Albion Chambers garners praise from instructing solicitors as ‘the best set in the South West for family matters‘ and stands out for housing ‘the best team for complex high net worth financial family cases in the region‘. On the finance side, the ‘superb‘ Charles Hyde QC has established expertise in handling high-value matrimonial finance matters, often involving foreign assets; Nicholas Sproull is ‘simply outstanding and provides enormous value to any case‘; and Daniel Leafe is ‘technically exceptional – no one touches him for unravelling business and pension assets‘ in financial remedy cases. The ‘formidable‘ team is equally adept at handling complex children law instructions: Elizabeth Harris specialises in complex care proceedings, where she acts for parents, guardians and local authorities in cases involving allegations of fabricated illness, sexual and physical abuse. Sarah Pope is sought after for her expertise across the whole range of public and private children law matters.
Family and children law in
Regional BarAlbion Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘A very capable set, offering a wealth of experience and expertise across all areas of family law‘.
‘A strong family finance and private children law set with a good range of senior and junior counsel‘.
‘Albion Chambers is fantastic, with real strength in depth‘.
‘A respected chambers in private children and finances work‘.
Clerking
‘The family clerks are all wonderful. They are responsive, helpful and really go out of their way to help find you the right counsel for your case‘.
‘Michael Harding is first-rate‘.
‘Michael Harding is a very safe and trusted pair of hands‘.
‘Michael Harding is charming and knows the family law market inside out‘.
Pump Court Chambers
Viewed by instructing solicitors as a ‘very strong set of chambers in family law‘, Pump Court Chambers‘ team counts high-value, complex matrimonial finance cases as a backbone of the practice, but is equally adept at acting for local authorities, parents and children across a broad spectrum of public and private children law work. Edward Boydell, who heads the family finance team, is ‘extremely well-organised‘ and is regularly instructed in financial remedy cases involving family businesses, trusts and farms. Caroline Hartley is sought after for her expertise in handling serious cases of factitious illness, salt poisoning and sexual abuse.
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set‘.
‘A very good range of barristers in the family area‘.
‘Pump Court Chambers has a good reputation in the field of matrimonial finance‘.
Clerking
‘All of the family clerks are extremely approachable and accommodating in terms of finding the right barrister for the right case‘.
‘Tony Atkins runs a very tight ship and Sean Gentleman is a joy to deal with‘.
‘The family clerks (Sean Gentleman, James Collier, Matthew Fuller and Elliott Lynch) are always helpful, proactive and quick to respond to any query‘.
‘Sean Gentleman is an excellent clerk and represents chambers very well‘.
‘James Collier is an absolute pleasure to work with and makes the process effortless‘.
St John's Chambers
'Excellent set' St John's Chambers is 'a go-to chambers in the South West for hard working, knowledgeable and good quality barristers across the board in the arena of family law'. Christopher Sharp QC's 'cross-examination skills are second to none'; he has extensive expertise in high-value financial remedy claims and care cases involving serious injuries and abuse. Head of chambers Susan Hunter is sought after for her experience across the range of children law matters. The 'very user-friendly' Abigail Bond heads the children law team, and recently represented a profoundly deaf mother, who had no formal language, in complex care proceedings, retaining care of the child. Zoë Saunders, who leads the family finance group, is 'a strong advocate who provides firm-but-fair, realistic advice'.
Testimonials
Set
‘There is a range of strong counsel for all levels of cases‘.
‘The set is very strong in family law‘.
‘The quality of the family barristers at St John’s Chambers is excellent‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks bend over backwards to ensure that someone suitable is available‘.
‘Luke Hodgson and Elaine Jewell-Moore are incredibly helpful and always go the extra mile‘.
‘Elaine Jewell-Moore is very thorough in her responses and well versed in the needs of a local authority‘.
‘Luke Hodgson has a real can-do attitude and will move heaven and earth to help make diaries work‘.
‘Luke Hodgson seems to have a very valuable knack of matching the right counsel to the right solicitor and the right case‘.
