St John's Buildings

Family - Children

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.

Pennie read Classical Civilisation at Nottingham University before undertaking the conversion course in Law at City University in 1992. She was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn in 1993 having undertaken the BVC at the Inns of Court school of law.

Family Law Bar Association – committee member NE circuit FLBA South Yorkshire Medico Legal Society South Yorkshire Family Justice Board Chair of the LFJB Public Law Sub group Committee member South Yorkshire Family Court Forum