, children, local authorities and other family members such as grandparents in public law proceedings. He has been involved in cases representing parents and family members that have resulted in successful outcomes for the children within their care. Regularly instructed in proceedings involving complex issues of law and fact including cases concerning serious inflicted injuries to children, sexual abuse, fabricated/induced illness, perplexing presentations, shaking injuries, catastrophic/fatal injuries to siblings, long term/chronic neglect, parents with mental illness, adoption, human trafficking, international aspects, relocation and parental alienation. Matthew has experience in cases that involve the use of the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court including the use of Wardship and Deprivation of Liberty. Matthew is regularly instructed to represent parents and children in relation to the arrangements for children following parental separation. Matthew is experienced in cases that involve domestic abuse, findings of fact hearings, parental alienation, intractable contact disputes, fabricated illnesses, internal/international relocation, change to the children’s school and also within enforcement proceedings. Matthew is experienced in injunctive proceedings including emergency injunctions, non-molestation orders and occupation orders.

Megan Rhys

Megan is a senior criminal law barrister and regularly appears before the Crown Court. She deals with all types of serious offences but has a particular specialism in cases involving serious sexual offences and child cruelty. Megan is a grade 4 prosecutor and a member of the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offences panel. Megan acts on behalf of both the prosecution and the defence and always ensures that advice is given at an early stage. Megan has extensive experience of dealing with vulnerable witnesses, both children and adults with difficulties. She has conducted many cases where witnesses have required the assistance of intermediaries. She is firm but sensitive in her manner and is often praised on her ability to put people at ease. For the first 12 years of her practice, Megan did a balanced mix of family and criminal law. Thereafter, she has practised exclusively in criminal law with a particular specialism in serious sexual offences and child cruelty cases. Megan has recently returned to family law and has acted for Local Authorities, parents and children. Megan has a wealth of experience in dealing with vulnerable people, both children and also adults with difficulties. She is firm but sensitive in her manner and strives to achieve the best results for clients. Through her criminal practice, she is used to dealing with allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse against both children and adults within a family context, including allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour. Megan is able to undertake both private and public law children cases.

Michael Redfern KC

Michael specialises in clinical negligence (cerebral palsy in particular), personal injury (catastrophic and brain injury in particular), employers’ liability and road traffic cases. He has had considerable success in subtle brain injury cases where, at first glance, the claimant appears normal but on detailed neuropsychological assessment is in fact seriously damaged. Michael undertakes a regular amount of pro-bono work. Michael was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Manchester Law Society in 2015. Michael Redfern KC qualified as a mediator in 2015 and is accustomed to mediating personal injury and clinical negligence cases as well as workplace disputes.

Michelle Burley

Michelle is a junior barrister specialising in family law. Michelle has a keen interest in matrimonial finance and is regularly instructed to conduct hearings at all stages of the case including applications for maintenance pending suit applications and legal services payment orders, variation and enforcement. Michelle also has experience representing parents and children pursuant to 16.4 of FPR 2010 in applications for Child Arrangements Orders and Specific Issue Orders.

Myles Wilson

Myles has a wealth of experience of cases involving the most serious issues. Sexual cases, whether allegations are recent or historic. Drug conspiracy cases, involving the most complex investigations. Serious violence, being regularly instructed in cases of murder, attempted murder and manslaughter.

Naomh Gallagher

Naomh is a specialist family barrister, and her practice encompasses all aspects of family finance. Naomh has acted in a range of Matrimonial Causes cases including those involving interveners and non-biological children. Naomh has completed the FLBA’s Advocacy and the Vulnerable course, and has extensive experience in cases involving vulnerable witnesses, domestic abuse, and section 25 conduct issues. Naomh has appeared in committal proceedings and can assist on drafting such applications. Naomh has acted cases with lower asset bases and is comfortable in advising on the impact of financial proceedings on State Benefits. In her Children practice, Naomh has experience in a wide range of private law proceedings, acting for both parents and extended family members. Owing to her experience acting for the Department for Education, Naomh has a particular interest in educational and schooling disputes.Naomh has also acted for 16.4 Guardians and is available to advise on when such appointments are appropriate. Naomh welcomes instructions in international child abduction matters, including to and from non-Hague convention countries. Naomh routinely receives instructions in relation to Family Law Act proceedings, and is able to advise on how this may impact financial proceedings.

Natalia Levine

Natalia is a specialist in children law (both public and private), adult social care and in the Court of Protection. Natalia undertakes a broad range of public law children work predominantly in the County Court and High Court. Natalia is very experienced in working with vulnerable clients and is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor. Natalia has been involved in cases involving post adoption contact claims and proportionality of adoption. In her Private Law practice, Natalia has particular interest in finding of fact hearings and relocation cases (both internal and external) and is seen as an expert in this field by instructing solicitors. Natalia regularly advises and appears on behalf of public authorities and individuals in relation to health and social care disputes. Natalia’s expertise spans across several areas, such as disputes relating to the provision of care or services under the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989 and the Mental Health Act 1983. Natalia has been involved in some very complex cases involving the use of the inherent jurisdiction to protect vulnerable young adults in particular where questions arise as to whether the individual has capacity and whether the circumstances amount to a Deprivation of Liberty. Natalia’s practice also encompasses all areas within the Court of Protection. Natalia has particular interest in and is regularly instructed in cases where a finding of fact is necessary before final declarations can be made. Natalia also receives regular instructions in cases which involve allegations regarding the mismanagement of funds. Natalia is regularly instructed by the Official Solicitor and also by hospitals, CCGs, family members and Local Authorities.

Natalie Powell

Natalie accepts instructions from all parties in all children law matters, representing local authorities, parents, relatives, interveners and children. Natalie has experience in representing all parties in public law proceedings involving wide ranging issues including: Domestic violence Non-accidental injuries Neglect Drug/alcohol abuse Sexual abuse. Natalie also has experience in complex cases involving issues of radicalisation, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Natalie has regularly acted for the most vulnerable clients including receiving instructions from the Official Solicitor and representing clients with learning disabilities with the assistance of an intermediary. Natalie has experience of appearing against leading counsel, and has also been led by leading counsel in complex cases heard in the High Court. In Private Law matters, Natalie represents all parties in Children Act applications including complex proceedings involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse and implacable hostility, often when a 16.4 Guardian has been appointed.

Navpreeth Gihair

Navpreeth practices in all areas of children’s law, with a particular interest in public law proceedings. Navpreeth has acted in matrimonial finance matters, including at FDR and final hearing. She is able to advise on matters and draft documents in the case, including questionnaires, skeleton arguments and consent orders. Navpreeth is keen to develop a Court of Protection Practice. Navpreeth’s expertise in Family law means she is well-placed to deal with those matters which are the subjects of both Family law and Court of Protection legislation.

Neil Owen-Casey

Neil Owen-Casey is a family law specialist with a particular interest in public law children proceedings. Neil represents parents, local authorities, children and extended family members in the full range of applications that come before the Court. Neil has extensive experience in care proceedings and cases involving chronic neglect, all forms of abuse, domestic violence (including sexual violence and honour-based violence), as well as non-accidental injuries, and fabricated and induced illness. In particular, recent instructions have invariably included representing local authorities, parents and other family members where there have been allegations of coaching and coercing children to make false allegations of abuse, incidents of traumatic head trauma, and fabricated induced illness. Other recent cases have involved honour-based violence, severe neglect, abusive head trauma, large sibling groups (nine in one case), life-changing medical conditions, and the removal of a children due to a parent’s mental health difficulties – which was complemented and informed by Neil’s Court of Protection practice. Neil is also experienced in dealing with applications for secure accommodation orders, and those brought under the Inherent Jurisdiction concerning the deprivation of liberty of young people. Neil is regularly instructed in adoption cases, including those with an international element and involving the Conflict of Laws, and the recognition of foreign adoptions within this jurisdiction. He is also experienced in cases involving issues of identity, donor insemination and same-sex parents. Neil is renowned for his sensitivity in cases involving significant cultural and religious issues. He is skilled in representing grandparents, young parents and vulnerable clients, including those who have a physical or learning disability and/or lack of capacity. Neil represents all parties in both Children Act and Family Law Act matters. He has considerable experience in dealing with all aspects of Child Arrangement Order applications. He is also instructed to advise and act in specific issue applications, cases where there are jurisdictional issues (including leave to remove), enforcement, and protracted disputes that often require expert assessments. Recent instructions have included parent alienation, the determination of residence of an adopted child due to the separation of the adoptive parents, contact and/or residence concerning parents suffering with a broad range of mental health difficulties, and revocation of parental responsibility.

