Dinali Nanayakkara > Chambers of Giles Bain and Christopher Poole > London, England > Barrister Profile

Dinali Nanayakkara

020 7583 5123 clerks@newcourtchambers.com

Position

Dinali has extensive experience in all aspects of family law. In public law she has represented local authorities, parents and children in tribunals ranging from the family proceedings courts to the High Court. She has acted in multiple-day hearings dealing with allegations of serious non-accidental injuries; chronic neglect and emotional abuse.

She is especially skilled in working with vulnerable clients or those who have mental health difficulties and has a particular interest in cases where there is a cross-cultural dimension.

Her private law work includes s8 applications and family law injunctions and has involved lengthy fact-finding hearings dealing with grave allegations of domestic violence.

Career

Called to the Bar 2000.

Dinali worked in some of the other disciplines within the family justice system prior to coming to the Bar: she was a local authority social worker for nearly ten years and a locum lawyer in a local authority Social Services Legal Department for 14 months prior to commencing pupillage.

Dinali is committed to pro bono work. She represents applicants as part of her pro bono work for “Bail for Immigration Detainees” and has been a volunteer duty advocate for “Greenwich Housing Rights” since 2001. She was shortlisted for Young Legal Aid Barrister of the Year in 2006.

Memberships

FLBA

Education

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law.  Common Professional Examination, College of Law.  Certificate in Qualification in Social Work.  BSc (Hons) in Psychology

Leisure

Dinali enjoys attending various cultural events including theatre and film. She loves dance, particularly flamenco, having studied it for a year and regularly attends dance performances.

She travelled around the world for nearly ten months by herself and has continued to enjoy travelling extensively.