I have extensive experience in private law cases, including residence (custody) and contact (access), disputes over schooling, medical treatment, religious observance, foreign travel, relocation (domestic and international), name changes, special guardianship and declarations of parentage. An accomplished advocate, I am adept at challenging adverse CAFCASS or expert reports. I am regularly instructed in complex cases, including those which involve allegations of domestic abuse, controlling and coercive behaviour, or harm. I also have substantial experience of fact-finding hearings, including formulating, pursuing and defending such allegations.

I specialise in cases involving mental health, substance misuse or parental alienation and am experienced in cases where a Guardian has been appointed to a child or where a parallel police investigation is underway. Additionally, I represent both applicants and respondents in protective injunction proceedings (under the Family Law Act 1996 or Protection from Harassment Act 1997).

In public law cases, I regularly represent local authorities, parents, children, and intervening parties in care and supervision proceedings, adoption, placement, and other applications under Part IV of the Children Act 1989. I have particular expertise in cases involving complex or conflicting medical evidence, including suspected non-accidental injury.

Area of Law

What sort of work do I do?

I provide the following services to Direct Access clients:

• Advice at any stage prior to or during proceedings and on appeal – both written and in conference (at Chambers in Central London or via video)

• Drafting position statements, schedules of findings, skeleton arguments, evidential statements, orders, applications, correspondence, letters before action, grounds of appeal etc.

• Representation at all tiers of the Family Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal in final hearings (trials), fact-finding hearings, case management / directions hearings, dispute resolution appointments, FHDRAs, appeals and all other hearings in children or injunction proceedings.

Who do I work for?

I represent parents, children, step-parents, grandparents, extended family members and other connected persons, whether as applicant or respondent or third party.

I have extensive experience of representing grandparents or other extended family members who wish to contest a local authority's negative assessment or decision not to place a child in the care of the local authority with them.

I also represent intervenors who may have been joined to proceedings because allegations have been made against them.

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