Family and children law in Regional Bar
3PB has 'exceptional depth in family law', and is praised by clients as 'an exceptional set' which 'overshadows its peers'. The set is home to members who specialise in all areas of family law, including complex care proceedings and high-value financial disputes. Hamish Dunlop, as junior to Nigel Dyer QC, represented the husband in Supreme Court Case Owens v Owens, which considered the legal requirements for divorce without spousal consent.
Children law specialist Anthony Hand is a key practitioner at College Chambers, which is also home to members specialising in matrimonial finance matters.
Colleton Chambers is praised by clients for the 'great depth' of its family law team, who are instructed on the full spectrum of disputes. Recent cases have included issues of sexual abuse and non-accidental injury in children law, as well as add-back issues in family finance matters.
Devon Chambers 'are rapidly developing a skilled team, particularly in private and public law children proceedings,' according to one instructing law firm. Team head Victoria Hoyle is particularly experienced in children law matters involving vulnerable parents, while Sally Daulton is the name to note for finance-related work.
One of the key sets for family law in Cornwall, KBG Chambers provides 'a diverse broad spectrum' of counsel, covering a wide range of cases across both the public and private children spaces, as well as financial remedy matters. Recent cases for the set included serious child abuse allegations, undisclosed assets in financial remedy proceedings, and jurisdictional issues in private Children Act cases.
Devon-based Magdalen Chambers reports a substantial increase in matrimonial finance and private Children Act instructions, in addition to its substantial public children law practice. The set is praised by clients for its handling of diary conflicts and 'considerable strength in depth'. Susan Campbell QC recently rejoined the set from Pump Court Chambers.
No.18 Barristers Chambers is active in financial remedy and private children law proceedings, as well as reporting an influx of public law instructions in the past year. Nigel Cholerton is particularly noted for public law proceedings involving complex findings of fact.
The 'solutions-focused, practical, and unstuffy' family team at Pump Court Chambers remains the ‘crème de la crème’ for those requiring counsel in the eastern areas of the western circuit. The set houses a large number of specialist counsel, with clients praising the set's 'excellent expert service across all areas of family law'. Penny Howe QC is highly recommended for serious public Children Act matters, particularly when acting for clients subject to parallel criminal proceedings. Among the junior ranks, Margaret Pine-Coffin is highly experienced in non-accidental injury and sexual abuse cases, while Edward Boydell is a key name to note for family finance matters. Susan Campbell QC departed the set for Magdalen Chambers in 2019, but retains a door tenancy at the set.
Care specialist Richard Carron is the key name in family law at Queen Square Chambers, with a practice including vulnerable parents and non-accidental injuries. Ian Halliday has also appeared in several complex care cases recently, in addition to private law and financial remedy instructions.
St John's Chambers is home to a large contingent of specialist family barristers, who provide 'great depth' across public and private children law cases, as well as all aspects of divorce and financial remedy work. Areas of specialism include international assets in finance cases, non-accidental injury matters involving complex causation evidence, and child maintenance, where Jody Atkinson is the key name to note.