Retour United Kingdom - The Bar

Family: Children And Domestic Abuse

3PB

Albion Chambers

No.18 Barristers Chambers

Leading Silks

Lucy Hendry KC – 3PB 'Lucy is a highly conscientious and thoughtful professional. She has a very good grasp of the medical and scientific material that is required in cases of infant death and serious injury. Always well prepared and very good on her feet.'

Penny Howe KC – Pump Court Chambers 'Penny is calm under pressure. She is excellent with clients and judges and has the rare ability to cut through issues, help the court, and put the client at ease.'

Lucy Reed KC – St John's Chambers 'Lucy is formidable. Her ability to cross-examine in a way that pulls out the information required is something to behold. Her cross-examination style is the key to the results she obtains.'

Leslie Samuels KC – Pump Court Chambers 'When Leslie is your opponent, you have to be at your best. He is clever, diligent, and persuasive.'

June Venters KC – 3PB 'June is thorough and forensic in her approach. She is impeccably well prepared. She is highly skilled at cross-examination and has an innate understanding of witnesses and how to get the best evidence from them. Her client care is second to none, and she is fearless in putting her case and exploring the evidence. June is down to earth and approachable. She deals with everyone, be it clients, witnesses, judges, or opponents, with charm and dignity. Her ability to think on her feet and respond to the challenges and unexpected events that inevitably arise in her line of work is phenomenal. Her years of experience shine through in everything she does.'

Aidan Vine KC – Harcourt Chambers 'He has an excellent approach to the client and explains matters very well in conference. In addition to advocacy, he is involved in every step of the case and the analysis of the evidence once instructed.'

Claire Wills-Goldingham KC – Colleton Chambers

Leading Juniors

Laura Baines – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Laura is an all-around excellent advocate in both private and public law. She is articulate and has a wide and deep understanding of both private and public law. She is relatable and friendly, making her a first choice.'

Abigail Bond – St John's Chambers 'Very thorough and clear in her preparation and advocacy. Inspires confidence in the court, other professionals, and clients alike.'

Gemma Chapman – 3PB ‘Gemma is exceptional both as an advocate and in conference and on paper. She will always give 100% on a matter – that is apparent in the case outcomes.’

Judi Evans – St John's Chambers 'She safeguards her clients’ interests by maintaining firm oversight of pre-hearing exchanges, intervening decisively when other advocates attempt to pose questions or engage in discussions that fall outside procedural propriety.'

Andrew Grime – Pump Court Chambers 'A brilliant barrister with a solid knowledge of both children and finances. A specialist in SEN cases, Andrew is able to advise clients in a calm but authoritative manner in this area. Andrew is always well prepared for conferences and court hearings and is a strong opponent.'

Anthony Hand – College Chambers

William Heckscher – Albion Chambers

William Higginson – KBG Chambers

Steven Howard – 3PB

Elisabeth Hudson – 3PB 'She is very empathetic with clients and approachable, which puts clients at ease straight away. She has a very gentle style, but it gets results.'

Susan Hunter – St John's Chambers

David Josty – Pump Court Chambers 'David is an excellent advocate who will fight doggedly for his client but is also able to work cooperatively with other advocates to ensure that hearings are conducted fairly for all parties. He is always extremely well prepared. He is very generous with his time and thoughts whenever people have a point of law or ethics that needs a second pair of eyes.'

Jennifer Swan – Pump Court Chambers

Charlotte Ash – KBG Chambers

Sara Chalk – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Sara is an outstanding barrister. She is extremely well prepared, researching legal points in depth so that she can present concise and clear legal arguments. Sara is calm and personable and has a great deal of empathy for her clients. She is always professional and affable.'

Hugh Cornford – Colleton Chambers 'Hugh is especially skilled at presenting advice to clients (lay and on occasion professional) that, while compassionate and empathetic, is also very clear legally in terms of the strengths and weaknesses of their case; advice that, particularly for lay clients, is more easily absorbed due to the obviously non-judgmental manner in which Hugh approaches them and their case, and the reassurance provided by Hugh's overall understanding of the case. In advocacy, Hugh is clear, concise, and legally compelling.'

