South Eastern Circuit
Harcourt Chambers 'offers excellent breadth of experience when it comes to children law cases'. Nick Goodwin KC is active in private and public child law matters, while Aidan Vine KC advises on child abduction cases and care proceedings. International children law cases form a key pillar of Edward Devereux KC's practice. Turning to the juniors, the 'incredibly talented advocate' Mehvish Chaudhry has particular strength in handling private child law proceedings. In a boost to the senior end of chambers, Rob George KC was appointed to silk level in March 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Also Oxford (0844 561 7135). Specialises in family law, including care proceedings (particularly cases of serious abuse and/or involving complex medical evidence), adoption, private children disputes and financial remedy cases. Appointed Deputy High Court Judge in January 2016.
Reported decisions include: A Council v An NHS Foundation Trust & Ors [2024] EWHC 874 (Fam), Re J (Care Plan for Adoption) [2024] EWCA Civ 265, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea v NM & Ors [2024] EWFC 48, Re N (Children: Findings Against a Professional Witness: Joinder or Intervention) [2024] EWFC 17, Nottingham City Council v AZ & Ors [2023] EWHC 3513 (Fam), Birmingham City Council v M & Ors [2023] EWHC 3312 (Fam), Re AB (A Child: Diabetic Care) [2023] EWFC 149, N (Children: Revocation of Placement Orders), Re [2023] EWCA Civ 1352, T (Fact-Finding: Second Appeal) [2023] EWCA Civ 475, Re M (adoption - notification of birth father) [2023] EWFC 17, Re C & Ors (Care Proceedings: Fact Finding) [2023] EWCA Civ 38, Birmingham City Council v CD & Ors [2023] EWHC 748 (Fam), Re W-A (Children) [2022] EWCA Civ 1118, [2022] 3 WLR 1235, A (Children) (Pool of Perpetrators), Re [2022] EWCA Civ 1348, Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Ors [2022] EWFC 31, Re (A Child : Findings of Fact) [2022] EWCA Civ 1652 (15 December 2022) , Re T (No.2) (Care Proceedings : Fact-Finding : Genital Injuries : Supplemental judgment for publication) [2021] EWFC 101, Somerset County Council v NHS Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group & Anor [2021] EWHC 3004 (Fam),Re YY (Children: Conduct of the Local Authority) [2021] EWHC 749,Re R (Children: Control of Court Documents) [2021] EWCA Civ 162, A County Council v M [2021] EWFC 35, Re A and B (Rescission of Order: Change of Circumstances) [2021] EWFC 76 , A Local Authority v Mother & Ors [2020] EWHC 1086 (Fam), B (A CHILD)(Designated Local Authority) [2020] EWCA Civ 1673, HM Attorney General v Akhter v Anor [2020] EWCA Civ 122 , Re A (No. 2) (Children: Findings of Fact) [2019] EWCA Civ 1947, Re D (Fact-Finding Appeal) [2019] EWCA Civ 2302,Salford City Council v NV & M (Deprivation of Liberty in Scotland) [2019] EWHC 1510,Re B (A Child) (Post - Adoption Contact) [2019] EWCA Civ 29, Re B-P (Children) (Adoption or Fostering) [2018] EWCA Civ 2042 – Court of Appeal. Judge at first instance failed to give any weight to the potential benefits of adoption, Re GP (A Child) [2017] EWCA Civ 1677 – Court of Appeal. 1980 Hague Convention. Article 13b. Grave risk of harm to child if abducting parent returned to home country to face imprisonment for child abduction, Hayatleh v Mofdy [2017] EWCA Civ 70 - Court of Appeal. Judgment in relation to the validity of a Syrian marriage; displacing the presumption of marriage, Re T-B-N [2016] EWCA Civ 1098, Re AB (A Child)(Deprivation of Liberty) [2015] EWHC 3125, F v. F [2013] EWHC 2683, Re H (A Child) [2013] EWCA Civ 148, Re L-R [2013] EWCA Civ 1129, Re W-P (Fact-Finding Hearing) [2009] EWCA Civ 216, Re B [2009] EWCA Civ 1243, Re A [2008] 1 FLR 959, Re J (Application for a Shadow Expert) [2008] 1 FLR 1501, Re H (Residence Order: Placement Out of Jurisdiction) [2006] 1 FLR 1140, Oxfordshire CC v S [2004] 1 FLR 426, Re ET (Serious Injuries: Standard of Proof) [2003] 2 FLR 1205, Re M (Adoption: International Adoption Trade) [2003] 1 FLR 1111, Re A (Contact: Separate Representation) [2001] 1 FLR 715, Oxfordshire CC v L (Care or Supervision Order) [1998] 1 FLR 70.
Career
Called 1995 (Inner Temple), Recorder (crime/family) 2009, QC 2014, Deputy High Court Judge s.9(4) 2016.
Education
King’s School, Canterbury; Oriel College, Oxford University.
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Testimonials
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- 'Clients can count on Harcourt clerks for timely updates and impeccable communication throughout their instruction, in particular Laurie Amron and Matt Molloy. Their proactive and friendly approach ensures that clients receive the highest level of service with fast, understandable and helpful responses at every stage of the process.'
- 'Clerks are exceptional. Matt Molloy stands out for going out of his way to help even in the most urgent of cases.'
- 'Matt Molloy is fantastic as he will always go the extra mile to assist.'
- 'Excellent - a truly first-class clerks room. They are efficient, friendly and really go the extra mile. Standouts are Matt Molloy and Laurie Amron.'
- 'Harcourt Chambers are exceptional.'
- 'A go to chambers for family law. Their expertise is second to none.'
- 'An outstanding set of practitioners.'
- 'A brilliant set for children matters and international children work.'