Family: children and domestic abuse

Leading Juniors

Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.

1
Samantha Birtles
18 St John Street Chambers
 
1
Fiona Holloran
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Fiona has a pragmatism and clarity of vision for a case that is refreshing and valued. She works like a Trojan and is unfazed by the most extraordinary demands placed on her, whether by opponents or the court.'
1
Pauline McHugh
St John’s Buildings
 ‘Pauline is truly a formidable advocate and her meticulous approach to preparation is second-to-none. She provides robust advice with clear paths forward, and her composed and measured approach is always welcomed.'
1
Margaret Parr
7 Harrington Street
 ‘Margaret is the ultimate professional; she prepares with laser precision, she's tenacious, incredibly bright and puts any client at ease with her unflappable demeanour. She's one to have on your side, she understands clients and how they tick, and she is a total pleasure to work with.'
1
Anna Warters
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Anna is a tenacious advocate, so thorough and knowledgeable, is always honest with each client and just amazing at what she does. Could not recommend her more.'
1
Paul Wright
7 Harrington Street
1
Joanne Barnett
Nine Chambers
 ‘Joanne is fabulous - she is charming, friendly and yet incredibly impressive when it comes to cross-examination. Clients are in awe of her skills. Her questions are effective, to the point and entirely disarm the person on the receiving end.'
1
Rehana Begum
Central Chambers
 ‘Rehana is one of the hardest working barristers. She is always impeccably prepared, she is a brave advocate in the face of judicial criticism of her client, and her tenacity is an excellent quality.’
1
Patrick Gilmore
Deans Court Chambers
 ‘Patrick is a truly excellent all rounder and he is a first choice for complex matters and matters that require careful handing for other reasons. He is very popular with social workers and commands respect from senior social care managers.'
1
Yvonne Healing
Central Chambers
 ‘Yvonne is very experienced in public law children work and able to look at the bigger picture and steer a case in the right direction.’
1
Sarah Kilvington
Nine Chambers
 ‘Sarah is incredibly tenacious and persuasive in court and judges respect her.  She has a fantastic manner with clients and really listens to what they have to say so that they feel Sarah is truly on their side.'
1
Kalsoom Maqsood
Nine Chambers
 ‘Kalsoom is fearless, highly effective and thorough in her approach, both in her written work and in her advocacy. She leaves no stone unturned in her meticulous preparation, and she is an extremely highly regarded barrister on the circuit and rightly so.'
2
Kate Bramall
18 St John Street Chambers
 is an excellent, highly skilled barrister, as she is very well prepared for hearings, keeps up to date with case law and always thoroughly gets to grips with the issues in her case for the client. She is a tenacious but measured and pragmatic advocate both in negotiations and discussions with other parties and in court in submissions and cross-examination.'
2
Leonie Caplan
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘As a former solicitor, Leonie has excellent standards of client care and an empathetic approach.'
2
Kate Donohue
18 St John Street Chambers
2
Julie Forsyth
Exchange Chambers
 
2
Megan Gilchrist
7 Harrington Street
‘Megan is an outstanding advocate and her preparation of cases is always first class! Approachable, unflappable and determined, Megan is definitely one to watch.' 
2
Clare Grundy
St John’s Buildings
 ‘Clare is professional, approachable, efficient, and provides bespoke advice on cases which is succinct and easy to understand for all involved. She has a keen eye for detail and goes over and above in all cases, and she has the skill to anticipate and case manage cases exceptionally well.'
2
Jonathan Mark Jackson
18 St John Street Chambers
 