3PB
3PB‘s members have solid expertise across the range of family law matters. The ‘very charming‘ Hamish Dunlop has established strength in matrimonial finance work, with a particular focus on cases involving inherited wealth and family businesses. Emma Harman is experienced in private children law matters, including cases involving child abduction and applications to permanently remove a child from the jurisdiction. Elisabeth Hudson is sought-after for her expertise in Children Act work; Sarah O’Hara is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries. In September 2020 Melissa Barlow was appointed to the circuit bench, and in March 2021 Lucy Hendry QC took silk.
Testimonials
Set
‘A highly professional set‘.
‘A good set of chambers for care proceedings‘.
‘A good, solid set‘.
‘The quality of counsel at all levels is always excellent‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are very friendly and approachable‘.
‘Robert Leonard is an excellent role model for his team of clerks and is very supportive‘.
Magdalen Chambers
Magdalen Chambers has 'great strength in depth in family law', where the 'skilled team' has notable expertise in public children law work and is equally adept at handling private children law cases and complex financial remedy matters. Susan Campbell QC is 'a wonderful leader' who is 'especially good at quietly and unfussily taking witnesses to places they don’t want to go'. Christopher Naish is instructed across a broad range of family law matters, with care proceedings and fact finding hearings featuring prominently in his recent caseload. Public children law matters are a core strength for Elizabeth Willsteed, often involving allegations of non-accidental injuries and fabricated illnesses. Rupert Chapman provides 'practical advice' on financial disputes, and Carol Mashembo has been particularly active in financial relief matters.
Testimonials
Set
‘A forward-thinking set‘.
‘Magdalen Chambers has strong options at all levels of seniority‘.
Clerking
‘The service offered by the clerks is excellent. They are always efficient and helpful, and always prepared to go the extra mile‘.
‘Grainne McGovern is particularly approachable and helpful‘.
‘Grainne McGovern, Kadie Blackburn and Harry Turner are a delight to work with – nothing but helpful‘.
KBG Chambers
The family team at KBG Chambers has 'real depth and breadth of talent'. The 'fearless advocate' Jonathon Bosanko is 'the to-go-to person for financial dispute resolution', with established expertise in handling a range of matrimonial finance cases; 'a leader in the field', in the words of an instructing solicitor. Daniel Swan acts for local authorities, guardians and parents in complex public children law matters, and Charlotte Ash, who 'works diligently and is so meticulous in her approach', is instructed in complex hearings involving allegations of extremely serious abuse against both parents and children.
Testimonials
Set
‘KBG Chambers is a superb set‘.
‘KBG Chambers is fantastic and always willing to go above and beyond where possible to provide assistance‘.
‘The family team is well-respected‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks at KBG Chambers are a joy to work with. They always go the extra mile to ensure availability of counsel, which at times can be quite a challenge. The clerks provide a smooth streamlined service, their communication is always excellent‘.
‘Colin Palmer is an approachable and organised senior clerk‘.
‘Yvonne Simmons is worth her weight in gold and a real asset to chambers‘.
‘Yvonne Simmons is beyond compare. She is just brilliant and fantastic to deal with‘.
‘Emily Veitch, Elizabeth Crothers and Yvonne Simmons are all brilliant clerks. They will respond quickly, efficiently and always try and offer practical solutions so that a case can be covered by chambers‘.
No.18 Barristers Chambers
'Excellent set' No.18 Barristers Chambers is home to a family team that is adept at handling both high-value matrimonial finance cases and complex public and private children law matters. Katherine Henry's 'knowledge of family law is exceptional', and is regularly instructed in cases involving parental alienation and domestic abuse. Nigel Cholerton is recommended for advising on both financial remedy and care proceedings, while Laura Baines handles the full range of public family law matters for local authorities, guardians, parents and children. Lee Young brings expertise in child abduction cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘No18 Barristers Chambers is friendly and approachable‘.
