4PB

International Children Law; Finance; Private Children Law; Non-court Dispute resolution; Public Children Law

Overview

Christopher is a fearless and persuasive advocate, combining formidable strategic and tactical thinking with a keen forensic insight. He is a specialist in all areas of international law, with the knowledge and experience to take on complex issues of jurisdiction, finance and movement of children.

Christopher’s practice involves resolving difficult international issues concerning both children and substantial financial resources, routinely tackling novel jurisdictional dilemmas in the Court of Appeal and the High Court whether this be in private or public law children, divorce or financial remedies cases.

He was Chair of the CALA since 2018 and regularly participates at international conferences. As Chair, he has been involved in extensive consultations about practice and procedure following the President’s Guidance and on the post Covit-19 lockdown court environment. In February 2020 he gave evidence to the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee on behalf of the Bar Council on “Civil Justice Co-operation after Brexit. His evidence ranged over both divorce/finance and children.

He is an author and contributory editor of 2 chapters of Rayden & Jackson on the Hague 1980 Convention and committal.

He regularly chairs and participates in seminars and conferences on a variety of practice areas.

He is a trustee of CFAB and reviews cases for Advocate.

He sits as Recorder on the NE Circuit and is approved for the Financial Remedies Court. He is authorised to sit as a deputy High Court Judge. He is a qualified arbitrator in both children (now including international relocation) and money work.

Appointments

• Recorder (2018)
• Deputy High Court Judge section 9(1) – (2022)

Professional Memberships

Family Law Bar Association
Inner Temple
Former Chair of Child Abduction Lawyers Association
Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Association of Lawyers for Children
Member and reviewer for Advocate
Trustee of Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)

Education & Qualifications

• Arbitrator – MCIArb in both Children and Money

• LLB Hons (Sheffield)