Set Profile > 1GC | Family Law > London, England
1GC | Family Law Offices
1GC | Family Law
10 LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS
LONDON
WC2A 3BP
England
1GC | Family Law > The Legal 500 Rankings
Children law (including public and private law) Tier 2
1GC | Family Law has ‘real specialists with a whole host of good barristers at a senior level through to the junior level who are very busy and up and coming.’ The set, which ‘at every level has star performers’, is excellent at private children work and is also recommended for its strong offering in public children work. Among its ‘outstanding stable of silks’ is Sarah Morgan QC who led Lucy Sprinz in advising Islington Council in an independent review into allegations made in the Islington Gazette that the former Mayor of Islington, Sandy Marks, had an historic association with pro-paedophile groups. New entrants to this year's rankings include Andrew Norton QC, Doushka Krish, Matthew Fletcher, and Olivia Magennis.
Leading Silks
Leading Juniors
Court of Protection and community care Tier 3
1GC | Family Law is a highly regarded set for Court of Protection work and is regularly instructed in a wide range of health and welfare matters. Other areas of expertise include forced marriages involving adults who lack capacity. Members are also active advising on a myriad of other complex issues such as the withdrawal of treatment or the imposition of treatment ( such as feeding) on incapacitated or resistant patients. Due to its family law expertise the set also specialises in issues relating to 16- and 17-year olds who lack capacity and who are emerging from the care system. The 'strong and forceful' Andrew Bagchi QC and 'excellent effective advocate' Malcolm Chisholm both receive promotions in this year's silk and junior tables, while the 'highly intuitive' Louise MacLynn is a new entrant to this year's rankings. The 'excellent technical lawyer' Alev Giz is also well regarded by clients and peers alike.
Family (including divorce and financial remedy) Tier 3
At 1GC | Family Law ‘the fact that it undertakes both private and public children work, as well as finances, means that you are always in safe hands in the most complicated of cases.’ The set has an ‘extremely strong team with a personality to fit every client. It achieves great results and is a pleasure to work with.’ Members advise on a wide array of matters from complex business and trust structures through to major jurisdictional and enforcement matters. Key members who specialise in this area include Penelope Clapham and Philip Perrins. The 'stellar' Eleri Jones is a new entrant in this year's junior rankings.
Leading Juniors
Claire Heppenstall - 1GC | Family Law ‘An absolute star player. Claire has an easy and straightforward manner with clients and adapts with emotional intelligence to the individual personality and needs of a case. She has a keen intellect and is skilled in getting to the heart of a case.’
1GC | Family Law > Firm Profile
The set: 1GC|Family Law is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading family law set, providing a highly skilled, comprehensive service to clients across the full spectrum of family law and related work. Expert advice and representation, together with a practical and common sense approach, results in members being instructed in the most complex and sensitive cases, as well as those involving issues of law of general importance. Both professional and lay clients appreciate the professionalism and approachability of the clerking team.
Types of work undertaken: Members of Chambers appear in courts at all levels, including, regularly, in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Private children law expertise includes all disputes over arrangements for children, surrogacy, adoption, declarations of parentage following assisted conception and issues in relation to legal parenthood in same sex relationships. All aspects of public law children work are handled with a particular reputation for undertaking cases involving the most complex legal and medical issues and increasingly, radicalisation cases. Work for local authorities includes applications for care and supervision orders, as well as adoption and judicial review. Public interest immunity cases, publicity and restraint of publicity cases form a regular part of Chambers’ practice. The family finance team undertakes matters ranging from big-money cases involving complex financial structures to modest value claims. Its work includes freezing injunctions to prevent dissipation of assets, cases involving foreign and offshore assets and complex trust arrangements, pre and post nuptial agreements and enforcement of orders. Court of Protection cases are an established part of Chambers’ expertise as are cases involving family privacy and autonomy, the right to life and modern families. Members regularly deal with urgent applications in all family law and related matters. Chambers was one of the first to establish a family mediation service and continues to focus on alternative dispute resolution, offering early neutral evaluation and arbitration. Many members sit as part-time judges. Chambers has a strong tradition for undertaking pro bono work.
