South Eastern Circuit
With ‘a profound understanding of family law and non-accidental injury cases’ and considerable experience in care, adoption, and private law matters Vanessa Meachin KC heads up the family law group at 3PB, ‘an excellent set with a range of barristers of the highest quality in the field of complex care proceedings’. Emma Griffiths leads the children law practice, and head of chambers Elizabeth McGrath KC has a ‘brilliant bedside manner’ and an active private and public law practice, the former including cases surrounding domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, and parental alienation, and the latter demonstrating expertise in proceedings with international elements. Lucy Hendry KC is an ‘extremely effective and dynamic advocate’ and is highly proficient in representing an array of clients, including children, intervenors, and guardians, including those with cognitive and capacity issues. Turning to the juniors, Nicola Martin also has a broad ranging practice, encompassing care cases arising from serious and fatal injuries to children, and private law cases concerning abduction and relocation. Aimee Fox is highly skilled in handling proceedings centred around children with significant educational needs. Matiss Krumins is another notable practitioner with prowess in administrative law and judicial review proceedings - he appeared in the unusual case of The Father v Worcestershire CC, representing the local authority in the Supreme Court against a litigant in person, who sought the return of his children from a care order not through any family law remedy but through a writ of habeas corpus. Lucy Clayton has a strong focus on cases surrounding issues of parental alienation, sexual abuse, and coercive control, as well as surrogacy-related matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Family
Position
Nicola (formerly Simpson) Martin, former Head of the Family Law Group, is one of a minority of experienced family lawyers who not only conducts high net worth ancillary relief proceedings but also complex care cases (involving death or serious injury to a child) and sensitive private law children matters, including abduction and relocation.
With experience over 30 years spanning from appearances before magistrates to the Privy Council, Nicola brings a pragmatic and helpful approach to her cases and is renowned for skilful cross examination, retaining an empathy with clients from all walks of life.
Family
Nicola (formerly Simpson) Martin, former Head of the Family Law Group, is one of a minority of experienced family lawyers who not only conducts high net worth ancillary relief proceedings but also complex care cases (involving death or serious injury to a child) and sensitive private law children matters, including abduction and relocation.
With experience over 30 years spanning from FPC to Privy Council Nicola brings a pragmatic and helpful approach to her cases and renowned for skillful cross examination, retaining an empathy with clients from all walks of life.
Private Remote FDR Hearings
Nicola is available for private remote FDR hearings. For more information on private remote FDR hearings please click here.
Recent notable cases include
- Q v R (intractable contact) [2017] EWFC B35 (28 June 2017)
- Ancillary Relief high net worth involving assets worldwide and allegations of hidden assets and non disclosure [2014]
- Care proceedings involving serious injuries, including fractures and brain injuries to a baby. Consideration of whether the extended family were implicated and if not whether the children could be sufficiently safeguarded within the family [2014]
- Contested residence and internal relocation contact proceedings with background of serious assault, alleged assault on a child with social services and Police involvement [2014]
- High value ancillary relief involving pre martial assets and disputed dissipation [2014]
- Representing young mother in care proceedings. Difficult issues in relation to extended family, history of removal of previous children, parents abusive relationship [2014]
- Representing father in relation to high net worth Sch 1 Children’s Act claims, including overseas trusts. Application to strike out and variation of child arrangements. International elements [2014]
- Complex Ancillary Relief case with allegations of hidden assets. Previous intevener proceedings. Future ownership of joint business [2014]
- Representation of a young mother in care proceedings resulting in return to her of 3 year old child and retention of unborn baby. Allegations of drug taking and chaotic lifestyle [2014]
Career
Year of Call: 1982
Memberships
- Family Law Bar Association
- Western Circuit
Education
- LLB (Birmingham)
Content supplied by 3PB
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Ian Charlton is always attentive and will always be available to help. Isabelle Lea is extremely good, has excellent communication and makes you feel that she has everything under control.'
- 'Ian Charlton is a go-to. You can completely trust his opinion.'
- 'David Sadler is efficient, helpful and provides excellent customer service.'
- 'The clerks are helpful and always willing to assist, and they will go above and beyond in order to accommodate choice of counsel. They are so helpful. Gemma Hyett is wonderful to deal with.'
- 'The clerks' room is excellent. Ian Charlton, Gemma Hyett, Rob Leonard and Philip Jones are exceptional and will do anything they can to help and are very approachable.'
- 'Isabelle Lee and Gemma Hyett are fantastic; very swift to respond and always on top of their barristers' diaries.'
- 'An excellent, strong clerking team. Ian Charlton is always accommodating and helpful and is extremely well supported by Isabelle Lee, Gemma Hyett, and Philip Jones who are always pleasant, responsive and helpful and cannot do enough.'
- 'Ian Charlton and Rob Leonard are class acts. They go the extra mile on availability as well as fee negotiation. You feel like you have a genuine relationship with them. They really look after you.'