Ruth Kirby > 4PB > London, England > Barrister Profile

Ruth Kirby

020 7427 5200 rk@4pb.com

Position

Family law specialist. All areas of family law including private law, international movement of children, abduction, human rights, publicity, care proceedings and adoption, domestic and international adoption and divorce. She is also instructed in Court of Protection work. She has a budding practice in sports law including disciplinary proceedings. High profile cases include Wilkinson v Kitzinger & AG, Lord Chancellor Intervening No 1 and No 2 [2006] 2 FLR 397 and [2007] 1 FLR 295; (20060 HRLR 36; Times August 21 2006 (same sex marriage; protective costs orders instructed by Liberty); one part of the ‘Baby P’ litigation; and the Alfie Patten youngest father in Britain litigation (reported as Re Stedmen [2009] EWHC 935 (Fam); [2009] 2 FLR 852. Her reported cases include Re A (Children) AC9101290 in the Supreme Court; and recently in the Court of Appeal, Re M (Republic of Ireland) (Child’s Objections) (Joinder of Children as Parties to Appeal) [2015] EWCA Civ 26; Times 3 March 2015 (abduction). Other cases include: SK v HD, SD, UD, MD and FD [2013] EWHC 796 (Fam); [2014] Fam Law 22; J v J (Relinquishment of Jurisdiction) [2012] 1 FLR 1259; [2012] Fam Law 399; [2011] EWHC 3255 (Fam); C (Care: Contact) [2012] 2 FCR 325; [2011] EWCA Civ 1774; A v P (Habitual Residence) [2012] 1 FLR 124; [2011] EWHC 1530 (Fam); Re C (Children) [2009] EWCA Civ 959; [2010] 1 FLR 895; Re H (Abduction) [2009] 2 FLR 1513; [2009] EWHC 1735 (Fam); Re U (Care Proceedings: Criminal Conviction: Refusal to give Evidence) [2006] EWHC 372 (Fam); (2007) 1 FLR 399; Re K sub nom A Local Authority v N and Others [2005] EWHC 2956 (Fam); [2007] 1 FLR 399; and Re S (Children) [2004] EWCA Civ 1397; [2005] 1 FLR 469. Lectures (five years at University of London; advocacy trainer for Middle Temple).

Career

Legal journalist for three years; expert witness in personal injury and employment cases for five years; called to the Bar 1994, Middle Temple; tenancy Mitre House for five years; tenancy Renaissance for seven years; tenancy 4 Paper Buildings 2009. Lectures: five years at University of London; advocacy trainer for Middle Temple.

Languages

French, Irish.

Education

Laurel Hill Convent FCJ, Limerick, Ireland; University College Cork, Ireland (BCL); London School of Economics (LLM); Inns of Court School of Law (BL); Kings, Dublin (2005 BL Irl); De Montfort University 2014, Diploma in Sports Law.

Leisure

Rugby, tennis, gym, theatre, film, family.