2
Christine Johnson
7 Harrington Street
2
Eleanor Keehan
St John’s Buildings
‘Eleanor is extremely knowledgeable and her involvement can make the most complicated cases run much more smoothly and with ease, taking the stress out of the situation for the client department. She has an extremely professional manner which comes across to the court, client and parties, which gives credibility to what she is trying to convey.'
2
Ginny Whiteley
St John’s Buildings
2
Kirstin Beswick
Central Chambers
 ‘Kirstin is a fierce and sharp advocate, able to cut to the primary issue and articulate her client's position in relation to whatever legal test is applicable, as well as to defend against contrary views in a pre-emptive manner. Another strength is her personable and down-to-earth approach during conferences which allows clients, including vulnerable and difficult clients, to bond with her and consequently open up to her and to be receptive to advice.'
2
Lisa Edmunds
Unit Chambers
 ‘Lisa's written work is exceptional and this is mirrored in her advocacy that is extremely on point, and her laser-like cross-examination is highly effective. She is a robust advocate when required, she is unflappable, and she has a kind and patient bedside manner with clients that is second-to-none.'
2
Emma Greenhalgh
Nine Chambers
‘Emma is a fantastic barrister. She is highly diligent and always extremely well prepared, she is extremely helpful and her written work is second-to-none.'
2
Rebecca Gregg
Deans Court Chambers
‘Rebecca is a very organised barrister and is able to remain focused and prioritise important aspects of any given case. She has admirable memorisation skills and is able to adapt effectively and efficiently to any particular client or situation in court.'
2
Sarah Johnson
Kenworthy’s Chambers
2
Nazmun Nisha Ismail
Central Chambers
‘Nazmun demonstrates exceptional skills in articulating complex legal arguments in a manner that is both clear and persuasive. She has a knack for making intricate points easy to follow, which is vital in both written submissions and oral advocacy, and her clarity ensures that her audience, whether judges or opposing counsel, can follow her reasoning and grasp the key aspects of her argument.'
2
Peter Rothery
Deans Court Chambers
 'Peter is the most eloquent and persuasive advocate, and he brings to his cases both an impressive intellect and a fine grasp of the details. In addition, he is able always to communicate with those on whose behalf he is instructed - whether they be professional or lay persons - calmly, empathetically and clearly, no matter the complexity or painfulness of what is being discussed.'
2
Sasha Watkinson
Deans Court Chambers
 ‘Sasha is an effective communicator both orally and in her written work, including closing submissions and skeleton arguments. She commands strong legal and technical language which she is able to convey clearly and concisely in her advocacy.'
3
Farah Ahmed
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Farah is very personable, great with clients and very child focussed in her approach.'
3
Fergal Allen
18 St John Street Chambers
He is firm in standing his ground when necessary, he works hard for his clients, and his advocacy is clear and concise.'
3
Danish Ameen
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Danish has good technical legal knowledge and has a sharp mind, enabling him to think on his feet.  Outside of the courtroom, Danish has delivered quality training seminars in the field of public law children work.'
3
Rachael Banks
St John’s Buildings
3
Michelle Burley
St John’s Buildings
 ‘Michelle is a persuasive and intelligent advocate who has wonderful client care skills. She shows great compassion but also fights hard in her case, and she is a hard worker whose preparation and advice is top notch.'
3
Matthew Carey
St John’s Buildings 
‘Matthew is a very strong and persuasive advocate, both in terms of his oral and written advocacy. He is well respected by his peers and clients alike, and he possesses the rare ability to be both realistic with clients in terms of setting their expectations in relation to possible outcomes in proceedings, as well as instilling in them the confidence that he is robustly putting forwards their best case.
3
Christian Durham Hall
St John’s Buildings
 'Christian's communication on cases is excellent, and he is always available to assist with queries, offer advice, and arrange conferences to discuss developments on private law matters or public law cases. Christian builds up a great rapport with clients and is friendly, calm and approachable.'
3
Kerry Holt
St John’s Buildings
‘Kerry is an exceptional advocate with a commanding presence in court. Her calm and composed demeanour, coupled with her sharp legal mind, makes her a formidable force in any case, and she has the innate ability to distill complex legal issues and present them with clarity and persuasion, earning the confidence of clients and the respect of the judiciary alike.’
3
Natasha Johnson
7 Harrington Street
 'Natasha has a calm and measured advocacy style, and she is persuasive and extremely knowledgeable in both the law and facts of a case. A particular strength is cutting through the issues in a case and her client care.'
3
Clodagh Maguire
St John’s Buildings
 ‘Clodagh is excellent at advocating for the client. She is also happy to provide advice on a number of matters which arise in-between hearings.’
3
Hannah Phoenix
18 St John Street Chambers
 'Hannah is extremely organised and has fantastic attention to detail. She is very easy to communicate with her advocacy is skilled, persuasive and her cross-examination is second-to-none.'
3
Natalie Powell
St John’s Buildings
3
Matthew Rogan
Exchange Chambers
‘Matthew is always very measured and considered in his approach. He is a diligent and dedicated advocate with a reassuring client manner.'
3
Rachael Wake
7 Harrington Street
 ‘Rachael is always prepared, courteous and professional in her advocacy.  At the same time she is clear, incisive and focused upon her objectives, making her an impressive advocate who thinks through her case presentation and always keeps her focus upon what is relevant.'
3
Alex Walker
18 St John Street Chambers
 ‘Alex is a meticulous and fantastic advocate with a real attention to detail of the evidence. He is very forensic in his approach which is matched by his advocacy, and he is also very approachable, which makes him even easier to work with.'
3
Sarah Watters
7 Harrington Street
When dealing with a client she is able to display compassion and understanding whilst giving exceptional and realistic advice, and as an advocate, she is a formidable but always fair  opponent and always presents her case to a high standard and is very well thought of by the judiciary and other advocates.'
3
Emma Whelan
18 St John Street Chambers
3
Esther Agamemnon
Cobden House Chambers
 ‘Esther is a very able advocate and her preparation is meticulous. She is firm, pragmatic and able to explain to clients complex legal issues in terms that they are able to grasp quickly.'
3
Julie Ann Doyle
Cobden House Chambers
 ‘Julie Ann is an exceptional advocate who is able to build an instant rapport with clients. She is pragmatic and professional whilst being able to provide clear and concise advice to clients during extremely difficult times of their lives.'
3
Molly Giles
Deans Court Chambers
 'Molly is relentless in representing every client and her commitment always goes above and beyond and is quite frankly outstanding and inspiring. Her support to her leader is invaluable and brings novel insights and astounding levels of research to bear upon the client's case, and she is a passionate advocate who never loses sight of the court's focus.'
3
Suzanne Hargreaves
Cobden House Chambers
 ‘Suzanne is an extremely talented barrister who is highly experienced, she has a great analytical mind, is quick on her feet, extremely good with vulnerable clients, has sound knowledge of the law, and is a calm, confident advocate. Suzanne is personable and as such good with both lay clients and professionals alike.'
3
Deanna Hymanson
Cobden House Chambers
 
