Albion Chambers stands out as ‘a strong set with an excellent reputation in the South West‘; ‘the family team is one of the best‘, according to instructing solicitors. The group is well known for its excellent track record in handling high-value, complex matrimonial finance cases, a core area of expertise for the ‘charming‘ Charles Hyde KC. Richard English is ‘extremely thorough‘, and Nicholas Sproull regularly represents high-net-worth individuals in financial remedy cases. Daniel Leafe ‘s practice includes cases involving trusts and pensions. Children law work is another key strength for the group: Fiona Farquhar is sought after for her expertise across the whole spectrum of private and public children law matters. Sarah Pope acts for parents and local authorities in complex care proceedings involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Deborah Dinan-Hayward moved to The 36 Group in October 2021.
Family and children law in
Regional BarAlbion Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘A top-class chambers.’
‘Albion Chambers is an excellent set, offering a superb selection of highly qualified barristers.’
‘A brilliant set with a very strong reputation for financial remedy and private children work.’
‘A lot of strength-in-depth.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are always very helpful and responsive.’
‘The clerks are friendly, pro-active and efficient. Julie Hathway, Michael Harding and Marcus Harding work very well together as a team.’
Pump Court Chambers
Pump Court Chambers ‘offers superb strength in depth in family law‘ and has ‘real talent at all levels of seniority‘. Penny Howe KC, who heads the public and private children law teams, is ‘a robust cross-examiner‘ and counts serious cases of fabricated and induced illness, violent and sexual abuse among her areas of expertise. Caroline Hartley is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, serious injuries, salt poisoning and physical and emotional abuse. The ‘very articulate and intelligent‘ Edward Boydell leads the family finance team, and is sought after for his experience in handling high-net-worth financial remedy cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘A user-friendly set.’
‘Pump Court is a fantastic set of chambers.’
‘Pump Court has a strong family team.’
‘Very friendly and approachable set.’
‘Excellent strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘Sean Gentleman and James Collier are a joy to work with.’
St John's Chambers
St John’s Chambers is a ‘very strong family set‘, housing a team which ‘covers all aspects of family law‘. Christopher Sharp KC ‘is always first-rate‘, with an established track record in acting for guardians, local authorities and parents in serious cases of alleged child abuse, and complex financial remedy claims involving foreign pensions and assets. Judi Evans is ‘determined and unflappable‘, and is sought after for her expertise in cases involving child abduction and international relocation of children. The ‘tenacious‘ Lucy Reed KC recently represented a journalist before the Court of Appeal in a case concerning the publication of a fact-finding judgment and subsequent identification of the parents. Zoe Saunders heads up the family finance group, and is regularly instructed in cases involving cohabitation disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘A first-class set.’
‘There is an excellent range of expertise across the set in relation to family work.’
‘A very strong family team.’
‘St John’s Chambers is very efficient and counsel are exceptional.’
‘An excellent chambers with strength-in-depth.’
Clerking
‘Elaine Jewell-Moore goes over and above to help find available counsel and is a pleasure to deal with.’
3PB
3PB stands out for housing ‘a very strong family law team‘. Lucy Hendry KC is ‘calm, measured and focused‘, ‘thorough‘, ‘has an excellent manner with clients and the court‘ and ‘her cross examination is beautifully polite but deadly‘ – ‘she is everything a silk should be‘. Elisabeth Hudson has established strength in Children Act work, including cases involving the international movement of children. Emma Harman is ‘a highly skilled advocate‘ who is ‘excellent at getting to grips with difficult and complex cases‘; Steven Howard ‘is a dedicated advocate with a specialism in non-accidental injuries in care proceedings, where his advocacy is akin to that of a silk‘. Family finance team head Hamish Dunlop is ‘always exceptionally well-prepared‘, with an excellent track record in advising on complex matrimonial finance cases. In October 2021 Rachael Goodall was appointed to the district bench.
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set of chambers with a wealth of expertise in family matters.’
‘Chambers is diverse and has strength across all levels of seniority.’
‘A fantastic set of very good quality barristers.’
‘Very well organised and slickly run.’
‘A really friendly set.’
Clerking
‘3PB’s clerks are always approachable and efficient and will go above and beyond to find the right advocate.’
