Niamh Wilkie > Chambers of David Josse KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

Niamh Wilkie

02073325400 niamhwilkie@5sah.co.uk View profile

Work Department

Niamh practices exclusively in family law. Prior to joining the Bar in England, she worked as a Barrister and in other legal disciplines in the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, and the USA.

Position

Niamh practices exclusively in family law. Prior to joining the Bar in England, she worked as a Barrister and in other legal disciplines in the Republic of Ireland, the Middle East, and the USA.

She holds a specialist qualification in international arbitration. Niamh is also qualified to accept direct access instructions.

Niamh is noted for her firm and direct approach in court. She maintains strong communication with solicitors and clients and provides a very personable approach to clients whilst maintaining a professional tenacity towards opponents.

• Niamh is Direct Access qualified and can be directly instructed by members of the public through Direct Public Access. Please contact the clerks as 5SAH if you would like to instruct her directly.

Career

Niamh was called to the Irish Bar in 2011 and the English and Welsh bar in 2019.

• Rights of Audience in DIFC Courts, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Family, Children & International Family

Financial Remedies

Niamh represents clients in financial remedies proceedings, dealing with applications under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 and Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989. Many of these applications involve parallel Family Law Act applications.  Niamh regularly accepts instructions in matters involving pensions, non-matrimonial property, disclosure issues, enforcement and variation applications and interim remedies.

Multi-Jurisdictional Cases & Written Advice

Niamh provides written advice to public and private clients in respect of various matters of family law matters, together with advice on jurisdictional issues in cases with cross-border aspects. Niamh has also advised clients in respect of jurisdictional challenges for matrimonial disputes involving parties residing in different countries.

Niamh also holds a specialist qualification in respect of international arbitration.

Niamh’s diverse background stretches across multiple international jurisdictions including the Republic of Ireland, the USA and various countries within the Middle East and Asia. Prior to commencing her practice as a Barrister, Niamh also worked as an in-house legal advisor for an international oil and gas company providing legal advice across multiple jurisdictions. Niamh also worked as a Dispute Specialist Consultant for an international claims’ consultancy whereby she advised on and developed strategies to execute the most efficient and effective dispute resolution proceedings for her clients.

Niamh has also practiced in the DIFC Courts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The DIFC Courts are an independent English language common law judiciary, based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) with jurisdiction governing civil and commercial disputes nationally, regionally and worldwide. Niamh acted as lead and co-counsel in a number of civil disputes before the DIFC Courts in addition to acting as lead counsel in domestic arbitration disputes in the UAE.

Children Act Proceedings

Niamh acts for parties at all stages of proceedings in Children Act proceedings, including fact-finding hearings and fully contested final hearings. She also represents clients in applications relating to the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Public Child Law

Niamh has vast experience acting for Local Authorities, Parents and Children’s Guardians in Public Child Law proceedings at all stages. In particular, Niamh has represented clients in cases of neglect, abuse, domestic violence, and non-accidental injuries. Niamh has also represented parties in applications for Deprivation of Liberty (DOLS). Additionally, Niamh has previously worked in-house for a Local Authority and provided extensive support in case preparation for Public Child Law proceedings.

Non-Molestation & Occupation Orders

Niamh has substantial experience in representing parties in applications under the Family Law Act 1996, including Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders at all stages in proceedings.

Memberships

• Middle Temple.

Education

• LLB (Hons): Irish Law.
• Barrister at Law Degree: Kings Inns, Ireland.
• PGDip Int. Dispute Resolution (Arbitration) Queen Mary University, London.
• Called to the Bar of Ireland: 2011.
• Called to the Bar of England and Wales: 2019.

Awards

• Niamh was selected by the Bar Council of Ireland for a secondment to the internationally renowned Innocence Project in Ohio, USA in 2016.
• Niamh was also the winner of the Young Barrister of the Family Lawyers Association of Ireland 2016.