Sally Daulton – Devon Chambers

Caroline Elford – St John's Chambers ‘Calm, sensible advice and supportive of her social work clients.’

Fiona Farquhar – Albion Chambers 'Fiona is a fantastic advocate whose advocacy and communication skills are top tier. Her cross-examination is impeccable. She has outstanding attention to detail with cases. Fiona also goes above and beyond to work collaboratively with instructing solicitors.'

Nicola Frost – 3PB 'Excellent communication with clients and excellent advocacy skills. A real empathy with cases and a desire to get matters concluded fairly.'

Hayley Griffiths – Albion Chambers

Tracey Hennessey – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Tracey is extremely competent, thorough, able to relay information to clients in a way that is comprehensible and adept at taking instructions. She is a formidable trial advocate.'

Katherine Henry – Henry Chambers

Victoria Hoyle – Devon Chambers 'Victoria is an exceptional advocate. She has outstanding client skills, and her preparation and attention to detail are second to none. She is often instructed in complex cases where she excels in both preparation and advocacy. She is always professional and well-liked by lay clients, judges, and solicitors.'

Corinne Iten – Pump Court Chambers 'Corinne is always an absolute pleasure to work with. She is meticulous in the preparation of her cases, focused and persuasive in her advocacy, fair in her approach, with no unnecessary hostilities or challenges despite the subject matter that we deal with, and very effective as a result.'

Sarah O’Hara – 3PB

Amy Oke – College Chambers

Sarah Pope – Albion Chambers 'Sarah is exceptional. She is extremely knowledgeable and a great strategic thinker. She is brilliant on her feet. Very robust. Sharp legal acumen. Great with both challenging clients and opponents.'

Emma Southern – 3PB 'Emma is an excellent advocate. She is a skilled advocate who can cross-examine effectively while remaining empathetic and polite. Emma is able to handle complex matters with ease while also providing excellent client care. I would not hesitate to instruct Emma on my most complex matters. She is a top choice barrister in this area of law.'

Ruth Armstrong - Queen Square Chambers

Julia Belyavin – St John's Chambers 'Julia is a senior barrister who is extremely competent and pays particular attention to detail when preparing a case. Julia is highly skilled at drafting and can draft legal documents effectively to advance a legal argument or present a case. Julia is a strong and tenacious advocate on her feet, always making pertinent points efficiently and confidently.'

Gemma Borkowski – Albion Chambers

Rachel Chapman – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Rachel is a strong and confident advocate who excels at breaking down complex legal matters so that they can be understood by her clients. She is sought after by both parent clients and professional clients thanks to her personable and empathetic manner.'

Nigel Cholerton – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'A safe and dependable pair of hands that you can trust to do the best for the client. His advocacy style is very collected and composed, which comes across as very reassuring for the client.'

Alice Darian – Albion Chambers

Victoria Ellis – Pump Court Chambers 'Victoria’s advocacy is clear, succinct, and extremely effective.'

Asha Groves – St John's Chambers 'Asha is experienced, friendly, and thorough. She has a calm demeanor and ensures that even the most vulnerable clients feel at ease. She is able to adapt her approach to a case depending on the particular needs of a client and is always professional, confident, and well prepared.'

Libby Harris - Albion Chambers

Claire Hook – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Claire is an all-round excellent advocate. She is knowledgeable and has the ability to convey herself in a highly persuasive and articulate manner. She has exceptional social skills and is a favorite with both parent clients and professionals. She always makes herself available to talk through problems that may crop up, making her a popular choice of barrister.'

Joanna Lucas – Albion Chambers

Danielle Metters – Devon Chambers 'Danielle is superb at engaging the client and providing clear and frank advice while ensuring the client feels heard and supported. She is a focused and tenacious advocate, aided wonderfully by her attention to detail and great communication with those instructing her.'

