Guildford Chambers is home to a number of notable family law barristers. For public law proceedings involving injuries to children, Christine Julien is a go-to practitioner with ‘a high level of integrity’, frequently representing children and parents with learning difficulties, mental health issues, or a history of substance abuse. Fiona Griffin undertakes both private and public law proceedings; on the private side, she has expertise in disputes surrounding contact orders, and on the public side, she handles care and adoption proceedings often involving sexual and physical abuse allegations. Dominique Gillan ‘is committed to client care of the highest standard’ and is highly experienced in Children Act proceedings. Andrew Austin exclusively practices in family law, and he represents clients in cases of internal and international relocation of children with ‘an exceptional knowledge of law, practice and procedure’.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
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- ' Excellent - see above. Gavin Street and Simon Morris have always been extremely helpful as clerks and go out of their way to assist. '
- 'Gavin Street is a very helpful and friendly clerk. He is efficient.'
- 'Gavin Street is brilliant and really helpful.'
- 'Gavin Street is a credit to Guildford Chambers. He is prompt, helpful and efficient.'
- 'Gavin Street is absolutely fantastic; he is kind and will always keep you updated and goes above and beyond.'
- 'The clerks are helpful, particularly Gavin Street who will always go above and beyond to assist.'
Lawyers
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Nicola Holland
‘Nicola is always meticulous in her preparation of a case. Her position statements are well written, her drafting of orders are comprehensive and always consider the nooks and crannies of the matter, and she is robust in her advocacy whilst showing empathy to clients.'
Sarah Moon
‘Sarah is not only incredibly knowledgeable but also deeply committed to achieving the best possible outcome for her clients. Sarah's level of care and empathy is second-to-none, and she is able to keep clients informed and updated in a lay-person friendly manner.'
Sophia O’Hagan
‘Sophia is a very knowledgeable advocate for children, she is well-versed in the law, and she prepares her cases meticulously. She presents excellent cases in court and this is due to her focus on the fine details and elements of the case.'