Magdalen Chambers
Exeter-based ‘High quality set‘ Magdalen Chambers stands out for its ‘great strength in depth‘ in family law. The ‘reflective and dynamic‘ Susan Campbell KC is very experienced in handling public and private children law matters, and the ‘thorough‘ Rupert Chapman is instructed in complex financial remedy cases, often involving high-value assets. Financial relief cases have featured prominently in Carol Mashembo‘s recent caseload. The ‘methodical‘ Christopher Naish brings expertise in care proceedings, often involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, and is experienced in financial remedy matters. Elizabeth Willsteed has been appointed to the circuit bench, based in Bristol.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set has great strength in depth with barristers who are accommodating and prepared to go the extra mile.’
‘The set has a wide range of family barristers, covering all areas of expertise.’
KBG Chambers
KBG Chambers houses a team which fields expertise in financial remedy work and private and public children law matters. Practice head William Higginson is ‘an impressive advocate‘, and is highly regarded for his specialist knowledge of public children law matters; he regularly handles complex hearings involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse and factitious illness. Charlotte Ash acts for parents, guardians and local authorities across the range of children law work, and the ‘very capable‘ Jade Corden is experienced in cases involving complex mental health issues, allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. Financial remedy specialist Jonathon Bosanko is ‘always dependable‘, ‘supportive and reassuring‘ and ‘very pragmatic‘.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set has a wide choice of very capable, experienced, approachable counsel.’
‘Always dependable.’
‘KBG has a strong family team with real depth and breadth of talent.’
Clerking
‘The family clerks are very attentive and client focused. Nothing is too much trouble.’
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful.’
‘Yvonne Simmons and Colin Palmer make a great and team and have a fantastic handle on the case load. Lizzie Crothers is always capable and a good organiser.’
No.18 Barristers Chambers
No.18 Barristers Chambers‘ members have been kept especially busy handling complex private and public children law matters. Tracey Hennessey ‘isn’t afraid to fight for her clients in the courtroom‘ and is regularly instructed in care cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. The ‘always well-prepared‘ Laura Baines represents guardians, local authorities, parents and children across a wide spectrum of public and private family law matters. Katherine Henry‘s ‘court delivery is superb, assured and gets the court’s attention in the right way‘. Complex care proceedings involving allegations of abuse have been prominent in the caseload of the ‘practical‘ Nigel Cholerton. Sara Chalk is a ‘bold and very conscientious advocate‘.
Testimonials
Set
‘All of the advocates within chambers are passionate and put a high level of care and attention into the cases that they are instructed on.’
‘It is well equipped and has an in depth range of expertise available to hand to deal with family law matters.’
‘Very good set.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are helpful and accommodating.’
‘The clerks are a great team and offer brilliant service – personable, efficient and timely.’
‘Very well clerked, always prepared to help and go the extra mile.’
Albion Chambers
Testimonials
Set
‘A top-class chambers.’
‘Albion Chambers is an excellent set, offering a superb selection of highly qualified barristers.’
‘A brilliant set with a very strong reputation for financial remedy and private children work.’
‘A lot of strength-in-depth.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are always very helpful and responsive.’
‘The clerks are friendly, pro-active and efficient. Julie Hathway, Michael Harding and Marcus Harding work very well together as a team.’
Pump Court Chambers
Pump Court Chambers ‘offers superb strength in depth in family law‘ and has ‘real talent at all levels of seniority‘. Penny Howe KC, who heads the public and private children law teams, is ‘a robust cross-examiner‘ and counts serious cases of fabricated and induced illness, violent and sexual abuse among her areas of expertise. Caroline Hartley is regularly instructed in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, serious injuries, salt poisoning and physical and emotional abuse. The ‘very articulate and intelligent‘ Edward Boydell leads the family finance team, and is sought after for his experience in handling high-net-worth financial remedy cases.
Testimonials
Set
‘A user-friendly set.’
‘Pump Court is a fantastic set of chambers.’
‘Pump Court has a strong family team.’
‘Very friendly and approachable set.’
‘Excellent strength in depth.’
Clerking
‘Sean Gentleman and James Collier are a joy to work with.’
St John's Chambers
St John’s Chambers is a ‘very strong family set‘, housing a team which ‘covers all aspects of family law‘. Christopher Sharp KC ‘is always first-rate‘, with an established track record in acting for guardians, local authorities and parents in serious cases of alleged child abuse, and complex financial remedy claims involving foreign pensions and assets. Judi Evans is ‘determined and unflappable‘, and is sought after for her expertise in cases involving child abduction and international relocation of children. The ‘tenacious‘ Lucy Reed KC recently represented a journalist before the Court of Appeal in a case concerning the publication of a fact-finding judgment and subsequent identification of the parents. Zoe Saunders heads up the family finance group, and is regularly instructed in cases involving cohabitation disputes.
Testimonials
Set
‘A first-class set.’