Caroline Middleton – Albion Chambers

Ryan Morgan – St John's Chambers 'Ryan is a well-respected barrister, and his demeanor and approachability, alongside his advocacy skills, client care, and preparation, ensure that he is very much in demand. His greatest strength lies in handling the most complex cases in a sensitive but efficient manner. He also possesses a good eye for detail and is able to pinpoint key issues in a case to ensure his cross-examination is efficient and effective.'

Olivia Pike – St John's Chambers

Richard Pinhorn – Queen Square Chambers 'Richard is extremely thorough and a very reassuring presence in court.'

Laura Searle – Walnut House

Sophie Smith-Holland – St John's Chambers

Daniel Swan – KBG Chambers

Jonathan Wilkinson – Albion Chambers

Tanya Zabihi – Albion Chambers 'Tanya is considered a tough and robust barrister. Clients respect her. She takes no prisoners.'

Richard Carron – Queen Square Chambers 'Richard is a tenacious counsel for a parent. He is extremely well prepared and provides confidence, knowledge, and expertise to parents who are clearly in difficult circumstances when dealing with the loss of their children. Richard is also extremely helpful in providing guidance and advice to solicitors regarding his requirements, preparation for a case, and case law that could be applied to a parent client case.'

Jade Corden – KBG Chambers

Emma Cross – Magdalen Chambers 'When you instruct Emma, you feel in good hands. She gets the work done and reports back quickly. Her advocacy is great as well - she speaks clearly and succinctly to the court.'

Yasmine El-Nazer – Albion Chambers

Emma Favata – KBG Chambers

Clare Fear - St John's Chambers

Saoirse Harris – Albion Chambers 'Saoirse is a tenacious advocate and is able to advance complex arguments of law confidently while on her feet. Saoirse always reads court bundles in advance and is always well prepared for the court hearing. Saoirse is great with clients and well respected by colleagues and other advocates.'

Caroline Hartley – Pump Court Chambers

Sarah Jennings – 3PB

Simranjit Kamal – Albion Chambers

Amelia King – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Amelia's advocacy is exemplary; she understands her brief and represents the client to her best ability. She is always well prepared and provides the instructing solicitor with an attendance note and a summary of what took place at court.'

Esther Lieu – 3PB 'Esther is extremely proficient at getting up to speed on a case quickly and in identifying key issues, both strengths and weaknesses. Her presentation of a case is excellent, but as an instructing solicitor, it is a pleasure to work with her as she will go the extra mile.'

Rhys Llewelyn Jenkins – Colleton Chambers

Amy Lush – 3PB

Fiona McCreath – College Chambers

Dominik Morton – St John's Chambers 'Dominik's greatest strength is his ability to put vulnerable clients at ease while achieving the best possible outcomes for clients through his impressive advocacy skills. Dominik is always fully prepared for every case and prepares detailed skeleton arguments or position statements in advance of the hearing. He is friendly, approachable, and well-liked by professionals and lay clients.'

Anita Noerr – Colleton Chambers

Francis Payne – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Francis is excellent with clients, offering a good balance of clear advice and sympathy. In the courtroom, his advocacy is commendable. He is able to focus on the details without losing sight of the overall objective.'

Nicola Peach - College Chambers

Emma Pearce – KBG Chambers

Jessica Price – College Chambers

Emma Roberts – Albion Chambers ‘Emma is an extremely able and reliable advocate with an excellent grasp of both the detail and the strategic direction of a case. Her advocacy is persuasive and measured, and she is effective at focusing the court on what matters. She has a strong command of the papers, even in document-heavy cases, and is adept at advancing a case robustly but proportionately. Clients respond well to her clear, respectful manner, and solicitors value her ability to give realistic, pragmatic advice. Her submissions are clear and well-structured.’

Jennifer Smith – Magdalen Chambers 'She is always on top of her brief, fabulously prepared, and always brings creative thinking to complex or entrenched cases, which is a key strength.'

