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Fourteen Offices

Fourteen
14 GRAY'S INN SQUARE
LONDON
WC1R 5JP
England
Visit website 020 7242 0858 020 7242 5434

Fourteen > The Legal 500 Rankings

London Bar > Children law (including public and private law) Tier 4

Fourteen is a set with a ‘very obvious depth of knowledge and experience in children law cases’ and is regarded as a ‘go-to children law set’. Jay Banerji is known for his ‘preparation and skilled advocacy’ and specialises in dealing with cases involving parental alienation. Christopher Miller has ‘great cross-examination skills’ and Joan Connell is a ‘fantastic lawyer with a compassionate and extraordinarily effective style’. Joint head of chambers Ronan O'Donovan is a ‘very kind, hardworking, and knowledgeable barrister’ who is regularly instructed in matters involving complicated expert and factual evidence, including allegations of sexual and physical abuse, mental illness and substance misuse.

Leading Juniors

Jay Banerji –Fourteen ‘Jay is an excellent advocate. He always has a thorough grasp on the details of a case, no matter how complex, and he has a way of quickly focusing on the key issues.’
Ranked: Tier 1
Christopher Miller –Fourteen ‘Christopher is an excellent barrister, incredibly well prepared with good cross-examination skills, very good with law and preparation of documents. He is excellent with clients, and very approachable with them.’
Ranked: Tier 2
Joan Connell –Fourteen ‘Joan is invested in cases and is prepared to go the extra mile where needed. She is good at reporting back and co-working cases and engenders trust from the client. She is excellent in tricky cases and has good knowledge of the law.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Ronan O’Donovan –Fourteen ‘Ronan is committed to client care of the highest standard. He has a pragmatic approach but deals with clients in a sensitive and friendly way. He prepares cases very thoroughly and has a real attention to detail.’
Ranked: Tier 5
Ranjit Singh –Fourteen ‘Ranjit has an excellent knowledge of the law, identifying particular legal areas that none of the other parties had noticed. He very well prepare with a great grasp of the case in a short period.’
Ranked: Tier 5

Testimonials

Set

‘Fourteen is a strong children law set with impressive expertise.’

‘Fourteen chambers has many effective advocates.’

‘Fourteen is the go-to children law set with great depth of knowledge and experience in children law cases.’

‘Fourteen is an excellent set with a broad range of experience and expertise.’

‘Fourteen is a robust set with reliable and skillful advocates.’

‘Fourteen chambers has a good number of counsel who can deal with all types of simple and complex matters.’ 

Clerking

Work highlights

    London Bar > Family (including divorce and financial remedy)

    Leading Silks

    Michael Glaser KC –Fourteen ‘Michael is astute, shrewd and commercial in finance cases. He looks at cases from all angles and is highly creative. As an advocate, he is persuasive and has matured in silk. His opponents consider him a force to be reckoned with. His encyclopaedic knowledge and use of cases is impressive, finding routes to outcomes that others cannot see. He never afraid to put forward a novel argument and quick on his feet.'
    Ranked: Tier 4

    Leading Juniors

    Ella Calnan –Fourteen ‘Ella is a focused advocate who is not afraid to take a tough line with opponents but also her own clients when this is required. She has a real ability to cut through to the nub of a matter and ensure this is the focus. She is a very insightful barrister who is always willing to speak with clients about all the facets of their matter, even if she is not formally instructed on other aspects, to offer additional reassurance. She is the full package.’
    Ranked: Tier 3
    Gillon Cameron –Fourteen ‘Gillon is a an impressive advocate. He provides clear strategic advice which clients can understand. He is approachable to solicitors and makes himself available whenever needed.’
    Ranked: Tier 3
    Ewan Murray –Fourteen ‘Ewan is always absolutely charming with the clients. He will set them at ease from the moment he first meets them. He is always extremely well-organised and is not afraid to take a robust stance inside and outside of court where needed, but equally, he will adopt a pragmatic approach where he can and engage in constructive discussions outside of court with his opponent. In court, he is composed and excels at cross-examination, in even the most difficult of cases.’
    Ranked: Tier 3

    Fourteen > Set Profile

    The set: FOURTEEN is a leading family law set with a national reputation for excellence. We are a dynamic and forward-thinking set of chambers and offer an approach that is both specialist and personalised. Members of chambers have appeared in many leading cases in recent years, including cases that have attracted the attention of the national media. FOURTEEN has occupied a prominent position in the legal marketplace for many years and is increasingly recognised for excellence in the legal directories.

    Types of work undertaken: With dedicated practice teams in family finance,  children law, the Court of Protection and international family law, our barristers provide specialist representation and advice. FOURTEEN also offers a range of dispute resolution services, including mediation, arbitration and early neutral evaluation.

