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Family: Children And Domestic Violence

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3PB
No5 Barristers’ Chambers
St Ives Chambers
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Harcourt Chambers
St Mary’s Chambers
St Philips Chambers

Leading Silks

Timothy Bowe KC – St Ives Chambers ‘Timothy is very much a measured advocate. As a junior silk he has quickly established himself as a go-to silk for thorough understated representation which enables him to stand out above more flamboyant advocates, as judges listen to him.'
Nick Goodwin KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘Nick is incredibly quick at absorbing complex information and distilling it to the essential points in an accessible way, so you can move quickly in a case. He is one of the best lawyers in any court and the judiciary listen to what he has to say as a consequence.'
Richard Hadley KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Richard is fantastic at explaining things in a way the client can follow and engage with. He helps secure really positive outcomes for clients.’
Lucy Hendry KC – 3PB ‘Lucy is a determined advocate who will always present the client’s case with tenacity and enthusiasm. She is unwavering in her dedication to justice and has earned the respect of peers, clients, and opposing counsel alike.'
Elizabeth Isaacs KC – St Ives Chambers ‘Elizabeth is a powerhouse at the family Bar.  She has a deserved reputation for a forensic approach to her cases and leaves no stone unturned, and you know that she has considered every possible permeation in the evidence and can persuade the tribunal with her knowledge of the facts and law.’
Sara Lewis KC – St Philips Chambers ‘Sara is the KC you want on your case for any complex care proceedings involving non-accidental injury; she is the full package. Her knowledge of the area is impeccable, her research is deep and thorough, her client manner is sympathetic, but firm and realistic, and her advocacy really is exceptional.'
Elizabeth McGrath KC – 3PB ‘Elizabeth is very much the whole package, as she is extremely knowledgeable and experienced, she has a brilliant bedside manner, especially with clients who are vulnerable, and she has the ability to explain the most complex legal matters in a way that can be understood simply by lay clients. Her preparation and research in cases is meticulous, she leaves no stone unturned, her written arguments are incredibly strong, and her advocacy is equally impressive.'
Vanessa Meachin KC – 3PB ‘Vanessa is a distinguished King's Counsel with a stellar reputation for excellence in advocacy. With over 35 years call, she has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill in handling complex and challenging cases, and her expertise spans across all areas of family law, where she has achieved remarkable success and recognition.'
Lorna Meyer KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Lorna is an exceptional silk; her written and oral advocacy is exemplary in its preparation and forensic analysis is second-to-none. Lorna is able to put the most vulnerable clients at ease, and at the same time when needed to forcefully and forensically cross-examine even the most experienced of professional witnesses.’
Stefano Nuvoloni KC – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Stefano is extraordinarily bright and quick witted, and he has a particular ability to put the client at ease through humour. He has an excellent bedside manner, his advocacy is polished and considered, and he is highly regarded by the judiciary and senior solicitors.'
Jonathan Sampson KC - Harcourt Chambers 'Jonathan is an experienced silk, and he is a calm and measured advocate. Jonathan is able to identify the key issue or submission in a case with ease, and to persuade even the most difficult of judges to his point of view, and he has an excellent knowledge of the law and medicine.'
John Vater KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘John is the best trial silk at the family Bar; he’s brilliant because he cares so very much about the clients and the work. Utterly, completely and unapologetically fearless, watching him cross-examine in complex medical cases is like watching a classic car being driven by Max Verstappen: a sight to behold.’ 
Aidan Vine KC – Harcourt Chambers ‘Aidan is a tenacious advocate; his written documents are always detailed and well-researched and in oral advocacy he will pursue his argument as far as he can.'