Neil Christian

Neil appears in all manner of Public Law applications representing parents, children and local authorities. His practice regularly covers applications for care orders, adoption and placement orders, and special guardianship orders. He undertakes cases ranging from long term neglect through to serious non accidental injury and death of children. He has extensive experience dealing with complex findings of fact and cross examining expert witness’. Many of his cases involve intricate psychological or psychiatric issues, and chronic addictions. Neil has also been instructed in disputes between local authorities as to designation and disputes regarding local authority funding of foster placements. Neil has broad expertise in all types of Private Law disputes both privately and publicly funded. His experience covers representing parents and children in disputes regarding all manner of family arrangements. He has undertaken many “difficult” private law disputes concerning allegations or findings of serious domestic violence, sexual abuse, and parents who are implacably hostile or suffer psychological or psychiatric issues. He has dealt with a number of enforcement applications. Neil is also regularly instructed in schedule 1 applications for financial relief for children. He has a wealth of experience dealing with prohibited steps and injunctive relief applications under the Family Law Act. He deals with contested application for change of names. Neil advises and represents parents in applications for relocation (both internal and international) and child abduction (Hague and non-Hague) along with enforcement and recognition of orders (Brussels II revised). Neil has also built a solid and expanding matrimonial finance practice advising and representing clients in all aspects of financial remedy applications and in cases involving significant family wealth. He is more than happy dealing with cases involving trusts; company assets; pension valuation; and inherited wealth. Neil’s experience covers freezing orders; variation and enforcement of financial orders; and alleged hidden assets. Neil also has considerable expertise in applications for financial relief for children under schedule 1 Children Act 1989. Neil is in particular demand in relation to complex applications under TOLATA 1996 and cohabitation disputes. He regularly drafts pleadings and appears on behalf of claimants, defendants and interveners. Cases undertaken often involve substantial assets; farms; company assets; and inherited property.

Neil Montaldo

Neil Montaldo is a specialist in Matrimonial Finance and receives instructions in applications concerning; Financial Provision and Divorce Maintenance Claims Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements Section 37 Applications Cohabitation Agreements Schedule 1 Children Act Applications. He is also instructed in Trusts of Land (TOLATA) Applications.

Niamh Ross

Niamh practises in all areas of children law, with a particular interest in public law proceedings. Niamh regularly represents local authorities, parents, children and interveners at all stages of public law proceedings. Niamh is frequently instructed to draft written documents including threshold documents, case summaries, and skeleton arguments, and is happy to advise in conference where appropriate. Niamh has experience in public law proceedings involving complex issues including non-accidental injuries to children, serious emotional harm and significant neglect. Niamh has represented parents with learning disabilities, mental health issues and/or substance misuse issues. In private law matters, Niamh has acted for parents and for Children’s Guardians appointed under Rule 16.4 at every stage of proceedings. She has a particular interest in cases involving allegations of domestic abuse and has experience representing vulnerable clients. Niamh has acted for parties alleging and/or disputing allegations of a serious nature, including allegations of physical and sexual abuse of children, and of domestic abuse of all forms. Niamh has experience in cases involving intractable contact disputes and the enforcement of child arrangements orders. As well as cases concerning the arrangements for children to live with and spend time with their parents and family members, Niamh has dealt with cases involving issues such as changes of name, internal relocation and removal of children from the jurisdiction

Nicholas Jackson

Nicholas is a specialist commercial and chancery practitioner. He has a wealth of litigation experience in the higher courts including the Court of Appeal, and in the specialist tribunals such as the Lands and Property Chambers as well as other alternative forums ranging from local public inquiries to commercial arbitrations. He is regularly instructed in complex contract, construction law and intellectual property disputes as well as the more traditional chancery areas of real property and trusts, insolvency and wills and probate and in professional negligence cases which found upon those core areas and his practice ranges from relatively modest private matters to multi-million pound international concerns. One day may find him in the Rolls Building or the Court of Appeal and the next in any one of the regional Business & Property County Courts. At the more commercial end of his practice Nicholas deals with all areas of contract law and economic torts, property based insurance, passing off, copyright and construction law. Nicholas undertakes all aspects or advisory and contentious work including drafting, pleading and mediations and advocacy before the higher courts, the property and lands chambers and other specialist tribunals and, increasingly, at arbitrations. Hand in hand with his general chancery practice, Nicholas specialises in all facets of real property work including co-ownership disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, boundary and party walls disputes, registered and unregistered conveyancing, adverse possession, options, mortgages and charges and town and country planning but with a particular interest in rectification of title claims, easements, restrictive covenants, public and private nuisances and restitutionary proprietary remedies. Nicholas has considerable experience across the whole range of landlord and tenant work encompassing agricultural, business and residential tenancies and licences and including leasehold enfranchisement, commercial renewals, break clauses and options, forfeiture and possession, rent review and dilapidations to name but a few. Nicholas also deals with all aspects of wills and administration of estates including claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and in the Court of Protection extending to drafting and interpretation, contentious and non-contentious probate, undue influence, fraud, forgery, testamentary capacity, administration actions, Beddoes applications, intestate succession, inheritance tax, appointment and removal of trustees, variations of trusts and powers of attorney. Nicholas specialises in all aspects of insolvency and partnership law but not pure company law issues. Nicholas also specialises in professional negligence related to his key practice areas extending to claims against solicitors, accountants, surveyors, architects, insolvency practitioners and insurance brokers.

Nicholas Price

In civil practice, the main areas include contract; property and boundary disputes; injunctive relief; professional negligence and Inquests. Nicholas has in excess of 20 years’ experience in his core fields which include Clinical Negligence and Professional Negligence disputes. Nicholas has extensive experience of Inquests. In Employment, Nicholas acts for both Claimant and Respondent clients in all major aspects of employment dispute in matters of unfair dismissal, redundancy and discrimination. In 1993 Nicholas became a CEDR qualified mediator since which time he has been instructed in a broad range of mediations incorporating personal injury, clinical negligence, contract, boundary disputes, disciplinary proceedings, and employment related disputes of varying value.

Nicola Quinney

In her Criminal practice, Nicola is an experienced Crown Court advocate. She has prosecuted and defended a wide variety of offences from rape to importation of drugs, burglary to serious assaults. She is a member of the CPS rape panel and regularly prosecutes in cases involving sexual offences, including those of an historic nature and those involving child complainants. She has been junior counsel in murder trials including disclosure junior in a multi-handed gang murder in Sheffield. She is experienced in dealing with offences involving child witnesses and other vulnerable witnesses. Nicola also has a wide range of experience in relation to family cases. She undertakes all aspects of children work, both private and public law. In public law she appears for local authorities, parents and children. She has extensive experience of representing local authorities in cases including those with multiple parties and a number of experts. She has represented parents with learning difficulties, victims of domestic violence and those with addiction problems. She has represented parents and the child in complex fact finding hearings. Through her criminal practice she has gained extensive experience of conducting cases involving young and vulnerable witnesses and is able to effectively transfer this experience into the family court. She represents parents in all forms of private law disputes including those where a children’s guardian has been appointed. She has regularly appeared on behalf of parties in non-molestation and occupation order applications including those with allegations of significant and sustained domestic violence.

Oliver King

Oliver is a criminal law specialist who has particular expertise in prosecuting and defending cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, serious violence and large scale drugs supply. Oliver is also building a reliable reputation for his Regulatory work. He has advised and represented several local hauliers upon road traffic (construction and use) regulations and has appeared on behalf of VOSA when breaches of regulations are brought before the Magistrates’ Courts. He has produced a number of publications in this area to assist local businesses. Oliver has appeared on behalf of the HSE in prosecutions brought against employers for breaching health & safety regulations and also for employers who are on the receiving end of alleged breaches. Oliver also has experience of defending a range of criminal offences before the Military Courts Martial, including being absent without leave, assault, theft and perverting the course of justice. He has gained valuable insight into the practises of the RMP and how that differs from the civilian police and has sat with a judge in a trial in the Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus.

Patricia Pratt

Patricia is an experienced, specialist family law practitioner. She has appeared at all levels of the family courts and has extensive experience of children cases including public law, private law, adoption and special guardianship. Patricia is regularly instructed on behalf of parents, grand-parents, step-parents, extended family, local authorities, guardians and the Official Solicitor. She is also instructed by the NCA and Hospital Trusts.

