Elizabeth Hepworth > Chambers of David Berkley KC > Bournemouth, England > Barrister Profile

Elizabeth Hepworth

Work Department

Family; Mediation. 

Position

Elizabeth Hepworth was called to the Bar in 2004 and is a barrister within 3PB’s dynamic and hard working family team.

Elizabeth had 13 years of experience as a family law solicitor advocate before coming to the Bar. She was a Children Panel solicitor in the south of England, where she gained considerable experience in the Public Law field.  Her experience in this area exceeds 24 years in practice.

In her field of practice, Elizabeth is an empathetic lawyer who understands the impact of litigation upon clients. She is particularly adept at dealing with clients who have disabilities and in particular, learning disabilities.

She represents parents, children and Local Authorities in court proceedings, she has a particularly thriving practice in relation to the latter and has represented the interests of numerous authorities in the South and West of England.

Elizabeth can receive instructions on a direct access basis.

Holding a particular interest in those whose lives render them vulnerable, Elizabeth has developed an interest in Court of Protection work and has delivered training on the subject. She also offers training to social workers in relation to court presentation and legal updates.

FAMILY

Elizabeth is a family law specialist and has dealt with the cases involving the following facts/issues:

• Fact finding and care proceedings involving death of two infants as a result of alleged suffocation by a parent
• Care proceedings involving parents  with profound learning difficulty  both from the point of view of parents and local authorities.
• Parents and children with sensory  impairment.
• Cases involving high levels of neglect and addiction
• Fact finding and care proceedings involving the infliction of deliberate burns on children and restraint with gaffer tape
• Skull and skeletal  fractures to infants
• Factitious Illness
• Cases involving sexual abuse of children of an extreme nature/child exploitation
• Cases involving profound mental illness/disorder and also physical illness
• Special Guardianship applications
• Child Arrangements applications particularly those involving the need for a 16.4 Guardian and  intractable child arrangements disputes between parents
• LGBT parenting
• Social Minority / ethnicity / religious  issues
• Blood transfusion cases
• Removals from Jurisdiction

Elizabeth has a tenacious but pragmatic approach. She is prepared to ‘go the extra mile’ not only for the lay client, but also those who instruct her.

In her spare time Elizabeth has worked as a  mentor for  adults with severe  learning difficulties on a voluntary basis.

MEDIATION

Elizabeth is an accredited Mediator.

 

Career

Called 2004; Middle Temple. Accredited mediation advocate.

Memberships

• Accredited Family Mediator
• Former Children Panel Solicitor
• Member of FLBA
• Western Circuit

Education

LL.B Hons (Southampton University)