The members at the London and Oxford-based set Harcourt Chambers have expertise in both public and private children law work, and the set is praised as a ’go-to chambers for complex matters’. Among the silks, head of chambers Nick Goodwin KC is highly sought after for his experience in handling complex medical evidence relating to babies and children, and he has also frequently appeared before the Court of Appeal. Jonathan Sampson KC is praised as an ‘excellent advocate with meticulous attention to detail’, and he is notably proficient in representing clients in cases surrounding the death of a child, as well as cases with an international element. John Vater KC and Aidan Vine KC are also key silks at the set. Turning to the juniors, Margaret Styles ‘works tirelessly for clients’ and has a strong grounding in care proceedings, and Alex Forbes ,’who is extremely well prepared and focussed in his approach to cases‘, also has a notable public law practice. ’Exceptional all round‘, Lucy Fairclough is highly skilled in cases surrounding allegations of sexual abuse, injuries to children, and domestic violence, with experience in proceedings involving the cross-examination of a child. Oliver Powell has more of an emphasis in private children law proceedings in the Family Court and the High Court. Care and adoption proceedings form a key part of Natasha Miller’s practice, as well as cases involving deprivation of liberty; she is lauded for her ‘razor sharp cross examination skills’.
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.
Content supplied by Harcourt Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are amazing, particularly Jessica Keen and Laurie Amron, who have saved the day on more than one occasion.'
- 'Laurie Amron and Jessica Keen are top class. You feel as though you get personal service from national chambers.'
- 'The clerks are great. Matthew Malloy is always really responsive and personable.'
- 'The clerks are fantastic and always go the extra mile. Matthew Malloy and Laurie Amron are excellent.'
- 'The service offered by the chambers was brilliant. Very quick responses from Matthew Molloy.'
- 'Harcourt covers the full range of family matters, from pupil to KC. Very strong Juniors. Rarely have no availability.'
- ' These are a go-to chambers for complex matters, they have the highest standards for their team from the very top to those just starting out.'
- 'The clerks at Harcourt Chambers are consistently helpful, diligent, and proactive in their efforts to support both you and your clients. Their commitment to ensuring the highest standard of service is exceptional, and they consistently go above and beyond to assist with even the most urgent matters.'