Leading Juniors

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Christopher Adams – St Philips Chambers ‘Christopher is a silk masquerading as a junior; he is just exceptional. He brings a sense of authoritative calmness to every case he touches, and he operates on a different level to most.'
Matthew Brookes-Baker – Harcourt Chambers 'Matthew is one of the most effective and committed advocates around. He is clear and focused with every line he takes - a real force to be reckoned with.'
Kristina Brown – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Kristina has huge energy levels for her cases and she is a wonderful, engaging advocate who is highly respected by judges and opponents. She has a real natural charm but behind it, the sharpest of brains, both legally and tactically.’
Victoria Clifford – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Victoria is fierce and passionate in her representation, and she is a formidable advocate, being highly skilled and persuasive both in and out of court. She is known as approachable but no nonsense, and Victoria is excellent in her representation of children in care proceedings.'
Mark Cooper-Hall – St Ives Chambers ‘Mark is one of the most outstanding care practitioners; he is the whole package. He leaves no stone unturned in his preparation, the documents he produces assist the court and all advocates with the direction of the case irrespective of who he is representing, and as an advocate, he is calm, kind, unflappable, and deeply effective.’
Kirstie Danton – St Ives Chambers ‘Kirstie is a fluent and persuasive advocate who has a great attention to detail and excellent ability to explain complex matters succinctly. She is a trusted favourite and a first choice for complex matters at all levels, she is responsive and extremely helpful, and she is also adaptable.’
Sara Davis – St Mary’s Chambers ‘Sara is a fantastic barrister, as she is so easy to work with, great with clients and really knows her stuff. She is kind, gentle, understanding and patient, and she is a brilliant advocate.’
Alex Forbes – Harcourt Chambers 'Alex is extremely well prepared and focussed in his approach to cases. He is able to dissect complex medical opinion and present it in a way that can be readily understood.'
Michele Friel – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Michele is phenomenal and 100% committed to each and every case that she does. She is detailed and thorough in her preparation and always thinks of alternative strategies as well as guiding the clients to the necessary support networks that they would require to deal with the emotion and very frequent trauma involved in the nature of the work that she does.'
Kirsty Gallacher – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Kirsty is a formidable advocate and brings her all round excellence to bear on every case she appears in. She is always calm, deliberate and focused, and her grasp of the factual background is always excellent and reinforced by her sound legal analysis.'
Orla Grant – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Orla is an extremely capable advocate, and she is thorough in her preparation, knows her papers inside out, and deploys the detail well during the course of any trial.  She is an excellent lawyer and thinks carefully about a case strategy which she then sticks to and executes.’
Tom Harrill – St Ives Chambers ‘Tom is an exceptional advocate, he is always thoroughly prepared and his knowledge of the law and case law is phenomenal. He can calmly cross-examine lay and expert witnesses in a way that the judge finds helpful and the client can follow, he is precise and only asks questions that are necessary and pertinent, and can explain to any client what is happening so that they can follow, and feel listened to.’
Claire Howell – St Mary’s Chambers ‘Claire is a highly skilled and very ambitious advocate. She is very focused on achieving the best outcome possible for a client and works very hard to try to achieve this.’
Carolyn Jones – St Philips Chambers ‘Carolyn is a fearless, straight-talking advocate who always fights for her clients, and behind the scenes, she gives robust advice, but she also has a very kind bedside manner, especially with vulnerable clients. Carolyn is a true all-rounder with a phenomenal capacity for hard work, making her a real inspiration for more junior members of the profession.'
Tracy Lakin – St Ives Chambers
Justine Lattimer – St Ives Chambers ‘Justine is a phenomenal barrister and her natural ability to absorb, retain and analyse huge amounts of information never ceases to amaze. She is particularly experienced in representing extremely vulnerable persons, such as those with severe learning difficulties, and she regularly appears as a leading junior against silks and is a particular favourite of local authorities for this reason.'
Nicola Martin – 3PB ‘Nicola is very empathetic to the clients and has an ability to draw them out and connect with them. She is a fine advocate and in addition she is fast at providing written advice, and she is  very approachable for solicitors.'
Matthew Maynard – St Ives Chambers ‘Matthew is always impeccably prepared for his cases and a robust but measured advocate. He will approach the case in a balanced and fair way but exploit all appropriate avenues in his client's interests.'
Hannah Mettam –Harcourt Chambers ‘Hannah is a fantastically skilled and knowledgeable advocate. Her advocacy is first class and she puts forward arguments clearly, effectively and politely. Hannah is always polite, courteous, available to have conferences, proactive, and efficient.'
Yolanda Pemberton – St Philips Chambers ‘Yolanda is a very capable junior and she is extremely well-prepared for every case, often putting other advocates to shame by her knowledge of the case papers and the relevant law. She is often instructed in complex cases where she displays a real mastery of medical records or mobile phone evidence, and she is extremely professional and well-liked by judges, opponents, solicitors and lay clients alike.'
Heather Popley – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Heather is a well respected advocate in her field and this is reflected in her always being instructed in the most complex cases. She is a compassionate advocate with a sensitive, measured professional approach, and she is impressive.’
Ruth Richards – KCH Garden Square 'Ruth is a ferocious advocate and fights with every breath. She is formidable both inside and outside of the court room.'
