Westgate Chambers

Family, Public Access

“Many thanks for all your support and the wonderful service you have provided on my behalf. I think this is an incredible outcome overall, and don’t think I would have managed to achieve this without your assistance and supervision.”

In 2022, the Legal 500 praised Amanda and commented that she is “Well prepared and thoughtful. She is very kind and reassuring with vulnerable clients.”

Amanda accepts instructions in Family law and specialises in Care Proceedings and Private Law matters.

Care Proceedings

Amanda accepts instructions from Parents, Guardians and Intervenors. A significant proportion of her cases involve non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, and/or chronic neglect. She also appears in Adoption and Special Guardianship Order cases.

Amanda is known for being extremely approachable, sensible and empathetic. She is the barrister of choice for many Solicitors with vulnerable clients, especially those with a learning disability or mental health difficulties.

Private Law

Amanda is regularly instructed in highly emotive and complex Private Law cases, whilst also having considerable experience in dealing with cases involving domestic abuse, coercive control and parental alienation.

Family Arbitration

Alongside her busy court based practice, Amanda became an accredited Child Arbitrator having qualified in 2017.

Public Access

Amanda accepts instructions through the Direct Access scheme.

Away from her thriving family practice, Amanda is a Senior Lecturer on the Bar Vocational Studies course at City, University of London. She teaches advocacy, written skills, and is head of the BVS Family Law team.  She is also heavily invested in the further education of children and young adults, having been a Governor, including Chair of Governors, within the state and private sector for the past 10 years.

Notable cases:

Re TC and JC ( Children: Relocation) [2013] EWHC 292 (Fam), [2013] 2 FLR 484 Re T (Care Proceedings: Drug Testing) [2012] EWHC 4081 (Fam), [2013] 2 FLR 467

Called to the Bar in July 1998 (Middle Temple) Family Law Bar Association Children Arbitrator (CIArb)

BSc (Hons), University of Manchester (1985) Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Manchester Metropolitan University (1997)