‘Very helpful and accommodating‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are very professional – a well run machine‘.
‘Senior clerk Mark Windebank is extremely helpful, courteous and friendly‘.
‘Mark Windebank is simply superb. He is accessible, communicative and incredibly helpful. Mark never leaves you waiting for an answer‘.
‘Mark Windebank, Dan Fantham and Beth Miles will go above and beyond to ensure that they can help‘.
Albion Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘A very capable set, offering a wealth of experience and expertise across all areas of family law‘.
‘A strong family finance and private children law set with a good range of senior and junior counsel‘.
‘Albion Chambers is fantastic, with real strength in depth‘.
‘A respected chambers in private children and finances work‘.
Clerking
‘The family clerks are all wonderful. They are responsive, helpful and really go out of their way to help find you the right counsel for your case‘.
‘Michael Harding is first-rate‘.
‘Michael Harding is a very safe and trusted pair of hands‘.
‘Michael Harding is charming and knows the family law market inside out‘.
Pump Court Chambers
Viewed by instructing solicitors as a ‘very strong set of chambers in family law‘, Pump Court Chambers‘ team counts high-value, complex matrimonial finance cases as a backbone of the practice, but is equally adept at acting for local authorities, parents and children across a broad spectrum of public and private children law work. Edward Boydell, who heads the family finance team, is ‘extremely well-organised‘ and is regularly instructed in financial remedy cases involving family businesses, trusts and farms. Caroline Hartley is sought after for her expertise in handling serious cases of factitious illness, salt poisoning and sexual abuse.
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set‘.
‘A very good range of barristers in the family area‘.
‘Pump Court Chambers has a good reputation in the field of matrimonial finance‘.
Clerking
‘All of the family clerks are extremely approachable and accommodating in terms of finding the right barrister for the right case‘.
‘Tony Atkins runs a very tight ship and Sean Gentleman is a joy to deal with‘.
‘The family clerks (Sean Gentleman, James Collier, Matthew Fuller and Elliott Lynch) are always helpful, proactive and quick to respond to any query‘.
‘Sean Gentleman is an excellent clerk and represents chambers very well‘.
‘James Collier is an absolute pleasure to work with and makes the process effortless‘.
St John's Chambers
'Excellent set' St John's Chambers is 'a go-to chambers in the South West for hard working, knowledgeable and good quality barristers across the board in the arena of family law'. Christopher Sharp QC's 'cross-examination skills are second to none'; he has extensive expertise in high-value financial remedy claims and care cases involving serious injuries and abuse. Head of chambers Susan Hunter is sought after for her experience across the range of children law matters. The 'very user-friendly' Abigail Bond heads the children law team, and recently represented a profoundly deaf mother, who had no formal language, in complex care proceedings, retaining care of the child. Zoë Saunders, who leads the family finance group, is 'a strong advocate who provides firm-but-fair, realistic advice'.
Testimonials
Set
‘There is a range of strong counsel for all levels of cases‘.
‘The set is very strong in family law‘.
‘The quality of the family barristers at St John’s Chambers is excellent‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks bend over backwards to ensure that someone suitable is available‘.
‘Luke Hodgson and Elaine Jewell-Moore are incredibly helpful and always go the extra mile‘.
‘Elaine Jewell-Moore is very thorough in her responses and well versed in the needs of a local authority‘.
‘Luke Hodgson has a real can-do attitude and will move heaven and earth to help make diaries work‘.
‘Luke Hodgson seems to have a very valuable knack of matching the right counsel to the right solicitor and the right case‘.
3PB
3PB‘s members have solid expertise across the range of family law matters. The ‘very charming‘ Hamish Dunlop has established strength in matrimonial finance work, with a particular focus on cases involving inherited wealth and family businesses. Emma Harman is experienced in private children law matters, including cases involving child abduction and applications to permanently remove a child from the jurisdiction. Elisabeth Hudson is sought-after for her expertise in Children Act work; Sarah O’Hara is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of non-accidental injuries. In September 2020 Melissa Barlow was appointed to the circuit bench, and in March 2021 Lucy Hendry QC took silk.