Paul Smith

Paul specialises in defending serious crime and is keen to continue developing his practice in that direction. His priority is to be readily accessible to his instructing solicitors and empathetic to defendants. He has particular experience, both before and since coming to the bar, of clients with mental health problems and learning difficulties. Paul regularly appears in the Court of Appeal and has successfully appealed against sentence and conviction (an example this year is R v Karl Gardner, inconsistent verdicts / fairness), and has successfully resisted prosecution appeals (CPS v Pearce).

Paula Davitt

Paula practises in Family Law, and has a particular interest in: Children’s cases both public and private law, acting for Guardians, Parents and Local Authorities. Ancillary Relief. Paula is also regularly instructed by Local Authorities on disclosure cases – PII.

Pauline McHugh

Pauline is a Family Law specialist dealing with both Public and Private law matters. She has a particular interest in issues of learning disability within family proceedings and the repercussions of child exploitation as they manifest themselves in family law. However, she is experienced in all child-orientated family law matters. Pauline regularly appears before all tiers of the Family Court. Her practice is evenly split between representing parents and local authorities. Pauline also has considerable experience representing children. Pauline is a strong advocate of collaborative training involving all professionals who work in the family law field. She devised and wrote the Court Skills training programme which has since been delivered numerous times.

Penelope Stanistreet

Pennie practises in all areas of law involving children. Pennie has many years of experience of representing parents and children in disputes about where children should live and how they should spend time with the other parent. This includes finding of fact hearings when allegations are made by one or other party, complex work arrangements, differing needs of different children (including special needs and disability) and all of the complexities that make up modern life. Pennie was involved in research about cases in which one parent was seeking to relocate and has a particular interest in cases of “implacable hostility”. Pennie represents Local Authorities, parents and children in all aspects of public law where the state is seeking to intervene in family life. This includes cases where children have died or been seriously injured, there has been over medicalization or factitious illness, sexual abuse, neglect and failing to protect. Pennie frequently deals with expert medical witnesses both in injury and neglect cases as well as psychologists and psychiatrists. Pennie has also significant experience in dealing with cases with an international element including the use of the Tipstaff, wardship, children being placed with family members abroad, allegations of child trafficking, rape and under-age marriage.

Pépin Aslett

Pépin has an established reputation as a Senior Junior specialising in commercial and chancery litigation with an emphasis on major and complex litigation. Pépin has a well-established reputation as a Senior Junior specialising in commercial litigation and data and information law with an emphasis on major and complex litigation. His extensive experience is well suited to disputes spanning many disciplines and he takes a commercial and pragmatic hands-on role to develop case tactics and strategy. He regularly acts as part of a team of KCs, juniors and relevant expert professionals. In addition to appearing in the Court of Appeal and High Court in England and Wales, Pépin has appeared in Supreme Court of Gibraltar and the courts in Bermuda, where he practised as an Attorney for three years. Pépin heads up the Commercial Group in Chambers, and is regularly quoted in the press in relation to aspects of his expertise.

Peta Harrison

Peta has significant experience representing local authorities, parents and children at all stages of Children Act 1989/Adoption and Children Act 2002 proceedings; including finding of fact hearings, removal under statutory orders and contested care, placement and adoption application hearings. Peta regularly deals with cases involving serious neglect, domestic violence, physical, emotional and sexual abuse of children. Peta has extensive experience in dealing with complex private law cases involving allegations of violence, physical, emotional and sexual harm to a child on behalf of parents and/or other extended family members. Her work embodies applications for child arrangement orders (and enforcement of such orders) which regulates the time a child spends with a parent and/or other family member, findings of fact hearings, applications including change of name, change of school, prohibitive steps orders and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. Peta is also regularly instructed to represent clients interests concerning applications for injunctions, arising from domestic violence and/or relief sought via occupation of the family home.

Peter Gilmour

Peter’s practice incorporates crime, regulatory and tax law. Peter has a busy Crown Court practice, encompassing manslaughter, drug conspiracies, firearms, violence, sexual offences and dishonesty. A popular junior, Peter is completely confident in the use of technology and is able to quickly master significant volumes of evidence. He has a calm, straightforward manner which puts his clients at ease. He is a sharp and effective cross-examiner and a persuasive jury advocate. In his Regulatory practice Peter has represented clients in appeal against decisions by the CQC, NMC and OFSTED. He has also defended clients in cases concerning Health and Safety Regulations, COSHH Regulations, and the Licensing Act 2003. Before coming to the Bar, Peter worked as an adjudicator at the Financial Ombudsman Service. He specialised in handling complaints about mis-sold investments, with a particular focus on products intended to reduce or avoid tax liabilities. As a barrister, Peter is instructed by HMRC to prosecute cases of tax evasion and to pursue cash forfeiture. He also regularly advises businesses and individuals as to potential tax liabilities and appeals HMRC decisions in the Tax Tribunal.

Peter Harrison

Peter is a personal injury specialist covering all of the normal and some of the less obvious areas of this wide ranging field of practice. He has extensive experience of employers’ liability, public liability, sports injury and road accident claims. He also deals with product liability injury claims, fraudulent claims (including staged accidents) and psychiatric/nervous shock claims. He has a particular interest in motor sport claims. The majority of his caseload has a value ranging between £50,000 – £1,000,000. He is however frequently instructed in claims valued at £1 – 5m. He receives instructions on behalf of Claimants and Defendants. Peter is also a disease specialist covering all of the traditional areas including asbestos, asthma, dermatitis, HAVS/VWF, RSI, stress at work etc. In addition, he has an extensive personal injury practice comprising high value and catastrophic injury claims arising from eg. brain injury, spinal injury, loss of limbs and chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain disorder, somatoform pain disorders etc. Peter has a wide knowledge of, and a long standing reputation for dealing with fraudulent, fabricated and exaggerated claims.

Philip Astbury

Philip is frequently instructed in multi-handed conspiracies involving serious organised crime. He has experience being led, and appearing as a leading junior. He is a level 4 prosecutor and is included within the CPS rape panel. He often defends and prosecutes rapes and serious sexual allegations in the Crown Court, and has been instructed to defend in a number of historic institutional abuse cases across the country.

Philip Byrne

Philip practises in all areas of real property (both residential and commercial) including landlord and tenant, construction disputes, as well as general contract work and professional negligence work associated with or arising from property and construction matters. He has developed considerable expertise in advising and representing a broad spectrum of clients, both ‘professional landlords’ with large portfolios as well as single business tenants with limited experience and budgets. He is focused on achieving the best commercial outcome for his clients and providing practical legal, tactical and technical advice. Philip is very experienced at drafting contentious and non-contentious and transactional documents under tight timescales. He regularly drafts and reviews transactional and contractual documents for individuals and firms, both in his name and ‘white label’ work. He regularly appears in the County and High Courts, The Property Chamber, Arbitrations, and the Magistrate’s Court (HMO prosecutions). He also frequently appears in Mediations. He is quickly able to distil complex matters into simple and manageable steps, while focusing on acceptable solutions from an early stage in the mediation. Philip also acts in professional negligence claims relating to property professionals including surveyors, solicitors and architects. He frequently advises on transactional oversights, document drafting and conveyancing mistakes, together with building inspection and valuation errors. Philip acts in construction disputes and has a detailed practical knowledge of construction methods, offering a unique understanding and approach to resolving the issues that frequently arise. He has also practised as a mediator specialising in property mediation (including construction disputes) and commercial mediation.

Philip Clemo

Philip enjoys a busy Crown Court practice both prosecuting and defending in a wide variety of criminal matters including murder, large fraud conspiracies and serious drugs cases. Philip has experience in representing vulnerable clients in a compassionate but professional manner. He is trained and experienced in cross examining vulnerable witnesses. Philip is also an experienced regulatory practitioner. He has experience dealing with both Welsh and English regulatory matters. Philip has prosecuted for a number of local authorities, government departments and regulatory bodies in cases covering a wide range of law. Philip has also defended in prosecutions brought by local authorities for a wide range of matters including those relating to unlawful evictions, breaches of HMO regulations and breaches of health and safety legislation. He is experienced in dealing with the legality of bylaws.