‘There is an excellent range of expertise across the set in relation to family work.’
‘A very strong family team.’
‘St John’s Chambers is very efficient and counsel are exceptional.’
‘An excellent chambers with strength-in-depth.’
Clerking
‘Elaine Jewell-Moore goes over and above to help find available counsel and is a pleasure to deal with.’
3PB
3PB stands out for housing ‘a very strong family law team‘. Lucy Hendry KC is ‘calm, measured and focused‘, ‘thorough‘, ‘has an excellent manner with clients and the court‘ and ‘her cross examination is beautifully polite but deadly‘ – ‘she is everything a silk should be‘. Elisabeth Hudson has established strength in Children Act work, including cases involving the international movement of children. Emma Harman is ‘a highly skilled advocate‘ who is ‘excellent at getting to grips with difficult and complex cases‘; Steven Howard ‘is a dedicated advocate with a specialism in non-accidental injuries in care proceedings, where his advocacy is akin to that of a silk‘. Family finance team head Hamish Dunlop is ‘always exceptionally well-prepared‘, with an excellent track record in advising on complex matrimonial finance cases. In October 2021 Rachael Goodall was appointed to the district bench.
Testimonials
Set
‘An excellent set of chambers with a wealth of expertise in family matters.’
‘Chambers is diverse and has strength across all levels of seniority.’
‘A fantastic set of very good quality barristers.’
‘Very well organised and slickly run.’
‘A really friendly set.’
Clerking
‘3PB’s clerks are always approachable and efficient and will go above and beyond to find the right advocate.’
Magdalen Chambers
Exeter-based ‘High quality set‘ Magdalen Chambers stands out for its ‘great strength in depth‘ in family law. The ‘reflective and dynamic‘ Susan Campbell KC is very experienced in handling public and private children law matters, and the ‘thorough‘ Rupert Chapman is instructed in complex financial remedy cases, often involving high-value assets. Financial relief cases have featured prominently in Carol Mashembo‘s recent caseload. The ‘methodical‘ Christopher Naish brings expertise in care proceedings, often involving allegations of non-accidental injuries, and is experienced in financial remedy matters. Elizabeth Willsteed has been appointed to the circuit bench, based in Bristol.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set has great strength in depth with barristers who are accommodating and prepared to go the extra mile.’
‘The set has a wide range of family barristers, covering all areas of expertise.’
KBG Chambers
KBG Chambers houses a team which fields expertise in financial remedy work and private and public children law matters. Practice head William Higginson is ‘an impressive advocate‘, and is highly regarded for his specialist knowledge of public children law matters; he regularly handles complex hearings involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse and factitious illness. Charlotte Ash acts for parents, guardians and local authorities across the range of children law work, and the ‘very capable‘ Jade Corden is experienced in cases involving complex mental health issues, allegations of domestic abuse and parental alienation. Financial remedy specialist Jonathon Bosanko is ‘always dependable‘, ‘supportive and reassuring‘ and ‘very pragmatic‘.
Testimonials
Set
‘The set has a wide choice of very capable, experienced, approachable counsel.’
‘Always dependable.’
‘KBG has a strong family team with real depth and breadth of talent.’
Clerking
‘The family clerks are very attentive and client focused. Nothing is too much trouble.’
‘The clerks are responsive and helpful.’
‘Yvonne Simmons and Colin Palmer make a great and team and have a fantastic handle on the case load. Lizzie Crothers is always capable and a good organiser.’
No.18 Barristers Chambers
No.18 Barristers Chambers‘ members have been kept especially busy handling complex private and public children law matters. Tracey Hennessey ‘isn’t afraid to fight for her clients in the courtroom‘ and is regularly instructed in care cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. The ‘always well-prepared‘ Laura Baines represents guardians, local authorities, parents and children across a wide spectrum of public and private family law matters. Katherine Henry‘s ‘court delivery is superb, assured and gets the court’s attention in the right way‘. Complex care proceedings involving allegations of abuse have been prominent in the caseload of the ‘practical‘ Nigel Cholerton. Sara Chalk is a ‘bold and very conscientious advocate‘.
Testimonials
Set
‘All of the advocates within chambers are passionate and put a high level of care and attention into the cases that they are instructed on.’
‘It is well equipped and has an in depth range of expertise available to hand to deal with family law matters.’
‘Very good set.’
Clerking
‘The clerks are helpful and accommodating.’
‘The clerks are a great team and offer brilliant service – personable, efficient and timely.’
‘Very well clerked, always prepared to help and go the extra mile.’