Tanya Zabihi > Albion Chambers > Bristol, England > Barrister Profile

Tanya Zabihi

0117 927 2144 tanya.zabihi@albionchambers.co.uk

Position

Tanya joined Albion Chambers in January 2017. She has over 27 years of experience working in the field of children and family law and is regularly instructed by local authorities, parents, guardians and adopters. Tanya also specialises in child, education and court of protection direct access work. Tanya is the former chairperson of the Bristol Family Law Bar Association. Tanya’s specialisms include: Care proceedings, Care proceedings with an educational element, Special educational needs tribunals, Residence and contact, Adoption, Emergency procedures, Child abduction and jurisdictional issues, Financial provision for children. Before moving to the independent Bar, Tanya was an employed advocate at a leading County Council in Greater London and also in private practice, heading the Children Team at a legal 500 rated firm. As well as acting as a solicitor advocate for parents, local authorities and children in private and public law proceedings, she was also instructed as a legal adviser to the Adoption Panel, the Area Child Protection Committee and undertook the training of social workers and multi-disciplinary professionals in all aspects of child protection and court work. Tanya also took part in numerous Part 8 Enquiries as the legal adviser. This background has given her practice a unique edge in Children related cases. Tanya returned to the Bar in 2005 and now specialises in Public law children matters – representing local authorities, parents and children cases involving sexual abuse, severe neglect, factitious illness, human rights issues, non-accidental injury (“baby-shaking cases”), including child death and mental health issues. Tanya regularly trains social workers, solicitors and other multi-disciplinary professionals in matters of Child Protection. Alongside her very busy Child Law Practice, Tanya has developed a Court of Protection practice, an area which she has an avid and passionate interest in. Having specialised in Children’s cases for over 27 years, she has represented many vulnerable and incapacitous parents in care proceedings which have involved the appointment of the Official Solicitor. In addition, she has been involved in numerous cases concerning young persons where declarations of deprivation of liberty have had to be sought. Tanya has also been involved in numerous cases where serious mental health problems have been an issue. Since developing her practice in Court of Protection work she has provided representation to local authorities and family members in cases involving: Personal welfare applications, S16 Applications Section 21A applications challenging authorisations of deprivation of liberty, Applications for the, Appointment of deputies (welfare/financial affairs), and other property and affairs applications, Proceedings concerning the overlap between the Court of Protection and Children Act 1989.

Career

Called 1998

Memberships

Association of Lawyers for Children; FLBA

Education

LLB (Hons) Middlesex; Diploma in Child Protection (King’s College, London)