Philip Grundy

Philip practises in all areas of Personal Injury, Clinical Negligence and Employment Law and sits as a Recorder in The Crown Court and County Court, being authorised to sit on serious sexual offence cases including rape. All forms of maximum severity claims are regularly undertaken with a 65:35 split between Claimant and Defendant work. The majority are either accidents at work or RTA claims, often motorcyclists, for solicitors throughout England and Wales including the south coast and The Channel Islands. Philip has a substantial disease practice including asbestos, bladder cancer, VWF/HAVS, deafness, fibromyalgia/chronic pain and others. Philip is recognised as having the greatest experience of perhaps all Counsel at the Bar in England and Wales in the field of vibration white finger, and has been involved in many of the leading cases. All areas of clinical negligence have been covered over the past 30 years including hypoxic brain injury to babies resulting in an extensive involvement with neonatologists, paediatric neurologists, neuro-radiologists and obstetric experts. He works, on average, on 30 brain injury cases each year. Philip specialises in catastrophic injuries, in particular brain injuries, spinal injuries and amputees. His experience in this field has been described by a partner in one of the country’s leading solicitors as ‘second to none’. He has been instructed by large specialist firms of solicitors in multiple numbers of cases including those involving acquired brain injury, spinal injuries and amputations together with complex orthopaedic and polytrauma injuries.

Philippa Waddell

Philippa is a family law specialist with significant experience in public law cases. This includes representing local authorities, parents and children at all stages of Children Act proceedings, including removal under statutory orders, finding of fact hearings, final care and placement hearings. She regularly deals with cases involving issues of significant neglect, injuries to children, domestic violence, substance misuse, mental health, attachment disorders and allegations of physical, sexual and emotional harm. Philippa’s work for local authorities also includes appearances before the Criminal Court addressing matters of Public Interest Immunity. Philippa also has significant experience in private law cases. She regularly represents parents and other family members in matters relating to family breakdown. This includes: Injunction applications arising out of domestic violence allegations and the occupation of the family home. Applications for child arrangements orders regulating the time a child spends with each party, including cases involving allegations of violence, allegations of harm to the child, finding of fact hearings, cultural or religious issues, expert assessments, intractable hostility and where the child is separately represented. Philippa also has experience in matters of enforcement of child arrangement orders. Other Children Act matters such as applications relating to removal from jurisdiction, change of name, change of school, prohibited steps orders.

Rachael Hughes

Rachael practises in all areas of children law. Rachael has experience representing parents, children through their Guardian, Local Authorities and interveners in public law proceedings at all stages of a case. She is regularly instructed to represent parties where the issues include neglect, fictitious illness, non-accidental injuries and sexual or domestic abuse. Rachael has experience of drafting case summaries, detailed threshold documents and skeleton arguments. Rachael regularly acts for parents where there are disputes over child arrangements, including residence and contact disputes, applications for prohibited steps orders and specific issue orders. Rachael also has experience in enforcement proceedings.

Rachael Rowley-Fox

Rachael’s Family practice is primarily children law, both public and private, acting for Parents, Guardians, interveners, competent children and the Official solicitor. Rachael is experienced in cases with complex evidence, international elements both in private and public law. This includes cases of physical, emotional and sexual abuse; death of children and serious injury cases. Serious domestic violence fact-finding; international abduction, forced marriage. She represents a wide range of clients including those of high net worth and the most vulnerable in society. Rachael has the ability to grasp complex evidence and gets straight to the issues. She is a skilled communicator and wins the judge’s ear with her calm and reasoned approach. Rachael is extremely approachable and is able to put clients at ease whilst dealing with the most sensitive of issues. She is a tenacious advocate and will fight hard knowing when and how to do so, whilst remaining equally capable of taking a resolution based approach, in the clients’ best interests.

Rebecca Carr

Rebecca is regularly instructed in Court of Protection health and welfare matters by applicants including those instructed by the Official Solicitor, as well as local authorities and family members. Rebecca is happy to advise on case issues and evidence including the need for expert evidence from an early stage. Rebecca has significant experience in drafting grounds for challenges to capacity and best interest decisions under Section 21A Mental Capacity Act 2005. Rebecca is regularly instructed in proceedings under sections 15, 16 and 21A Mental Capacity Act 2005 to attend roundtable meetings and directions hearings, as well as to draft and advise on orders to progress the case throughout. Rebecca is regularly instructed in matters where individuals have been assessed to lack capacity to make decisions on issues of residence, care, social media/ internet access, contact with others and relationships. Rebecca is able to provide advice on an urgent basis including where care homes have served notice on an individual and local authorities are looking to make applications to the Court of Protection on an expeditious basis. Rebecca gained significant experience in public law family proceedings during pupillage under Nicola Quinney, observing and attending interim removal hearings, case management hearings, issues resolution hearings, finding of fact hearings and final hearings in relation to all types of child public law proceedings. Rebecca is able to act on behalf of all parties in public law proceedings and is able to draft case summaries, position statements, detailed threshold documents, and skeleton arguments where required. Rebecca also has experience in dealing with applications for leave to invoke the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court for child Deprivation of Liberty Orders. Rebecca is happy to advise local authorities on the preparation of such cases. Rebecca is regularly instructed in private law proceedings on behalf of applicants and respondents including applications for child arrangement orders, non-molestation orders and occupation orders.

Rebecca Penfold

Rebecca is a go-to defence specialist and is frequently instructed on a range of general criminal matters. Rebecca has a particular strength in representing the more vulnerable client and in heavyweight cases requiring consideration of significant amounts of evidence. Rebecca is also instructed in a range of regulatory matters including those before the criminal courts and other tribunals. She is adept at representing companies and directors as defendants. Matters for which she has been instructed include fraud, dangerous dogs, trademark offences and environmental nuisances. Rebecca accepts instructions in a range of professional discipline matters including Ofsted, CQC and Social Work England. She has a wealth of experience in relation to fitness to practise proceedings for regulated healthcare professionals, particularly the NMC and HCPC. Rebecca has been instructed to act in cases involving the death of patients and sexual allegations and often appears in cases concerning complex technical matters. She has significant experience acting in substantive hearings, but also deals with interim orders, registration appeals and substantive order review hearings.

Rebecca Sutton

Rebecca is a civil law barrister specialising in personal injury, clinical negligence, and disease work. She is instructed by both Claimants and Defendants, predominantly in relation to multi-track cases, but also in some cases allocated to the fast track. Rebecca undertakes all aspects of personal injury work, including drafting pleadings, advising in conference and in writing, attending JSMs and appearing at all types of hearings, including trials, appeal hearings, application hearings and costs and case management hearings. Although she has particular interest in clinical negligence and disease work, she is also frequently instructed in relation to employers’ liability, road traffic, public liability and non-accidental injury cases. In addition to regularly advising and representing parties in relation to substantive issues, Rebecca also has extensive experience of advising and representing parties in relation to procedural issues; she is often instructed in relation to applications for summary judgment, striking out, relief from sanctions, setting aside default judgment, re-allocation, permission to rely on medical evidence, permission to withdraw admissions and permission to amend pleadings. She also has experience of company insolvency, insofar as it relates to personal injury actions; she has advised and represented clients in relation to retrospective permission to issue against companies in administration and compulsory liquidation, deferral of dissolution, and restoration to the register. During her time as a solicitor, Rebecca gained an in-depth knowledge and understanding of costs and funding. Since transferring to the Bar, Rebecca has kept up-to-date with costs and funding issues, recognising that this is an important aspect of personal injury litigation, particularly in the post-Jackson era. She regularly appears at CCMCs and has experience of detailed assessments. Having specialised in clinical negligence as a solicitor and having studied for a masters degree in Health Law, Rebecca was keen to develop a clinical negligence practice as a barrister. She has been successful in doing so and is now regularly instructed by both Claimants and Defendants in relation to a variety of clinical negligence cases. Her experience includes claims against GPs, private doctors and other health professionals, as well as against NHS Trusts. Rebecca’s disease work is primarily, but not exclusively, on behalf of Defendants. She has experience of asbestos-related cases, HAVS and NIHL as well as short-tail disease claims, including RSI, dermatitis, and stress. Rebecca has a particular interest in medical causation in NIHL claims. While such cases are usually of modest value, the complexity of the issues often makes them suitable for allocation to the multi-track, with medical experts giving evidence at trial. Rebecca regularly represents defendants at NIHL trials involving issues of medical causation. As a solicitor Rebecca gained experience of representing interested persons at inquests. She continues to regularly appear at inquests for a range of interested persons.

Rebecca Titus-Cobb

Rebecca has a multi-disciplinary practice across a number of Chambers’ areas of expertise including personal injury and clinical negligence, inquests, public/administrative law and Court of Protection. Rebecca accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury work and has a particular expertise in actions against the police, other public authorities and abuse claims. She undertakes work for Claimants and Defendants at all levels of value and complexity. She also has experience of appearing before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal. Rebecca has a busy clinical negligence practice and acts increasingly for both Claimants and Defendants in equal measure. She has been instructed in cases involving delay in diagnosis and treatment, surgery, emergency care, birth injury and stillbirth. Rebecca has a busy inquest practice and regularly appears at inquest hearings, both final and pre inquest reviews. She appears for bereaved families and other interested persons and has acted for NHS Trusts, care agencies and other bodies. She is happy to deal with ad hoc instructions where interim applications/submissions to the coroner are required, even if on an urgent basis. She acts in both Article 2 and non-Article 2 inquests. Rebecca is regularly instructed to act for local authorities, P (through the Official Solicitor or other litigation friends) and family members in health and welfare matters in the Court of Protection. She acts in applications brought pursuant to sections 15,16 and 21A of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. She also has experience of cases which involve the interplay of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Mental Health Act 1983.

