Members of Broadway House Chambers' 'strong family team' are recognised as established experts in matrimonial finance; head of the team Robert Cole is well known for his specialist expertise in this area. Nicholas Power and Anthony Hajimitsis are regularly instructed in cases involving multi-million pound assets. Public and private children law work also forms a core pillar of the practice, with Gillian Irving QC noted for representing parents and local authorities in cases involving sexual abuse, non-accidental injuries and fabricated illnesses, to name a few areas. Semaab Shaikh has a particular focus on domestic violence applications, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, child abduction, and radicalisation cases. Jayne Pye is very experienced across the range of public and private law matters, including same-sex parenting, surrogacy, and adoption.
Family and children law in Regional Bar
Broadway House Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘A strong family law set‘.
‘The set has an excellent family team, particularly for financial remedy work, including high-net-worth cases‘.
‘Chambers has a real depth of strong advocates, and is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure the right person is available‘.
Clerking
‘An excellent clerking team‘.
‘The clerking team are pro-active, down to earth and user friendly‘.
‘The clerks at Broadway House are a real asset to the set‘.
‘Superb. Headed by Robin Slade, the clerks are second-to-none and will always go the extra mile to ensure that your needs are catered for‘.
‘Robin Slade always goes above and beyond to accommodate‘.
Dere Street Barristers
Dere Street Barristers is home to a group of highly experienced family practitioners on the North Eastern circuit. Practice head Tim Donnelly is instructed by local authorities and represents guardians and family members in complex sexual and medical abuse cases. Public children law specialist Pauline Moulder regularly appears in the High Court, and Elizabeth Callaghan has expertise in handling cases involving allegations of poisoning and severe sexual and physical abuse. Crispin Oliver is the key contact for matrimonial finance matters. In 2020 Sarah Woolrich left the set for a position at South Tyneside Council, and in January 2021 Karen Lennon moved to Park Square Barristers Ltd..
Park Square Barristers Ltd.
With a reputation as a 'first-rate chambers', Park Square Barristers Ltd. garners praise for its 'reassuring breadth of expertise' in family law. Charlotte Worsley, who leads the team, is noted for her expertise in public law cases, and has a solid track record in handling complex cases involving female genital mutilation, radicalisation and severe physical and sexual abuse. David Orbaum is 'an excellent advocate' and 'extremely well respected by the local judiciary', and is very experienced in handling child law cases with international elements. The 'very persuasive' Martin Todd is instructed by local authorities, guardians and parents in serious child injuries cases. Viewed as a 'rising star', Phillipa Hildyard is 'very bright' and 'a huge future ahead of her'. The team was recently bolstered by the arrival of Karen Lennon from Dere Street Barristers.
Testimonials
Set
‘A sound set of chambers‘.
‘Strength in depth‘.
Clerking
‘Excellent, responsive clerking‘.
‘Claudine Cooper is always so very helpful, polite, and will always endeavor to assist you with your enquiries. I cannot praise her highly enough‘.
‘Claudine Cooper, Paul Foster and Arnela Siranovic are a brilliant team, always willing to go the extra mile to help in any situation‘.
Parklane Plowden
Viewed as 'the strongest family set in Leeds', Parklane Plowden's 'impressive' team of 'high quality barristers' stands out for being 'very good on private children law'. Head of the team Sara Anning is noted for her 'depth and breadth of knowledge', and regularly handles public law cases involving serious allegations of abuse and injuries. In a recent highlight for the set, Anning and Charlotte Wilce appeared in a Court of Appeal case addressing whether fathers and relatives should be notified by local authorities before a child is relinquished for adoption following a concealed pregnancy. Clare Garnham acts for local authorities, parents, and interveners across a broad range of public and private child law matters. The 'strong advocate' Julia Nelson handles private law disputes pertaining to internal relocation and child arrangement orders, and is equally adept at advising on matrimonial finance issues. Elizabeth Darlington stands out for her 'very strong expertise in cohabitation cases', and regularly acts across a wide spectrum of complex financial remedy matters. In March 2021 the team was bolstered by the arrival of Francesca Fothergill from St Philips Chambers.
Testimonials
Set
‘Parklane Plowden has a wealth of experience in family law, both financial and children work‘.
‘Fantastic set with great coverage for private children and financial remedy work – there is always a barrister suitable for any given case‘.
‘A high quality set‘.
‘Chambers is efficient and helpful‘.
Clerking
‘The management by the clerks is first rate‘.
‘The clerks are always accommodating‘.
‘The clerks are very efficient and helpful. They go out of their way to accommodate requests and deliver a top class service‘.
‘Mark Williams stands out as always going the extra mile‘.
‘Mark Williams is a real asset to chambers‘.
Trinity Chambers
'Strong family set' Trinity Chambers is home to a team of 'talented barristers at all levels', and is singled out by clients as a 'go to set for private children work due to strength in depth'. On the financial remedy side, Timothy Spain is a key practitioner, and regularly handles high-value financial and ancillary relief cases as well as acting in local authority children matters. Nicholas Stonor QC has 'an extraordinary grasp of the law and the facts'; complex care cases, relocation matters and forced marriage issues are among his areas of expertise. Justin Gray has a niche focus on child law cases pertaining to international movement of children, and placement of children in Scotland by local authorities. In October 2020 James Richardson was appointed to the district bench.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set has a plethora of highly intelligent, highly skilled barristers, who clients ask for time and time again‘.
‘A very experienced set of family barristers‘.
‘A reliable chambers, always offering superb representation‘.
Clerking
‘A very well served set from the bottom to the top‘.
‘The family clerking team is led by the dynamic Steven Preen and the unflappable Ken McLafferty, who complement each other to great effect‘.
‘Ken McLafferty and Steven Preen are excellent. They are friendly, accommodating and efficient‘.
‘The clerks are practical, down to earth, helpful and flexible‘.
Spire Barristers
Spire Barristers is 'a very strong set in family law' with a team made up of 'high-quality practitioners'. Taryn Lee QC is 'a pillar of strength for her clients', 'simply magnificent on her feet' and 'the go-to silk on the North Eastern circuit for complex family cases'. Jacqueline Thomas QC is 'an authoritative and persuasive advocate' and 'an exceptional barrister in the field of child protection'. Thomas acts as joint head of chambers with the 'formidable' Sarah Blackmore, who 'has steered cases through troubled waters with wisdom' and is sought after for her expertise in children law cases involving serious, including sexual, abuse. Elizabeth Shaw is 'an outstanding lawyer who is totally committed to her clients'. The 'conscientious and robust' Reagan Persaud and the 'very confident' Ashley Lord are frequently instructed in cases involving sexual abuse, allegations of violence against children and fabricated/induced illness.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set houses a strong mix of talented barristers‘.
‘A highly professional and reliable set‘.
‘Good depth of experienced counsel‘.
‘Excellent client care‘.
‘The quality of service of those undertaking family law, together with the friendly and supportive nature makes them a pleasure to work with and provides me with confidence that the service my clients will receive will be of a high standard‘.
Clerking
‘Leigh Royall is supremely helpful, good-humoured and able‘.
‘Donna Gaughan and Jennifer Bridgeman always do their best to help in difficult situations‘.
‘Donna Gaughan is a consummate professional, who goes above and beyond to assist and to make life easier for instructing solicitors‘.
‘Shannon Hart is an absolute star in the making – intuitive and service-driven‘.
‘Leigh Royall is outstanding – always approachable‘.