London Bar
Family: children and domestic abuse
Leading silk4 ‘Her advocacy style is a joy to the courtroom - tenacious, pithy, accurate and sends a chill into the witness.'
4PB
England
Barristers
Ruth Kirby
4PB, London
- Phone020 7427 5200
- Email[email protected]
Work Department
International Children Law, Private Children Law, Court of Protection, Public Children Law, Non-court dispute resolution, Inquiries and inquests
Position
Overview
Ruth’s practice is made up of children, Court of Protection and some sports law and disciplinary tribunal work. The unusual breadth of her practice is reflected in the variety of her reported cases.
Ruth has particular experience of representing high-profile families in children and COP work and families embroiled in political and cross-jurisdictional issues – sometimes with their own Governments. She deals with all aspects of private and public children work – both domestic and international.
Ruth is dual-qualified in the Irish Republic and has rights of audience before the Irish courts. She is also instructed as an expert witness in Irish and European family law cases.
Publications/Training
Ruth has lectured for the London Safeguarding Children’s Board, the Counter Terrorism Unit at the Met Police (SO15), Gresham College and the Family Law Bar Association. She has also lectured in various academic environments including at the LSE and for the Bar Council. She has trained the Irish Judicial College on diversity and ethnic issues and trains students and junior barristers in advocacy at Middle Temple.
Career
Awards
Short-listed for Advocate’s Pro Bono International Barrister 2025
Shortlisted for KPMG Kindness and Leadership Award 2024
Appointments
Bencher at Middle Temple
Advocate Eligibility Assessor
Bar Council general member
Co Convenor of the Inns of Court Women’s Forum (ICAW)
Bar Council Ethics Committee member
Middle Temple Advocacy trainer
Languages
Working knowledge of French and Irish
Memberships
Professional Memberships
Family Law Bar Association Association of Lawyers for Children Court of Protection Bar Association Administrative Law Bar Association London Irish Lawyers’ Association
Education
Education & Qualifications
Arbitrator CIArb (2022)
Certificate in Sports Law, DeMontford University (2014)
Mediator (Family) (2014)
Barrister in Republic of Ireland (2004)
Commercial Mediator (2004)
Collaborative Lawyer
University College Cork, Ireland BCL
London School of Economics, LLM
Inns of Court School of Law, BL
Kings Inns, Dublin BL 2004
Leisure
Rugby, tennis, gym, theatre, film, family.
Mentions
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