3PB

Family

I have over 25 years of experience of proceedings centred on the welfare of children.  In private law proceedings I have acted for mothers, fathers, grandparents, stepparents and children.  In care, placement and adoption proceedings, I have acted for parents, interveners, children and over twenty local authorities.  There will be very few factual scenarios I have not encountered before.  I enjoy a challenge and the intellectual rigour of my work.
Reported Cases:

• A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2024] EWHC 3511 (Fam)
• P And E (Care Proceedings: Whether to Hold Fact-Finding Hearing), Re - Find case law - The National Archives
• P (A Child: Fair Hearing) [2023] EWCA Civ 215
• Re D-S (Contact with Children in Care: Covid-19) [2020] EWCA Civ 1031
• Re C (A Child) (Application by Dr X and Y) [2015] EWFC 79 - [2017] 1 FLR 82
• Disclosure – Re C (A Child) (Application by Dr X and Dr Y) [2015] EWFC 79 – [2015] Fam Law 1457
• In the Matter of C (A Child) (Application by Dr X and Y) [2015] EWFC 79
• Re J (A Child) (Fact-finding) [2015]
• Re Y [2014] EWHC 3601 (Fam) - Lexis Citation 31

Family
Private Law Proceedings
Appreciating that parents, in many cases, are going to have to co-parent for years to come, I will use my experience, insight and intuition to bridge apparently unbridgeable gaps and bring about child focused resolutions for those whose disputes appear unreconcilable.  I am adept at negotiating with parties acting in person, avoiding unnecessary conflict where possible.  If, however, it is necessary for matters to be fought in court, I am a fearless advocate, an incisive cross-examiner, with experience of appearing against leading counsel on many occasions. Whether the issues involve domestic abuse, coercive conduct, parental alienation, sexual misconduct towards adults or children, or other behaviours that might impede a child’s relationship with an adult, I will use by forensic skills to present an accurate picture to the court.

I undertake work in private law proceedings on a private fee basis, with a pre-court conference being a requirement for me to accept instructions.
Public Law Proceedings
I have appeared in care and placement proceedings, adoption proceedings and other related litigation in the Family Court before all levels of the judiciary, including frequent appearances before the High Court Bench.

I have acted alone and as a leader against KCs on a frequent basis, for parents, local authorities and children.

My cases routinely involve serious, sometimes fatal injuries to children, homicide, head and brain injuries, alleged fabricated and induced illness, poisoning, complex medical issues (osteogenesis imperfecta, chromosomal and genetic disorders), sexual abuse (often intra-familial) and domestic abuse.  I routinely cross-examine medical experts, including brain surgeons, paediatricians, radiologists and geneticists and have developed a store of knowledge on complex medical issues.

I have acted for older, self-instructing children on many occasions and pride myself on building good relations with the young people I represent.

I have appeared in the Court of Appeal on numerous occasions, for the appellant, the respondent, for parents, local authorities and for children.

I have a wealth of experience in matters involving the Inherent Jurisdiction and inter-country issues.

I have developed considerable knowledge and experience in dealing with non-agency adoptions, for foster carers, relatives and stepparents.

Year of Call: 2000