Claire Brissenden

Family Private Law Children Domestic Abuse & Injunctions Internal and External Relocation Cases Finding of Fact hearings Ancillary Relief & Matrimonial Finance Pensions Armed Forces

Following a successful career in business Claire was a mature entrant to the Bar. Claire has considerable experience representing parents in private law children matters involving residence and contact, as well as applications relating to domestic abuse. In addition to complex contact and shared residence cases, she specialises in finding of fact hearings, implacable hostility cases, and changes of residence.

Claire recently appeared in the High Court successfully defending an appeal after a rehearing of a finding of fact hearing concerning a single issue of rape F v M (Appeal: Finding of Fact) [2019] EWHC 3177 (Fam).

Claire also has extensive experience of applications for temporary and permanent leave to remove from the jurisdiction, internal and external relocation cases. She represented the father in the reported appeal Re H [2014] EWCA Civ 989 and subsequent rehearing of Re H [2015] EWFC 39 concerning an application by the mother to take their child to Iran for a holiday, despite the father's status as a political asylum seeker.

Claire represents clients in all aspects of ancillary relief and matrimonial finance applications. She is particularly experienced in cases involving modest assets where a creative solution is often required to achieve a ‘fair’ result. She has also represented a number of serving and retired members of the armed forces, and has expertise in pensions.

Claire is especially aware of the need for sound advice from the earliest stages of proceedings to avoid the stress and expense of protracted litigation. She understands that clients need to feel supported and listened to, and is very capable of putting them at ease. She is experienced in dealing with litigants in person, and being a trained mediator is able to communicate effectively with them in order to achieve negotiated solutions.

Claire is fully committed to the continued representation of both privately and publicly funded clients.

Claire's article in Family Law Week “Changing Residence - A Judgment of Solomon” addresses the difficulties faced by the courts in deciding whether to change a child's residence, particularly in view of a child's wishes and feelings to the contrary.

APPOINTMENTS Family Law Mediator (Children and Ancillary Relief) MEMBERSHIPS Family Law Bar Association  North Eastern Circuit  Inner Temple EDUCATION LLB (Hons) Buckingham University BVC Northumbria University ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Claire enjoys foreign travel, scuba diving, skiing and photography. She supports Newcastle United and sometimes enjoys it. Claire is married with two children and two dogs.

LLB (Hons) Buckingham University; BVC Northumbria University.