Rhian Livesley

Rhian is an experienced, specialist family law practitioner whose practice encompasses all non-financial aspects of family law. Rhian undertakes all types of public and private law cases and has extensive experience acting for local authorities, parents, other lay parties and guardians. Rhian is well known to colleagues and tribunals alike as a conscientious barrister with excellent command of her papers and meticulous attention to detail who has a personable yet straightforward approach that is appreciated by professional and lay clients in equal measure. Rhian conducts a broad spectrum of public law work at all levels including complex cases for example, those involving non-accidental injury, incest, oral evidence from child witnesses about sexual abuse and applications for injunctive relief. With regards to private law matters Rhian is instructed in more complicated cases, for example, those involving serious physical or sexual abuse allegations, a foreign element, parent alienation and implacable hostility, local authority involvement or those that have a novel/unusual factual matrix. Rhian has a reputation for approaching all of her cases with tenacity and will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of her clients’ best interests.

Richard Thyne KC

Richard specialises in prosecuting and defending serious and complex crime. Ranked consistently in the Legal 500 as a leading individual in crime he has been described as a barrister who “excels as an advocate”, has “great understanding of the law”, and “instils confidence in his clients”. In recent years his practice has largely comprised: Murder (gangland, joint enterprise, domestic, and complex medical) Manslaughter Serious organised crime (drug trafficking and firearms) Fatal road traffic collisions Serious sexual offences. He is widely recognised for his meticulous preparation, the high standards of his oral and written advocacy, and his straightforward, personable approach.

Richard Veni

Richard is a family and children law expert. Richard is regularly instructed on behalf of local authorities, parents and children at all stages of public law proceedings, including interim removal, final, and fact-finding hearings. He regularly appears before Magistrates’ District and Circuit Judges as well as dealing with applications before the High Court including DOLS and applications under the Inherent Jurisdiction. Richard has experience of dealing with cases involving serious injuries to children and complex factual and medical evidence. Richard is often instructed in private child proceedings including applications for child arrangement orders, specific issue orders and prohibited steps orders. He also regularly represents children in private law proceedings and has extensive experience of non-molestation orders and occupation orders, including those made ex parte. He has experience covering the following: Cases involving allegations of sexual or domestic abuse Cases involving allegations of parental alienation Specific issue applications in relation to schooling and name changes.

Richard Orme

In crime, Richard receives instructions from both the Defence and Prosecution in Magistrates, Crown Court and Appellate levels and particularly in cases of the utmost seriousness including complex fraud, MTIC/multi-cell VAT frauds, drug trafficking, people trafficking, murder, corporate manslaughter, firearms offences, robberies, money laundering, proceeds of crime and sexual offences. Richard also accepts private work in all areas which includes private road traffic defence work. Richard additionally undertakes Inquest work. Richard accepts instructions in relation to Police Misconduct Hearings and is regularly instructed by Police Professional Standards to act as Legal Advisor to the Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire in connection with such hearings. Richard also accepts instructions through the Police Federation to represent serving officers before Police Misconduct Tribunal hearings. Richard undertakes defence work in connection with prosecutions brought by regulatory bodies including the Environment Agency / Trading Standards / HMRC / HSE.

Richard Norton - Head of Chambers

Richard receives instructions in cases of birth damage, delayed diagnosis, surgical negligence, and GP negligence. In his Catastrophic Injury work, cases are multitrack, high value with heavy expert involvement, often with brain and spinal injuries as well as serious orthopaedic and vascular cases. Richard undertakes mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions, VWF/CTS and NIHL cases as well as cases of occupational stress. Richard is a highly experienced personal injury barrister. The majority of his cases are high value, catastrophic injury cases or cases with a complicating feature. Richard is a CEDR-accredited mediator.

Richard Davies

Richard has obtained a great wealth of experience from being briefed on a daily basis in Crown Court cases up to and including trials. He has, on occasion, appeared in cases at The Court of Appeal.Cases that Richard has dealt with have included offences of Robbery, Sexual Offences, Section 18, 20 and 47 Assaults, Dwelling/Non Dwelling burglaries, Dangerous Driving/Causing Grievous Bodily Harm by Dangerous Driving and all types of drugs cases including Conspiracy to Supply Drugs matters. Richard has successfully acted as a defence advocate in courts including Sheffield, Nottingham, Hull, Grimsby, Lincoln and Derby Crown Court. Since being called to the Bar Richard has also appeared for the Prosecution on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Probation Service.

Robert Cline

Robert’s main area of practice is civil litigation, mainly focussing on personal injury. He also has significant experience of criminal work and continues to act in this and several other areas of practice which bring together his experience from two decades at the Bar. Robert spends much of his time advising (both informally by telephone and formally in writing and in conference) and appearing in court in personal injury cases, acting for both claimants and defendants. He has many years’ experience at all levels, ranging from small claim to multi-track, interlocutory hearings to trials and costs arguments. He deals regularly with all types of negligence, road traffic, employer liability and public liability claims and has knowledge and experience of many areas such as: Industrial disease Clinical negligence Industrial accidents Road traffic claims involving allegations of fraud and “low velocity impact” Credit hire Health and safety at work Product liability Claims against employers for psychological injury Slips and trips Historical child abuse claims Fatal accidents Accidents abroad Holiday illness claims Inquests Road traffic prosecutions, especially speeding and drink-driving, often acting for clients at risk of losing their driving licence Benefit fraud, having acted for both sides in cases of significant complexity and value Environmental and regulatory prosecutions Health and safety prosecutions Proceeds of crime (Robert acted for one of the defendants in the first ever case prosecuted by the Information Commissioner’s Office where a confiscation order was requested for offences contrary to data protection legislation) Having worked as a magistrates’ clerk before entering into private practice, and then spending several years appearing regularly in the Magistrates’ and Crown courts across the region, Robert has a strong background in prosecuting and defending in a wide range of criminal cases. More recently, he has focussed on more specific areas which he enjoys and still deals with regularly, such as:

Robert Edwards

As a cybercrime and fraud specialist Rob has prosecuted some of the most complicated cases of recent years in the West Midlands area, including the successful prosecution of the chairman of a nationally known company for hacking a competitor’s website. Rob’s particular expertise in the digital arena has led him to be briefed in cases where evidence of a sophisticated and complicated nature has been an integral part of the case. Rob has also appeared for the prosecution as a junior counsel in murder trials and as sole advocate in high value fraud and contested confiscation hearings. He also appears on an almost daily basis in the Crown Court for more general crime. Prior to joining the CPS Rob had developed an enviable reputation as an effective defence advocate and having now converted to the bar he is keen to redevelop that area of his practice.

Rosemary Proctor

Rosemary is a specialist Criminal practitioner. Rosemary has substantial trial experience in the Magistrates’ Court and regularly appears in the Crown Court.

Saima Bhat

Saima practises in Care Proceedings involving all types of non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional harm. Saima has extensive experience in representing Local Authorities, Parents, Guardians and the Official Solicitor in Children Act 1989 proceedings. She has acted in High Court cases on several occasions involving complex issues on behalf of the Guardian. She has regularly represented Local Authorities in the criminal courts in cases involving Public Interest Immunity. In Private Law Proceedings, Saima has regularly represented parents and children in complex and difficult cases of Contact, Residence, Domestic Violence Injunctions and Committals, and Removal from the Jurisdiction. Her experience includes cases involving serious findings of fact involving allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, implacable hostility and international relocation issues. Saima has a particular interest in representing expatriates in the Middle East in all children matters.