Testimonials
Set
‘A highly professional set‘.
‘A good set of chambers for care proceedings‘.
‘A good, solid set‘.
‘The quality of counsel at all levels is always excellent‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are very friendly and approachable‘.
‘Robert Leonard is an excellent role model for his team of clerks and is very supportive‘.
Magdalen Chambers
Magdalen Chambers has 'great strength in depth in family law', where the 'skilled team' has notable expertise in public children law work and is equally adept at handling private children law cases and complex financial remedy matters. Susan Campbell QC is 'a wonderful leader' who is 'especially good at quietly and unfussily taking witnesses to places they don’t want to go'. Christopher Naish is instructed across a broad range of family law matters, with care proceedings and fact finding hearings featuring prominently in his recent caseload. Public children law matters are a core strength for Elizabeth Willsteed, often involving allegations of non-accidental injuries and fabricated illnesses. Rupert Chapman provides 'practical advice' on financial disputes, and Carol Mashembo has been particularly active in financial relief matters.
Testimonials
Set
‘A forward-thinking set‘.
‘Magdalen Chambers has strong options at all levels of seniority‘.
Clerking
‘The service offered by the clerks is excellent. They are always efficient and helpful, and always prepared to go the extra mile‘.
‘Grainne McGovern is particularly approachable and helpful‘.
‘Grainne McGovern, Kadie Blackburn and Harry Turner are a delight to work with – nothing but helpful‘.
KBG Chambers
The family team at KBG Chambers has 'real depth and breadth of talent'. The 'fearless advocate' Jonathon Bosanko is 'the to-go-to person for financial dispute resolution', with established expertise in handling a range of matrimonial finance cases; 'a leader in the field', in the words of an instructing solicitor. Daniel Swan acts for local authorities, guardians and parents in complex public children law matters, and Charlotte Ash, who 'works diligently and is so meticulous in her approach', is instructed in complex hearings involving allegations of extremely serious abuse against both parents and children.
Testimonials
Set
‘KBG Chambers is a superb set‘.
‘KBG Chambers is fantastic and always willing to go above and beyond where possible to provide assistance‘.
‘The family team is well-respected‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks at KBG Chambers are a joy to work with. They always go the extra mile to ensure availability of counsel, which at times can be quite a challenge. The clerks provide a smooth streamlined service, their communication is always excellent‘.
‘Colin Palmer is an approachable and organised senior clerk‘.
‘Yvonne Simmons is worth her weight in gold and a real asset to chambers‘.
‘Yvonne Simmons is beyond compare. She is just brilliant and fantastic to deal with‘.
‘Emily Veitch, Elizabeth Crothers and Yvonne Simmons are all brilliant clerks. They will respond quickly, efficiently and always try and offer practical solutions so that a case can be covered by chambers‘.
No.18 Barristers Chambers
'Excellent set' No.18 Barristers Chambers is home to a family team that is adept at handling both high-value matrimonial finance cases and complex public and private children law matters. Katherine Henry's 'knowledge of family law is exceptional', and is regularly instructed in cases involving parental alienation and domestic abuse. Nigel Cholerton is recommended for advising on both financial remedy and care proceedings, while Laura Baines handles the full range of public family law matters for local authorities, guardians, parents and children. Lee Young brings expertise in child abduction cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘No18 Barristers Chambers is friendly and approachable‘.
‘Very helpful and accommodating‘.
Clerking
‘The clerks are very professional – a well run machine‘.
‘Senior clerk Mark Windebank is extremely helpful, courteous and friendly‘.
‘Mark Windebank is simply superb. He is accessible, communicative and incredibly helpful. Mark never leaves you waiting for an answer‘.
‘Mark Windebank, Dan Fantham and Beth Miles will go above and beyond to ensure that they can help‘.