    Family finance: FOURTEEN provides first-rate specialist advice and representation in all claims relating to family finances, including: the financial consequences of the breakdown of marriages and civil partnerships, financial provision following divorce overseas, property disputes between cohabitees, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and separation agreements, financial provision for children and Inheritance Act disputes. Whether brought pursuant to the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, the Child Support Act 1991 or the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, we have the expertise to advise and represent at every stage of proceedings.

    Children private law: FOURTEEN has been at the forefront of the development of private law disputes relating to children for many years, including in the areas of alternative family structures and surrogacy. Our barristers appear at all levels of court, including cases before the Supreme Court. We represent parents, step-parents, grandparents and other family members as well as children. We are regularly instructed in cases involving disputes over child arrangements – where a child lives and with whom (s)he spends time – including where a parent seeks to relocate with the child within this jurisdiction and abroad. FOURTEEN provides assistance in applications for Specific Issue Orders regarding a child’s name, choice of school and medical treatment, and in the discrete areas of private law adoption, forced marriage, surrogacy, fertility and same sex parenting. We have particular experience acting in cases where there are allegations of significant harm and where a local authority has become involved.

    Children public law: FOURTEEN has a national reputation for its expertise in public law proceedings. Our barristers have acted in many of the landmark cases, regularly appearing at all levels of court, including the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. We act in care proceedings, adoption matters, special guardianship applications and in judicial review cases and the barristers represent not only parents, children and local authorities but also adopters, foster parents and other interveners or interested parties. FOURTEEN provides the highest quality of representation and legal advice. We are experts in cases invoicing non-accidental injury, factitious illness, neglect and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Our public law barristers are also experienced in representing vulnerable clients with mental health and/or learning difficulties. We have considerable experience in representing professional bodies such as CAFCASS, NYAS and the Official Solicitor in the more complex cases that arise in this area.

    Increasingly, we are being instructed in public law areas with an international focus, including international adoptions and matters involving the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, we are often instructed in relation to the growing number of cases involving alleged radicalisation of children, forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

    Court of Protection: FOURTEEN appears frequently in the Court of Protection, both in health and welfare cases and in matters pertaining to property and financial affairs. In addition, we often appear in cases brought under of involving the Mental Health Act 1983 and undertake advisory work and provide representation in the field of community care law.

    International: The international family law team has extensive experience dealing with cross-border disputes involving the movement of children, jurisdictional conflicts, international family finance, forced marriage and ‘stranded spouses’ cases. Our barristers regularly appear in cases involving international assets, on- and off-shore trusts, companies and partnerships and cases with the need for injunctive relief and enforcement action. The barristers are regularly instructed in cases involving child abduction and relocation as well as claims following a foreign marriage or divorce, international adoption (within the context of both private law and public law proceedings) and forced marriage and surrogacy cases.

    Administration: FOURTEEN has a team a very experienced clerks who together bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the complexity of the cases chambers undertakes enabling them to provide an exemplary service to users of chambers.

    Main Contacts

    DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
    Senior Practice Manager James Mitchelljmitchell@fourteen.co.uk020 7242 0858
    Consultant Chambers Director Robin Jacksonrjackson@fourteen.co.uk020 7242 0858
    Joint Head of Chambers GLASER KC, Michael (1998)
    Joint Head of Chambers O'DONOVAN, Ronan (1994)
    Consultant Member of Chambers LOWE KC (Hon), Nigel (1972)
    Member of Chambers CONNELL, Joan (1985)
    Member of Chambers SHARP, David (1986)
    Member of Chambers EVANS, Dylan (1989)
    Member of Chambers SINCLAIR, Jean-Paul (1989)
    Member of Chambers SOFFA, Helen (1990)
    Member of Chambers JONES, Rhys (1990)
    Member of Chambers JAMES, Rachael (1992)
    Member of Chambers WARD, Martin (1992)
    Member of Chambers POWELL, Robin (1993)
    Member of Chambers MILLER, Christopher (1998)
    Member of Chambers STUART, Damian (1998)
    Member of Chambers CAMERON, Gillon (2001)
    Member of Chambers BANERJI, Jay (2001)
    Member of Chambers SHORT, Mandy (2003)
    Member of Chambers BOUCHER-GILES, Ben (2004)
    Member of Chambers CALNAN, Ella (2007)
    Member of Chambers SINGH, Ranjit (2007)
    Member of Chambers KUMAR, Camini (2008)
    Member of Chambers MURRAY, Ewan (2008)
    Member of Chambers MULHOLLAND, James (2008)
    Member of Chambers SHAW, Jenna (2009)
    Member of Chambers TANNER, Mandy (2009)
    Member of Chambers MILLER, Victoria (2010)
    Member of Chambers CASSIDY, Rachael (2014)
    Member of Chambers WARMOTH, Matthew (2013)
    Member of Chambers GARRETT-SADLER, Grace (2013)
    Member of Chambers SAMARASINGHE, Gayan (2017)
    Member of Chambers SMITH, Joanna (2016)
    Door Tenant HADDEN MBE, Jason (2011)
    Door Tenant SLOMNICKA, Barbara (1976)
    Door Tenant HABBOO, Camille (1987)
    Door Tenant WILKINSON, Jonathan (2006) (Sol 1988)
    Door Tenant ROBERTS, Patricia (1988)
    Door Tenant POPE, Sarah (1994)
    Door Tenant SPENCER, Anna (2004)
    Door Tenant BAILEY-MUNROE, Sarah (2012)