Sally Harrison KC

As a renowned and highly respected matrimonial finance practitioner with many years of specialist experience, Sally is the first choice for high net worth and high profile individuals. Her cases concern complex £multi-million assets, often with complex business and trust structures. She has appeared in many landmark reported cases including Gohil ([2015] UKSC 61) in the UK Supreme Court, which is the leading authority in relation to non-disclosure and setting aside. Sally’s wealth of knowledge and experience have been acknowledged by a number of accolades both nationally and regionally. Sally has worked internationally including appearing in the Court of Appeal in the Cayman Islands. She is called the Bar in Northern Ireland and has appeared regularly in the High Court in Belfast in cases concerning £multi-million assets. Sally has extensive knowledge and expertise in cases concerning complex business structures, trust assets and hidden assets for example representing the wife in the case of Richardson-Ruhan in which findings of non disclosure of extensive hidden wealth were made against the husband. She is regularly instructed to draft pre-nuptial agreements and has appeared in a number of cases concerning the financial provision following a pre-nuptial agreements and post separation accrual after a long separation eg A v B (No 2). She is frequently asked to advise in cases concerning complex family financial restructure and asset preservation, freezing injunctions, applications concerning reporting restrictions, injunctions to protect business trading and application to restrain a party from leaving the jurisdiction during financial remedy proceedings.

Samantha Hillas KC

Sam Hillas is a senior member of the matrimonial finance team, dealing primarily with high value and high profile cases. She has extensive experience of complex issues including farming, companies and trusts. She is a practical and down-to-earth advocate. Sam has a broad range of experience in divorce, civil partnership dissolution, claims under Schedule 1 Children Act 1989 and the financial claims for unmarried couples. Sam is a qualified Arbitrator and also has experience of appearing in and conducting private FDRs.

Samantha Openshaw

Samantha is a specialist civil barrister providing advice and advocacy to both claimants and defendants. Her practice encompasses all aspects of personal injury work including road traffic litigation and credit hire, employers’ liability, public liability and industrial disease. Samantha frequently appears in cases involving allegations of fundamental dishonesty and section 57 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. Samantha has considerable experience in all areas of civil litigation, civil procedure and costs. She has particular expertise in Fixed Recoverable Costs Cases and regularly appears in CCMCs, costs assessment hearings and interim applications. Her detailed knowledge of the CPR and costs law is particularly relevant to costs management and budgeting and achieving successful conclusions to cases. Samantha is also a qualified mediator.

Sara Harrison-Fisher

Sara is a family law barrister; she practises in all areas of children law. Sara has experience in a wide range of private law proceedings acting for both parents and extended family members. Sara is regularly instructed in the following areas: Disputes about with whom the child(ren) should live Disputes about the nature/frequency of the time a parent should spend with a parent Internal/domestic relocation Drug and alcohol misuse Emotional abuse Intractable contact disputes Sexual abuse allegations Change of the children’s school Sara routinely receives instructions in relation to Family Law Act proceedings. Sara routinely acts for Local Authorities, parents, Children’s Guardian and intervenors across a whole manner of public law proceedings. Sara is able to act from the commencement of proceedings right the way through to the final hearing. Sara is able to draft all documents associated with care proceedings. Sara has acted for parents seeking the discharge of a care order and seeking leave to oppose the making of an adoption order. Sara works well with clients who require extra support be those vulnerable clients or those requiring an interpreter.

Sara Mann

Sara is a family law specialist with particular emphasis on public law children proceedings, Sara’s organised and committed approach to her case preparation and her down to earth approach with clients has been recognised by professional and lay clients respectively. Within public law proceedings Sara regularly represents Local Authorities, parents, relatives and children at all stages of the proceedings, including finding of fact hearings and final hearings. Her experience includes cases involving serious physical injuries, complex medical issues, neglect, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse and sexual abuse. She has appeared against leading counsel and is regularly instructed in complex and lengthy matters. Sara’s experience in private law cases has involved her dealing with issues of domestic violence, sexual abuse and emotional harm and has seen her representing parents and children within those proceedings. Sara also has a particular interest in relocation from the jurisdiction cases and internal relocations. Sara provides a friendly and approachable manner with clients and a reasonable, practical and constructive approach to litigation and negotiations. She has appeared at all levels up to and including the Court of Appeal and she has provided training to a number of local authorities and solicitors.

Sebastian Gollins

Sebastian is a specialist commercial and chancery barrister and a qualified mediator. He is well acquainted with acting for high-net worth clients, influencers and individuals from the worlds of entertainment, fashion and business and can be expected to deal with highly confidential matters with sensitivity and discretion. Sebastian has a passion for private international law and is currently instructed on a number of matters which involve jurisdiction and choice of law issues. Sebastian has also started to develop a practice in aviation and has experience dealing with carriage by air disputes involving EU regulations as well as compensation claims for delay, cancellation or denied boarding. He is happy to accept instructions in related areas. Sebastian deals with a broad range of property work and is instructed in commercial landlord and tenant disputes, including breach of terms, forfeiture, lease renewals, disrepair and arrears of rent. Sebastian’s experience extends to disputes under the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, boundary and party walls disputes, adverse possession, easements and nuisance. Sebastian’s Banking practice includes a wide range of personal and corporate insolvency matters. He regularly appears in the winding up list, bankruptcy and company restoration proceedings acting for both creditors and debtors. He also appears in the applications list in Manchester and Leeds and is familiar with administration orders and extensions, as well as the appointment and removal of liquidators. Sebastian also has experience in corporate insolvency applications under section (236) (delivery up of information/ private examination in court) as well as personal insolvency matters under sections 339 (transactions at an undervalue) and 423 (transactions defrauding creditors) of the Insolvency Act 1986. Sebastian also has experience of data protection issues under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Acts 1998 and 2018. He has advised clients on claims arising from data breaches committed by both public and private bodies, which includes claims relating to breach of confidence and misuse of private information.

Shaun Spencer KC

Shaun is a family law specialist, with a comprehensive family law practice, which encompasses both public and private law children cases. He has extensive experience of proceedings involving complex issues of law and/or fact including cases involving allegation of serious inflicted injuries, sexual abuse and fabricated or induced illness. Shaun has particular expertise in relation to the use of the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court, for example, in relation to the use of Wardship or in relation to issues of Deprivation of Liberty. Shaun also has a broad private law practice with a particular emphasis on complex disputes often involving an international element (relocation/abduction), parental alienation, domestic abuse and cultural and religious issues. Shaun’s practice also includes cases involving surrogacy, co-parenting arrangements and issues arising out of the breakdown of same sex relationships.

Simeon Evans

Simeon is a criminal law defence specialist. He has represented clients, both privately and legal aid funded, in Crown Courts throughout England and Wales in numerous cases involving serious sexual offences; serious violence; public disorder; supply of drugs; fraud and other offences of dishonesty. Simeon has also regularly undertaken privately funded road traffic work in Magistrates’ Courts across the country. Simeon has appeared in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, on many occasions in respect of appeals against convictions and sentences. Simeon is accredited by the Bar Council to undertake direct public access work.

Simon Pallo

Simon has a wide practice across civil and employment litigation and family work. Simon has a wide range of experience in Insolvency Matters acting for both individuals and creditors. General Commercial litigation – including contract disputes, partnership disputes, Companies Act regulation and shareholder actions. During the course of his practice Simon has accumulated extensive experience of dealing with costs arguments and regularly represent both paying and receiving parties at cost management hearings and detailed assessments. Simon is growing his practice in the area of education law and has acted for Local Authorities in employment matters. He has extensive experience of medium – high net worth cases including those involving business interests. Simon has also advised in a number of cases involving the recognition of overseas marriages and divorces in the UK and Schedule 1 Children Act cases Simon has acted in numerous public law cases for local authorities, parents, relatives and children through their guardian. He has a vast experience of representing people with learning difficulties and mental health difficulties, both directly and through the Official Solicitor. Simon has a wide experience of acting in a wide range of private Children Act cases for parents, relatives and children with party status. He has experience in Inquest work, in particular acting for interested parties. He has particular expertise in matters touching upon the practices and procedures of mental health and social care professionals. Simon has considerable experience of acting on behalf of, and advising, Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords, particularly in the area of anti-social behaviour. Simon regularly represents private landlords in possession claims, disrepair clams and tenancy deposit schemes. He acts for both landlords and tenants in commercial property disputes and has experience of dealing with application for renewal of tenancies, forfeiture and wrongful eviction. Simon undertakes deals with property disputes between unmarried former cohabitants under TLATA 1996. He also has experience of dealing with applications for financial provision by unmarried parents under Schedule One Children Act 1989. Simon also accepts instructions for claims under ToLATA in a business context.