Kingsleigh Viollet – College Chambers

Cordelia Williams – Pump Court Chambers

Rising Stars

James Adams – St John's Chambers 'It is apparent that James adopts a forensic approach to the court papers, and he has an eye for detail. He is tenacious and will robustly assert his client's case and challenge other parties with rigor.'

Charlie Barrass-Evans – Devon Chambers

Rebekah Batt – Pump Court Chambers 'Rebekah is a fantastic advocate who strives to ensure the best possible outcome for her clients, and her preparation is detailed and thorough. Her advice to clients at court is precise, and clients comment on her ability to relay their instructions to the judge.'

Bethany Burnard – Queen Square Chambers 'Bethany has a calm and reassuring manner with clients and instills them with instant confidence. She is very intelligent and rises to unexpected challenges diligently.'

Samuel Castlehouse – KBG Chambers 'Samuel is an excellent advocate; he is meticulous in his preparation and remains professional at all times. He demonstrates a very calm approach, whichever party he is representing, and he inspires confidence in clients when acting for parents in particular.'

Vivien Croly – St John's Chambers 'Vivien is extremely approachable. She works in a collaborative manner and is available outside of court hearings. She provides a good depth of knowledge and is thoroughly prepared. She has a great manner with clients. Vivien will think outside of the immediate issue and is robust in her advocacy. Vivien presents a well-prepared and thought-out case and does not shy away from tricky issues, tackling these head-on, achieving good outcomes for clients.'

Charlotte Davies – Albion Chambers 'Charlotte is an exceptional junior barrister. She combines hard work, attention to detail, high-quality advocacy, and compassion in her approach to every case. She has the ability to identify issues in each case at speed and deal with them in a precise and succinct manner that is easily digestible for clients.'

Naisha Hussain – Queen Square Chambers 'Charlotte is an exceptional junior barrister. She combines hard work, attention to detail, high-quality advocacy, and compassion in her approach to every case. She has the ability to identify issues in each case at speed and deal with them in a precise and succinct manner that is easily digestible for clients.'

Abigail Leigh – KBG Chambers 'She is thorough, approachable, and attendance notes and draft orders are always sent out in a timely manner, which makes it much easier to keep the case flowing and clients happy.'

Alex McHugh - Pump Court Chambers

Molly Mifsud – College Chambers 'Molly has demonstrated brilliant client care in sensitive matters with an empathetic yet pragmatic solution. Her ability to handle high-pressure situations with professionalism and reassurance is also commendable, as is her preparation for hearings, which is very thorough and she gives attention to detail.'

Diana Panizzon-Pineda – St John's Chambers 'Diana's preparation and communication, both before and after hearings, are immaculate, very prompt, and thorough. Her client care, both towards solicitors and lay clients, is attentive and understanding, and her advice is sound and comprehensive.'

Glen Pritchard – St John's Chambers 'Glen is very personable and is always happy to accept new cases, often at short notice. Glen is a competent advocate. Glen can develop a good rapport with clients and prepares well for cases.'

Jonathan Rees - College Chambers

Kellie Salter – 3PB

Georgina Swinglehurst – St John's Chambers

Poppy Watson – College Chambers 'Poppy is incredibly thorough when preparing for a case, and she is always fully appraised of the background. She obviously considers all the possible options; she is excellent at dealing with parent clients in very stressful situations, and she gives advice that can be difficult for them to hear sensitively but robustly.'

Jenny Wilson – St John's Chambers 'Jenny is incredibly thorough; she reads all the papers, absorbs everything about the case, and is completely on top of the details. She is well-equipped to handle cases with international elements. A great tactical thinker, she has the ability to deal with really difficult issues in such a calm and professional manner. Jenny does her utmost to get the best outcome for clients and is also very responsive to her instructing solicitors.'

