1GC | Family Law

Marlene has a unique dual specialism in children law and large-scale public and private inquiries. She is an award winning, sought-after junior barrister who regularly appears in law-making cases.

Marlene is in demand as a junior in public and private inquiries. She is currently instructed as counsel to the Covid-19 Inquiry, specifically working on the impact of the pandemic on children and young people. She has previously been instructed for a core participant in the Horizon Post Office IT Inquiry, and as counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Infected Blood Inquiry. She assisted Charles Geekie QC on Chelsea Football Club’s 2019 Review of Non-Recent Child Sexual Abuse.

In her children private law work Marlene acts for parents and children in a wide range of 8 Children Act 1989 applications, including those which feature serious allegations, non-compliance and enforcement, require a rule 16.4 guardian, involve permission to remove children from England and Wales, and where special guardianship orders are sought. Marlene has significant experience in international cases where child abduction, jurisdictional complications, cross-border adoption and surrogacy arise (including in the application of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008). Marlene also regularly acts for parents and children involved in Hague Convention applications.

In her children public law work Marlene represents parents, children and Local Authorities in Children Act 1989 Part IV and V applications, including those with serious allegations of abuse, neglect, fictitious or induced injury, and child sexual abuse and exploitation. She regularly represents parties involved in adoption applications and challenges.

Year of Call: 2012

Association of Lawyers for Children, Family Law Bar Association, Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

BA (Hons) History, University of Oxford, MA, King’s College London, Dip. Law, City University, BPTC, City University