International: With the increase in international families, much of Chambers’ work has an international element. Members are frequently instructed in cases involving foreign jurisdictions. Several members have gained experience as lawyers working overseas, particularly in North America and the Caribbean. International work includes disputes as to jurisdiction and forum, valuation and distribution of assets overseas and enforcement against foreign or off-shore trusts. Members deal regularly with cases of child abduction and other disputes relating to the international movement of children, including adoption, surrogacy and care proceedings. Chambers has been actively involved in considering the implications of ‘Brexit’ for family law and contributing to proposals for law reform in this area.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior clerk | Paul Harris | ||
| Members of Chambers | EKANEY QC, Nkumbe (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | NORTON QC, Andrew (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PLATT QC, Eleanor F (1960) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BALL QC, Alison (1972) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAZLEY QC, Janet (1980) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GEEKIE QC, Charles (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MORGAN QC, Sarah (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BAGCHI QC, Andrew (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HOWE QC, Darren (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILEY QC, Francesca (1996) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FOTTRELL QC, Deirdre (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOMTAZ QC, Sam (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILLBOURNE, Caroline (1970) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SHENTON, Suzanne (1973) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SZWED, Elizabeth (1974) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HORROCKS, Peter (1977) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BURLES, David (1984) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MCILWAIN, Sylvester (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STOCKER, John (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PYLE, Susan (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WARNER, Pamela (1985) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CRAWLEY, Gary (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GIZ, Alev (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DANIELS, Nicholas (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GILLMAN, Rachel (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LECOINTE, Elpha (1988) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LIEBRECHT, Michael (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHISHOLM, Malcolm (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ORCHOVER, Frances (1989) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JENKINS, Catherine (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HEPPENSTALL, Claire (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SUGAR, Simon (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MATHER, Kate (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GEORGE, Susan (1990) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KRISH, Doushka (1991) | ||
| Members of Chambers | GILLING, Denise (1992) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HURWORTH, Jillian (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KAVANAGH, Jennifer (1993) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STONE, Sally (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOORE, Alison (1994) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUDSON, Emma (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FOSTER, Julien (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CHOUDHURY, Fareha (1995) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WATSON, Duncan (1997) | ||
| Members of Chambers | McELEAVY, Professor Peter (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HUGHES, Daisy (1999) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SEGAL, Sharon (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MITCHELL, Rebecca (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LEE, Jessica (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JEFFERSON, Helen (2000) | ||
| Members of Chambers | STANLEY, Gillian (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MACLYNN, Louise (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BRIGGS, Laura (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | RAHMAN, Tahmina (2001) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FLOOD, Edward (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PERRINS, Philip (2002) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JONES, Richard (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | FLETCHER, Matthew (2003) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PROCTER, Alfred (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MAGENNIS, Olivia (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HARTNETT, Elizabeth (2005) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ASHWORTH, Steven (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PROLINGHEUER, Sophie (2006) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MACLEOD, Elena (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | COLE, Georgina (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CLAPHAM, Penelope (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | HYLTON, Nasstassia (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | KELLY, Gemma (2007) | ||
| Members of Chambers | SPRINZ, Lucy (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | DUNSEATH, Katherine (2008) | ||
| Members of Chambers | JONES, Eleri (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MOORE, Joseph (2009) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BERNSTEIN, Jessica (2011) | ||
| Members of Chambers | CAYOUN, Marlene (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WOOLLEY, Oliver (2012) | ||
| Members of Chambers | PAISLEY, Patrick (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | WILSON, Tom (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VENABLES, Andrew (2013) | ||
| Members of Chambers | EATON, Luke (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ELSWORTH, Melissa (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | MAXWELL, Lucy (2015) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BARRONS, Annabel (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | LAVELLE, Anna (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | ANDREWS, Elisabeth (2016) | ||