3
Joseph Lynch
Central Chambers
e is hard working and knowledgeable and unsurprisingly appears in many of the biggest cases in the north of England.'
3
David Maddison
Cobden House Chambers
 ‘ David is very tenacious and thorough and can come up with practical solutions that others may not have come up with in entrenched cases. He does very good research and has a good grasp of complex law, and his drafting of orders is extremely helpful.'
3
Paul Im Thurn
Kenworthy’s Chambers
 
4
Callum Brook
St John’s Buildings
‘Callum is an approachable, diligent, and extremely competent barrister. He is calm and authoritative in his approach and his advocacy, he is very knowledgeable and always ready to help, and he goes the extra mile.'
4
Rebecca Costello
18 St John Street Chambers
 'Rebecca's knowledge of the landscape of case law and statutes is noteworthy, and what is equally impressive is her knowledge of the ethical rules and guidance for court practitioners, including solicitors and barristers. She acts in a responsible and ethical manner at all times, and she is also a keen advocate who is able to break down complex arguments and deliver those in strong persuasive packages.'
4
Alexandra Cracknell
7 Harrington Street
4
Archna Dawar
St John’s Buildings
'Archna's preparation and attention to detail is second-to-none. Excellent client care, clients always feel at ease and listened to, and advocacy is clear, concise and powerful.'
4
Lucinda France-Hayhurst
St John’s Buildings
4
Georgia Griffiths
18 St John Street Chambers
4
Kathryn Hughes
Exchange Chambers
4
Stephen Mallinson
Exchange Chambers
‘Stephen is calm, methodical and meticulous. He provides robust advice and is very attuned to his clients’ needs.’
4
Daniel Reilly
7 Harrington Street
4
Leszek Andrzej Szczesniak
7 Harrington Street
4
Gemma Thomas
7 Harrington Street
4
Hannah Wood
St John’s Buildings
 
4
Sarah Cook
Kenworthy’s Chambers
 
4
Rebecca Kocerhan
Central Chambers
'Rebecca is a thorough and dedicated barrister. She is meticulous when researching and advising and this ensures that her advocacy is always of high quality, and when acting for the local authority within care proceedings she is always sensitive and conscientious during hearings without diminishing her position.'
4
Annie Sayers
Deans Court Chambers
 'Annie excels at reassuring clients and instilling confidence that she is firmly in their corner. Her advocacy is both persuasive and subtly tenacious.'
4
Hannah Whelan
Deans Court Chambers
 'Hannah is very approachable and a pleasure to work with. She is able to assimilate a great deal of information and her cross-examination is incredibly skilfull.'

Rising stars

Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.

1
Helen Crowell
St John’s Buildings
‘Helen is developing into an impressive barrister who is confident on her feet, competent in her practice and well regarded by colleagues, the judiciary and the clients she represents.'
1
Daniel Currie
St John’s Buildings
‘Daniel has a good command of the papers and is able to advocate well for his client. He is more than able in advancing the client’s case and negotiating his client’s position outside of court.’
1
Chloë Booth
15 Winckley Square
1
Liam Kelly
Deans Court Chambers
‘Liam is a charming barrister inside and outside of the court room.  He is highly skilled with a fantastic manner for the client, he keeps in touch and enjoys continuity of representation, and he is a great advocate and is dogmatic with his points without alienating the court.'
1
Emily Landale
Nine Chambers
‘Emily is an all-rounder in that she excels at every part of the job. It is not hyperbole to state that she does not have a weakness within her role as a family law barrister, and some of her strengths include her extensive knowledge of the law and her ability to break that down in simple terms to assist even vulnerable individuals with understanding and making informed decisions.'
1
Bethany Pitt
Cobden House Chambers