St John's Buildings

Family - Children, Court of Protection

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 was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn in 2019, and joined chambers as a tenant in September 2020 following successful completion of her pupillage under the supervision of Shaun Spencer.

FLBA Gray’s Inn Northern Circuit

Jurisprudence (Law) at the University of Oxford (First Class honours) Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) at the University of Oxford