    Barrister Profiles

    PhotoNamePositionProfile
    Jay Banerji photo Jay BanerjiJay specialises in family law. His work covers all areas of the…View Profile
    Ben Boucher-Giles photo Ben Boucher-GilesBen’s expertise is primarily in high-value, complex matrimonial finances cases, particularly those…View Profile
    Ella Calnan photo Ella CalnanElla is a specialist family law barrister with a particular expertise in…View Profile
    Gillon Cameron photo Gillon CameronGillon practises in all areas of private family law with an emphasis…View Profile
    Rachael Cassidy photo Rachael CassidyRachael practises in all areas of family law, accepting instructions in matrimonial…View Profile
    Eleanor Clotworthy photo Eleanor ClotworthyEleanor undertakes cases in all areas of family law, accepting instructions in…View Profile
    Joan Connell photo Joan ConnellJoan is a specialist family law practitioner. She has considerable experience of…View Profile
    Dylan Evans photo Dylan EvansDylan has specialised in family law for the past 20 years. His…View Profile
    Grace Garrett-Sadler photo Grace Garrett-SadlerGrace practices in all areas of family law, with a particular focus…View Profile
    Michael Glaser photo Michael GlaserMichael is the Head of Chambers at FOURTEEN. Prior to his call…View Profile
    Michael Glaser photo Michael GlaserMichael is a specialist barrister who acts in complicated financial remedy cases…View Profile
    Rachael James photo Rachael JamesCalled in 1992, Rachael is a very experienced family law practitioner specialising…View Profile
    Rhys Jones photo Rhys JonesRhys now specialises exclusively in public law family work, including care proceedings,…View Profile
    Camini Kumar photo Camini KumarCamini has specialised in family law since she was called to the…View Profile
    Victoria Miller photo Victoria MillerVictoria’s practice covers all aspects of family law, including financial remedies, applications…View Profile
    Christopher Miller photo Christopher MillerChristopher practises exclusively in family law and areas related to the breakdown…View Profile
    James Mulholland photo James MulhollandChildren Private: James is regularly instructed in complex matters and represents parents,…View Profile
    Ewan Murray photo Ewan MurrayCalled to the Bar in 2008, Ewan practices exclusively in the private…View Profile
    Ronan O Ronan O"DonovanRonan is Head of Chambers at Fourteen. He is a specialist in…View Profile
    Robin Powell photo Robin PowellRobin Powell came to the Bar after a successful career in local…View Profile
    Gayan Samarasinghe photo Gayan SamarasingheGayan acts in both private and public law children proceedings. He acts…View Profile
    Laura Scott photo Laura ScottLaura practises exclusively in children and domestic violence law and has extensive…View Profile
    David Sharp photo David SharpDavid practises in family law with an emphasis on public law children…View Profile
    Jenna Shaw photo Jenna ShawJenna has particular experience in cases relating to children, in both public…View Profile
    Mandy Short photo Mandy ShortMandy practises in all areas of family law in respect of children.…View Profile
    Jean-Paul Sinclair photo Jean-Paul SinclairAn experienced practitioner, Jean-Paul accepts instruction across the range of family law…View Profile
    Ranjit Singh photo Ranjit SinghRanjit’s practice encompasses all areas of family law and the Court of…View Profile
    Joanna Smith photo Joanna SmithJoanna acts in both public and private children proceedings. She has been…View Profile
    Helen Soffa photo Helen SoffaHelen is a family law specialist and her practice is primarily in…View Profile
    Chris Stevenson photo Chris StevensonChris is a specialist in the law relating to children and Court…View Profile
    Damian Stuart photo Damian StuartDamian was called to the Bar in 2009 after a successful career…View Profile
    Martin Ward photo Martin WardMartin draws upon his extensive experience of not only family law but…View Profile
    Matthew Warmoth photo Matthew WarmothMatt practises in all areas of Family Law. He acts for a…View Profile
    Madeleine Whelan photo Madeleine WhelanMadeleine specialises in all areas of family law, with a particular focus…View Profile

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