St John's Buildings

Family - Children, Family - Finance, Property and Private Client

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.