Family: children and domestic abuse in Regional Bar

Tier 1 sets

3PB

3PB's June Venters KC is highly skilled in a wide range of children’s law matters, especially those at the intersection of family and criminal law. Lucy Hendry KC is another key silk at the set who routinely represents lay parties, children, intervenors, and guardians in both public and private law cases. Among the juniors at the set, family law specialist Steven Howard is notable for his expertise in public law care proceedings, as is Gemma Chapman, who often undertakes cases concerning allegations of neglect, sexual abuse, and physical abuse. Elisabeth Hudson handles both private and public law matters, and she is skilled in cases involving cross-border matters, such as international relocations or the return of children from other countries.

Principaux dossiers

Albion Chambers

Albion Chambers is home to a number of very active family law practitioners. One such member is Hayley Griffiths, who handles public and private law cases of the utmost seriousness, including those revolving around allegations of domestic abuse, emotional harm, and parental alienation. Fiona Farquhar often undertakes complex fact-finding hearings, especially those surrounding fabricated or fictitious illnesses and allegations of historical sexual abuse. William Heckscher specialises in public law work and boasts particular expertise in fractures and bruising to infants, as well as parental substance abuse and issues of neglect. Gemma Borkowski is highly adept at handling cases involving issues of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, as well as controlling and coercive behaviour, and Sarah Pope is sought after for representation in private and public law matters, and is skilled in parental manipulation, emotional harm, and cases surrounding the death of a child.

Principaux dossiers

Pump Court Chambers

Among the silks at Pump Court Chambers, Leslie Samuels KC is notable for his expertise in handling serious injuries to babies and children, including fatal injuries and poisonings, as well as allegations of sexual abuse. Penny Howe KC predominantly acts in public law cases and is adept in those surrounding deaths, fictitious illnesses, and sexual abuse claims. Turning to the juniors, Andrew Grime is skilled in adoption and care proceedings with experience representing local authorities, parents, and children, David Josty is also notably skilled in public law cases, handling the gravest of matters, including those surrounding substance abuse and allegations of neglect. For Corinne Iten, cases with international elements and issues of capacity are core areas of expertise.

Principaux dossiers

St John's Chambers

Among the silks at St John's Chambers, Lucy Reed KC is of note for her handling of both public and private law children work, including serious domestic and sexual abuse allegations. Turning to the juniors, Judi Evans is routinely called upon to represent local authorities in complex public law proceedings. Head of the children’s law group Abigail Bond is highly adept at working with vulnerable witnesses and parents with learning disabilities, with a practice that crosses over both Court of Protection and family law. Caroline Elford is another name to note, with strength in cases surrounding serious injuries to infants, sexual abuse and incest, and cases of fictitious illnesses.

Principaux dossiers

Tier 2 sets

College Chambers

The children’s law family group at College Chambers is led by Anthony Hand, who is sought after for his expertise in parental alienation, serious injuries to children, and sexual abuse allegations, as well as matters concerning adoption. Amy Oke is highly experienced in representing local authorities in public law proceedings, while Kingsleigh Viollet, who is fluent in both English and French, is skilled in cases with an international element.

Principaux dossiers

KBG Chambers

At KBG Chambers, head of the family law department William Higginson is a key junior to note who acts exclusively in public children law proceedings, especially those surrounding complex medical evidence, as is Samuel Castlehouse, who routinely represents parents, children, intervenors, and local authorities. Charlotte Ash handles both public and private law children’s work involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse.

Principaux dossiers

No.18 Barristers Chambers

Specialist family law set No.18 Barristers Chambers is home to a number of notable barristers in the children’s law arena. One such member is Tracey Hennessey, who boasts expertise in both public and private law matters, especially cases surrounding capacity issues, neglect, and sexual abuse. Nigel Cholerton is another key member of the set, who is sought after to represent parents, extended family, and children in private law cases, while Laura Baines routinely acts for parents, guardians and children in public law proceedings revolving around a wide range of issues, from domestic violence and substance abuse, to issues around placement outside of the jurisdiction.

Classements par PratiqueRegional Bar