St John’s Chambers ‘is a highly sought after chambers in Bristol and the surrounding area’. Lucy Reed KC is well-equipped to handle both public and private law children proceedings regarding allegations of sexual abuse, injuries, and trafficking offences. Among the juniors, head of the children’s law team Abigail Bond is notable for her overlapping ‘wealth of experience' in children’s law and Court of Protection-related mandates. Caroline Elford represents local authorities, parents, Guardians, and the Official Solicitor in cases regarding shaken babies and children presenting with fractures, serious head injuries, and cases of incest. Head of the children law team Ryan Morgan is another reputable member of the set with extensive expertise in cases concerning injuries to children, fatalities, and sexual abuse; ’his preparation and drafting abilities are unmatched'. Christopher Sharp KC retired in March 2025.
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Lucy is a family law specialist and has practised in family law throughout her professional career. Her practice now spans all areas of children work. She often acts in complex, multi-party or high conflict intractable private law disputes. In public law children cases she acts for parents, children, local authorities and extended family. Lucy has experience of handling cases involving suspected non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, neglect and domestic abuse, where there are parental mental health, learning disability or capacity issues, concerns around substance abuse and addiction, and involving children with special educational needs and disabilities / complex medical needs. Lucy’s instructions also encompass cases involving suspected trafficking, county lines and gang involvement, honour violence and FGM/c.

Lucy’s practice includes matters with international aspects, including abduction, leave to remove and cross border families. Lucy is also experienced in dealing with in post-care applications such as applications for discharge of care or placement orders, leave to oppose adoption orders and contested adoptions.

In addition, Lucy is experienced in cases involving Human Rights Act claims or issues relating to reporting restriction orders or publicity. Her practice also encompasses the range of injunctive work, including Pt IV Family Law Act and forced marriage.

Memberships

Education

  • Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law (2002)
  • PGDip Law/CPE City University (2001)
  • MRes Humanities & Cultural Studies, Birkbeck, University of London (1998)
  • BA(Hons) Exon English Studies (1997)
  • Lucy has recently completed vulnerable witness training with the FLBA

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Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The clerks, particularly Elaine Jewell-Moore, are very accommodating to solicitor's needs. Even at short notice, the clerks will always try and secure cover and often that is in-person.'
  • 'Elaine Jewell-Moore is a top notch clerk! Very personable and highly professional. Gets the job done!'
  • 'Elaine Jewell-Moore and Marcus Harding are superb clerks; they always assist in finding suitable counsel in children law matters and are quick to respond, which is particularly helpful in an emergency.'
  • 'St. John's Chambers provides an excellent client service, and the family clerks, especially Elaine Jewell-Moore, are exceptionally helpful.'
  • 'Great experience. Always very helpful, Marcus Harding, Elaine Jewell-Moore and Luke Scott are also available and accommodating and will go over and above to help.'
  • 'The clerks are always extremely helpful to resolve matters. In particular, Elaine Jewell-Moore who is always available to assist and is pro-active in moving diaries around to assist you.'
  • 'Clerks are very easy to deal with and very accommodating.'
  • 'The clerks at St John's are very helpful in finding the correct advocate for the case. Elaine Jewell-Moore and Marcus Harding are notably efficient.'