Simon Parry

Simon has a broad criminal practice, both defending and prosecuting. His work ranges from everyday crime to serious offences, including homicide and serious sexual offences. Since 2008 Simon has been a Category 4 prosecutor for the CPS (Northern Circuit & Wales Circuit) and was re-appointed to that grade together with the rape panel in 2012. Simon has particular expertise in multi-handed drug conspiracy cases, both for the prosecution and the defence. In recent years he has prosecuted the majority of covert drugs operations conducted by Cheshire Police (see below). With Simon’s previous experience within the College of Policing he has developed a detailed expert knowledge of the tactical and legal issues in covert policing cases. He has developed an expertise and interest, both for the defence and the prosecution, in cases involving mental health issues and in particular autistic spectrum disorders. Simon also is extremely experienced in representing young defendants where again he provides supportive and sensitive representation for clients and their families.

Simon Crabtree

Simon practises in all areas of child and adult protection/safeguarding including care proceedings, Court of Protection cases, Wardship, Inquests and Judicial Review (relating to the Children Act 1989 and allied legislation and regulations). In relation to child protection work, as well as dealing with the familiar staple mix of cases, the more complex cases he readily and regularly undertakes involve issues such as international child trafficking and terrorism and inter gang rivalry. He has recently undertaken work linked to high profile arrests in sexual abuse cases. These are of particular interest to him given his historic involvement in Operation Cleopatra (i.e. the Greater Manchester investigation into the historic sexual abuse of children in care homes in the region) and in which he acted as Counsel for the Greater Manchester local authorities. He has been involved in a number of complex and high profile public Inquiries and Inquests including: The Everall Inquiry – A Public Inquiry into the murder of two young people whilst in care The Patterson Inquiry – An Inquiry into the death of a child by her mentally ill mother The Inquest into the Death of Sabina Akhtar – Inquest into the unlawful killing of a mother by her partner amidst on-going multi-agency involvement The Trafford House Fires Inquest – Inquest into the unlawful killing of a mother and some of her children after a deliberate arson attack on her home by a former partner amidst multi-agency involvement. As well as a series of lesser publicised inquests (involving issues such as the corporate manslaughter, children/young person either in or linked to the care system who have died of unascertainable causes or in avoidable accidents). Simon regularly advises and represents local authorities in judicial review cases involving the interpretation of the Children Act 1989 and the allied legislation and guidance issued thereunder. He has a particular interest in those relating to allowances paid to different classes of carers and is instructed in a string of cases brought to determine the extent of a local authority’s obligations under section 17 to those who no longer qualify for mainstream benefits. Through such work, he receives instructions to draft policies for local authorities which accord with the applicable Law. He also has a growing interest in Court of Protection work and is still no stranger to complex and high net worth financial settlement cases and private law children’s cases of complexity and/or with an international dimension.

Simon Charles

Simon’s practice is focused on financial issues arising out of family and private client matters. Simon has narrowed his practice from broad chancery/commercial work meaning that he has a wealth of experience in the company, commercial and fiscal issues which often lie at the heart of his cases. Simon’s practice encompasses the following: Family finance – (matrimonial, cohabitation disputes and schedule 1 of the Children Act) All aspects of contested probate Claims under the Inheritance Act Drafting/Advice concerning pre-nuptial agreements, Deeds of Variation and other similar documents Tax tribunal appeals Professional negligence (especially in relation to the above matters).

Simon Reevell

Simon undertakes the detailed analysis of the financial history of businesses where fraud is suspected to have occurred, with a view to civil litigation or private prosecution. A particular feature of this work is the involvement of UK clearing banks in the unlawful manipulation of SMEs. He has advised in a large number of high-profile cases with values ranging from £5 million to £1.4 billion and is experienced in issues relating to corporate governance (not least as a Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2015 when the national media described him as the “secret weapon” of a Select Committee that had “more direct hits than the Department of Business Innovation and Skills, the FCA and the London Stock Exchange combined”). Simon has a wide experience of the conduct of private prosecutions on behalf of individuals, businesses and national organisations. In this context Simon also advises the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking. Simon provides advice in his capacity as standing counsel to WhistleblowersUK. He also acts for individual whistleblowers facing persecution and seeking justice in relation to their protected disclosures. In the field of criminal law Simon has an established defence practice in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), including cases of murder, manslaughter, terrorism, serious sexual offences and fraud (first degree in Economics including accountancy). He is a Grade 4 prosecutor and accredited rape specialist for the North Eastern Circuit and Inner and Outer London and provides pre-charge advice to CPS NE and CPS SE in cases involving serious sexual offences and homicide Simon is one of the most experienced Military Law barristers in the UK dealing with Courts Martial, AGAI proceedings and Service Complaints.

Simon Murray

Simon practices in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, Inquests, Accidents Abroad, and Court of Protection. In 2016 he was Made in Manchester’s “Lawyer of the Year”, having been appointed a Deputy District Judge in 2015 sitting on Civil cases in the North West, and becoming a member of the Government Legal Department provincial panel of counsel. He represents both claimants and defendants in equal measure on cases in the Multi track and frequently with a value of £250,000 or those with significant complexity, and where jurisdiction is challenged.

Simon Heaney

Simon has developed a strong reputation for acting in a wide range of children law cases in both public and private law. He has particular expertise in dealing with difficult, complex and vulnerable clients. Simon regularly represents clients in cases relating to serious non-accidental injury where he has appeared in the family court, High Court and the Court of Appeal. Likewise, Simon also has extensive experience in dealing with cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, developing a strong reputation for his lateral and diligent approach to his cases, securing the best outcomes, appearing in cases of extreme complexity in the family court, High Court and Court of Appeal. Simon has also successfully resisted cases of alleged Fictitious Illness, re-opening cases where previous adverse findings have been made and Wardship/Abduction cases involving the recovery of children from countries under terrorist control. He has also been involved in cases regarding unlawful killing in relation to both children and adults. Simon regularly appears in cases involving children being removed from the jurisdiction both in relation to planned applications and recovery. He has appeared in the family court, High Court and Court of Appeal in these cases both in regard to countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention as well as non-Convention jurisdictions. Simon also appears in intractable, implacable hostility cases and cases involving serious allegations. He also has experience and expertise of cases involving the withdrawal of medical/life sustaining treatment.

Sonia Gal

Sonia practises in all areas of Family Law with emphasis on financial provision following divorce. She has extensive experience in all aspects of Children Act proceedings in both public and private law cases including finding of fact hearings and final hearings dealing with neglect domestic violence emotional and sexual abuse, as well as contact and residence cases acting for parents, children or extended family members. Sonia has a particular interest in the international movement of children and child abduction. In her Family - Finance practice, Sonia covers all aspects of family law with particular emphasis on high value financial provision cases including dealing with company matters, corporate veils, pre and post separation agreements, s. 37 disputes, trusts, Schedule 1, pensions, farming cases, periodical payments, cohabitation, material non disclosure, costs, inherited assets, financial remedy in the context of confiscation orders and Appeals. Sonia is also instructed in complex medium worth cases where competing issues of contributions, need, sale of FMH, pension offset, cohabitation and Mesher Orders have to be argued.

Stephen Brown

Stephen specialises in public and private family law cases, appearing mainly for local authorities and parents, although he also represents guardians and other family members. He has considerable experience of representing local authorities and parents in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, chronic neglect and sexual abuse. He has represented a number of parents (mothers, in particular) through the Official Solicitor, combining an academic attention to detail with an ability to explain things to clients in straightforward terms. He has also appeared in a number of cases involving deaf parents and has provided training to other lawyers in the particular legal considerations applying to deaf litigants. Stephen provides training to local authorities and solicitors on developments in the law.

Steven McGarry

Steven specialises in banking and finance disputes. He has built up a following in heavy-weight banking advice and litigation, across a range of areas, including in particular interest rate hedging work, currency hedge litigation, commercial lending and securities disputes and pension mis-selling and transfer litigation. He is routinely instructed by financial professionals on regulatory issues, including the Perimeter Guidance Manual and questions of regulated activity. Steven is also acting in a number of claims against the Global Restructuring Group of the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and is able to offer advice on distressed lending and loss claims (including consequential losses). The well publicised s.166 report commissioned by the Financial Conduct Authority addressing the behaviour of the “GRG” is eagerly anticipated. He is routinely instructed to act for directors and individuals on issues of insolvency and bankruptcy, including cases relating to preferential transfers, transfers at undervalue and fraudulent activity. Steven is regularly instructed for claimants in cases concerning investment advice and breach of the regulatory framework. Steven also acts for directors in disqualification proceedings.

Stuart Bell

Stuart is a Level 2 prosecutor who appears regularly on behalf of the CPS and defendants in criminal courts across the North Eastern Circuit. Previously employed by the CPS, Stuart gained broad experience while working in their Crown Court, RASSO and Magistrates Court units.