| Members of Chambers | BERTONI, Costanza (2018) | ||
| Members of Chambers | VERROKEN-JONES, Louise (2018) |
Lawyer Profiles
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Steven Ashworth | Steven undertook a common law pupillage and initially practised in criminal, civil… | View Profile |
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Andrew Bagchi QC | Highly experienced in complex medical and welfare cases concerning children and vulnerable… | View Profile |
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Alison Ball QC | Specialises in complex public and private family law proceedings and also appears… | View Profile |
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Janet Bazley QC | Janet practices at the highest level in both children and financial cases.… | View Profile |
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Laura Briggs | Laura practises exclusively in the law as it relates to children, representing… | View Profile |
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Ian Bugg | Ian has successfully developed a specialist practice dealing with all aspects of… | View Profile |
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David Burles | David is a specialist in matrimonial finance, including financial remedy applications, trusts… | View Profile |
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Malcolm Chisholm | Malcolm’s practice encompasses complex care proceedings and Court of Protection work, as… | View Profile |
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Fareha Choudhury | Fareha is a very experienced and highly skilled family barrister covering both… | View Profile |
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Penelope Clapham | Penelope specialises in both family finance and private law children matters and… | View Profile |
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Georgina Cole | Georgina completed her pupillage in Chambers and was trained by Sarah Morgan… | View Profile |
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Jane Crowley QC | Jane’s public law children practice includes cases involving complex physical injuries, including:… | View Profile |
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Katherine Dunseath | Katherine has a thriving practice encompassing all areas of private children and finances arising out… | View Profile |
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Matthew Fletcher | Public law children: acting for local authorities, parents, children and relatives covering… | View Profile |
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Julien Foster | Julien practises across three main areas: public law, private law children cases… | View Profile |
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Charles Geekie QC | Charles’ practice centres on legal issues concerning children. He acts in both… | View Profile |
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Rachel Gillman | Special family law practitioner. Areas of practice; financial remedies claims, claims between… | View Profile |
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Alev Giz | private and public law proceedings and the Court of Protection. She has… | View Profile |
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Claire Heppenstall | Claire practises exclusively in private family and family related work. Her practice… | View Profile |
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Peter Horrocks | Appears and advises in private law residence/contact cases as well as public… | View Profile |
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Daisy Hughes | Daisy specialises in family law as it relates to children. She represents… | View Profile |
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Helen Jefferson | Helen’s practice encompasses all areas of family law with a particular emphasis… | View Profile |
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Catherine Jenkins | Practice In childcare law with a particular emphasis on public law children… | View Profile |
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Eleri Jones | Eleri practises in both private children and family finance cases, including financial… | View Profile |
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Elena MacLeod | Barrister specialising in all aspects of family law including public and private… | View Profile |
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Olivia Magennis | Olivia specialises exclusively in the law as it relates to children. Within… | View Profile |
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Sam Momtaz QC | View Profile | |
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Sarah Morgan QC | Specialist family practitioner all areas relating to children. Recognised as having particular… | View Profile |
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Frances Orchover | Frances has extensive experience in all matters relating to children both public… | View Profile |
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Philip Perrins | Philip’s main area of expertise is acting for spouses or other related… | View Profile |
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Eleanor Platt QC | Specialises in family law with particular reference to public law proceedings, private… | View Profile |
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Sophie Prolingheuer | Broad experience across child protection matters and all areas of work arising… | View Profile |
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Susan Pyle | Private law children; finance; public law children; collaborative law. | View Profile |
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Sharon Segal | Sharon specialises exclusively in cases involving children whether in the private law… | View Profile |
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John Stocker | Practises in financial remedies work (married and unmarried couples – divorce, CA… | View Profile |
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Sally Stone | Sally practices exclusively in family law as it relates to children. Whilst… | View Profile |
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Simon Sugar | POSITION:Simon practices exclusively in family law; predominantly in ancillary relief but also… | View Profile |
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Francesca Wiley QC | Francesca practises at the highest level in both private and public law… | View Profile |
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Oliver Woolley | Oliver became a tenant of chambers in 2014 following successful completion of… | View Profile |