Susan Edwards

Susan practices exclusively in Family Law. Susan accepts instructions in both privately and publicly funded work and Children Act work. Susan represents local authorities, parents and children in public law matters including cases involving non-accidental injury, sexual, physical and emotional abuse and serious neglect of children.

Sylvia Vir Singh

Sylvia is a Family Law specialist and experienced in all fields. In public law matters she represents local authorities, parents and extended families, and children and has a particular interest in cases involving complex medical evidence namely non-accidental head injuries; purported fabricated and/or induced illness; and alleged bone disease. She is developing a practice involving care and adoption cases with an international element. Her practice includes matrimonial finance with an emphasis on cases involving significant assets; family owned businesses; trust structures and valuation issues. Sylvia’s practice also includes international jurisdictional disputes and multifaceted private law applications including complex medical evidence and leave to remove children from the jurisdiction,difficult child arrangement applications involving proven sexual abuse, homicide, private adoptions, protracted contact cases and international relocation. Sylvia regularly appears in the family court and carries out an increasing amount of litigation in the High Court.

Tarlun Ahari

Tarlun is a civil practitioner, and as such welcomes instructions for personal injury and employment law matters. Tarlun prides herself on her client care and building strong relationships with both her professional and lay clients. Tarlun acts in matters in the Employment Tribunal and in the civil courts. She has been instructed to draft opinions and pleadings in relation to those areas and is happy to assist with papers requiring a fast turnaround.

Thomas Wood

Tom is an employment and discrimination specialist, known for his technical expertise and ability to tackle the most complex cases across a variety of fields. His practice focuses on the commercial sector, and with increasing emphasis on the education and care sectors. Throughout his career, Tom has been instructed to act and advise both for and against some of the largest organisations in the country, often in complicated or high-value claims and across a variety of fields with emphasis on the commercial sector. He has particular experience in whistleblowing, TUPE and discrimination (in particular disability and pregnancy discrimination) claims, although he is accomplished in all areas of employment law. Tom regularly appears in the employment tribunals and has experience in the Employment Appeal Tribunal where he undertakes written work and advocacy. Tom uses his experience in discrimination claims to undertake civil disputes in the County and High Court where the Equality Act is engaged. He advises and represents individuals, businesses and social housing providers to bring or defend claims for discrimination.

Thomas Sherrington

Thomas regularly acts in all types of criminal cases in the Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Courts and has a keen interest in developing his practice involving young and vulnerable witnesses and defendants. He is a CPS Level 1 prosecutor. Thomas is regularly instructed to deal with the most serious of offences including sexual offences, drug offences and violent offences. He has a burgeoning Regulatory practice, with experience dealing with Traffic Safety Regulations, Animal Welfare matters and Prison law. He actively seeks instructions in relation to Inquests. Having begun his legal career at a leading firm of Personal Injury solicitors, he is happy to advise on all such matters.

Tim Savage

Tim is a Criminal barrister who is regularly instructed for both the prosecution and the defence. He has over 25 years’ experience in all aspects of serious and organised crime. Recent cases have included: homicide; armed robbery; serious violence (including gang-related violence and prison riot); death by driving; fraud (including professional fraud); serious and historic sexual allegations; smuggling and international money laundering; national and international Class A drugs conspiracy. Tim is also sought after as defence counsel in misfeasance and other criminal allegations against the police.

Timothy Ashmole

Tim has a strong Criminal practice based, predominantly, in the Midlands and North West of England. His experience spans a full range of work from Murder to Road Traffic matters. Tim has defended and prosecuted at all levels, from the Magistrates Court to Murder cases in the Crown Court. He has a particular strength in cases involving allegations of Firearms, Drugs and Sexual Offences, where he has a unique ability and approach to the witness testimony of child witnesses.

Timothy Connolly

Timothy has extensive experience in all aspects of civil law including, Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Contractual Disputes and Personal Insolvency. He is a member of the Personal Injury and Professional Negligence (PIPN) and Commercial teams. Timothy has considerable Trial and Advisory experience in civil cases involving allegations of fraud including cases brought in Tort and Contract and mainly, by reason of the allegation raised, allocated to the multi track. In terms of his Personal Injury work, he regularly appears on behalf of both Claimants and Defendants in Fast-track and Multi-track cases in addition to providing advice and opinion on paper and in conference.

Tom Hughes

Tom is a Court of Protection specialist, instructed for his experience in complex health and welfare matters. Tom’s practice engages a range of issues including but not limited to fluctuating capacity, capacity to engage in sexual relations, deprivation of liberty, the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court, restrictive practices within care planning, covert medication, restraint and safeguarding. Tom also accepts instructions in property and financial affairs matters, with experience in contested proceedings in relation to the appointment and removal of deputies and attorneys. Tom is regularly instructed to prepare statements of facts and grounds, complex position statements and advise on the merits of cases and litigation strategy.

Urd Varlo Larsen

Urd accepts instructions in all areas of personal injury. She appears in court (both remotely and in person) on a daily basis and has experience with conducting trials on both liability and quantum ranging from RTA and credit hire matters through to public liability claims. She regularly represents both Claimants and Defendants on the small claims track and fast track as well as in directions hearings, dispute resolution hearings, infant settlement approvals, interim applications, MOJ Stage 3 cases and dismissals. She has a comprehensive understanding of credit hire case law and has been recognised for her ability to present her case in persuasive and attractive terms. She has on several occasions, whilst acting for Defendants in credit hire matters, had the full credit hire claim dismissed on the basis of arguments made in terms of need or enforceability. From her time at Clyde & Co, Urd brings with her excellent research skills which she frequently employs when advising on cases, preparing written submissions or drafting pleadings. In terms of her Disease practice, Urd is particularly interested in cases involving occupational disease, and has previously advised and drafted particulars of claim in matters involving upper-limb disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. She is also happy to prepare questions for medical experts and advise in conference, or assist with drafting witness statements. Urd also welcomes instructions to advise on clinical negligence matters and draft statements of case. Urd is very thorough and has an eye for detail, which makes her particularly good at reviewing medical reports and records. She has previously assisted with reviewing and summarising medical evidence on a claim pleaded at several million pounds

William Poole

William enjoys a busy court, advisory and paper practice specialising in Commercial Litigation, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Costs and Mediation. William is in trial virtually every week acting for insurers in defence of large and invariably exaggerated, often fraudulent credit hire claims. He acts exclusively for insurers in the field.He is well-versed on handling the often substantial amounts of financial documentation that large hire claims can involve. He also has a deep understanding of the procedural requirements involved when giving disclosure or drafting pleadings which in such cases are so often inadequate and determinative.Since the introduction of s.57 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act, 2015, William has secured dozens of findings of fundamental dishonesty for his insurer clients. Since the introduction of QOCS, William now advises insurers about how to recover the costs of failed hire claims from the hire companies, especially after a finding of dishonesty, and is enjoying recent consistent success in the field. William acts for both Claimants and Defendants in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Costs disputes. In PI William specialises in brain and spinal injuries and deals with cases of the utmost severity. William qualified as a CEDR trained mediator in 2016.

Zahra Baqri

Zahra Baqri is a criminal law practitioner whose experience and specialism encompasses all aspects of serious crime and fraud. Zahra is a CPS Level 3 Prosecutor, and has prosecuted (whether that be in the capacity of reviewing lawyer or advocate) in some of the region’s most serious cases, including many cases of murder, attempted murder, child destruction, child cruelty, serious sexual offending, unlawful manslaughter and fraud.

Zillah Williams

As well as representing defendants in a wide variety of cases, as a Category 3 Prosecutor, Zillah receives instructions in cases involving deception, drugs, violence and offences of a sexual nature.

Zoe Cheng

Zoe regularly acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children and extended family members in public law proceedings from the commencement of proceedings until final hearing. Her experience in public law proceedings includes cases involving the following issues: fabricated illness; radicalisation; inflicted injuries; sexual abuse; serious emotional harm; serious behavioural difficulties requiring residential placements/secure accommodation disabilities; learning difficulties; cultural issues; serious drug/alcohol misuse; chronic neglect; and international complexities.Zoe also acts in a range of Children Act 1989 cases for parents, relatives and local authorities that either require representation but are not parties or who are joined as parties. Zoe regularly acts in CAP matters including cases involving issues such as: with whom the child(ren) should live; how much time the child(ren) should be spending with a parent and the nature of this time (supervised/supported); internal relocation; which school(s) the child(ren) should attend; allegations of inflicted injuries; sexual abuse allegations; drug and alcohol misuse; domestic abuse allegations; emotional abuse allegations; and parents with psychiatric and/or psychological disorders.

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