Kathryn Taylor – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Kathryn is an excellent barrister and she always fights her client's corner. She is always well-prepared and is equally effective when making submissions or cross-examining a witness, and she has a relaxed style which belies her preparation and focus.'
Christopher Watson – St Philips Chambers ‘Christopher is forensic and thorough in his preparation and tactically astute. Christopher is known for his confident and commanding advocacy in the courtroom, and his presence is both authoritative and persuasive; every case is presented with utter conviction.'
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Stephen Abberley – 3PB ‘Stephen's strengths include forensic excellence and exceptionally strong written documents, such as skeleton arguments and position statements, which are always persuasive, detailed and focussed. His advocacy is always impressive, and often illuminating in what he brings out from a witness.'
Moira Ashton-Walsh – St Ives Chambers 'Moira demonstrates exceptional skill and professionalism in her work. She quickly grasps the complexities of cases, showing both empathy and understanding, which allows her to offer clear and realistic counsel, and her meticulous preparation and ability to present accurate, well-balanced statements ensures that legal terminology is effectively used without overwhelming the audience.'
Gemma Bowes – St Philips Chambers ‘Gemma is always incredibly well prepared and is able to cut through a wealth of material with ease. Her vast knowledge of the law and legal processes instills instant confidence within her clients and enables her to provide firm but fair advice.'
Nicola Brown – 3PB ‘Without a doubt, one of Nicola's greatest strength is her unique ability to establish a rapport with her clients and her bedside manner is unrivalled. No matter the client and no matter the circumstance of the case, clients are guaranteed to feel listened to, supported and encouraged.'
Nicholas Brown – St Philips Chambers ‘Nicholas is a calm, erudite advocate with an extensive knowledge of the law in his field, and he uses it to great effect on his feet. He is an advocate who pays real attention to the detail of case, his written work is excellent, and he is an extremely able advocate.'
Michelle Christie – St Philips Chambers
Judy Claxton – St Mary’s Chambers
Lucy Clayton – 3PB ‘Lucy is down-to-earth, pragmatic, approachable and knowledgeable. She is very calming with the clients, and good on her feet.'
James Cleary – St Ives Chambers
Andrew Duncan – 3PB ‘Andrew has an impressive ability to build an instant rapport with the lay client, instilling an immediate sense of trust and confidence in what can be an incredibly stressful and difficult time for the lay client. His preparation skills and attention to detail are two of many attributes for which he is well known for within the local circuit.'
Lucy Fairclough – Harcourt Chambers ‘Lucy is an exceptional barrister whom you can instruct on any matter with complete confidence, knowing that she will represent your client to the highest standard. Her advocacy skills are formidable, she is fearless in court and demonstrates unwavering commitment to advancing her client’s position, irrespective of the challenges the case may present, and her client care is exemplary.'
Matthew Fiddy – St Ives Chambers ‘Matthew is always extremely well prepared, he is calm and thoughtful even on the most complex of cases, and he is able to put the local authority’s position to the court in a convincing manner. He has excellent client care skills and ensures that full details of the hearing are sent to those instructing in a timely manner.’
Aimee Fox – 3PB ‘Aimee is a formidable opponent. She is sharp as a razor and calm under pressure. Aimee quickly gets to grips with complex issues and instinctively handles the most sensitive of situations. She is a pleasure to work with and skilled beyond her call.'
Zoe Henry – St Mary’s Chambers
Matiss Krumins – 3PB  ‘Matiss is incredibly easy to instruct, with a natural ability to understand and execute complex instructions with precision. In court, his advocacy is both effective and calm, and when it comes to cross-examination, he is formidable.’
Lawrence Messling –3PB
Lianne Murphy  - The Barrister Group
David Payne – St Ives Chambers ‘David is extremely thorough and meticulous in his approach to cases and will always make time to talk before a hearing and ensure that the issues have been properly considered with the client. David is approachable and always happy to go out of his way to assist on matters to ease some of the pressures on the solicitor.'
Samantha Reddington – St Albans Chambers
Louise Sapstead – St Ives Chambers ‘Louise is very capable and strong advocate. She always is well-prepared, organised and thorough, she always presents her case with admirable clarity and persuasiveness, and her cross-examination is focused and highly effective.’
Laura Scott – 3PB ‘Laura demonstrates exceptional advocacy skills, consistently presenting clients' cases with clarity, precision and confidence. She has an excellent approach to client care, demonstrating genuine empathy and understanding, particularly in sensitive cases involving domestic abuse or vulnerable clients, and she has a good, through understanding of family law and her ability to reference relevant case law and apply it effectively in proceedings.'
Daniel Sheridan  - Harcourt Chambers 'Dan has a real talent in relation to his advocacy. He is clear and firm in his approach but also empathy when undertaking his cross-examination. He is always child focused and has a real attention to detail on all cases.'
Margaret Styles – Harcourt Chambers ‘Margaret is a force to be reckoned with in the court room; a fierce advocate who is also so approachable. She will go the extra mile and genuinely makes a real difference to the cases you instruct her on, particularly the complex matters.'
Anita Thind – St Mary’s Chambers
Abigail Turner – St Philips Chambers ‘Abigail is always extremely well prepared and has a compassionate and reassuring manner with clients, and she has a particular strength in swiftly identifying the relevant issues in a case whilst fully taking on board all issues and listening to clients’ concerns. Abigail is also very approachable to her solicitor clients and will offer above and beyond with her time on a case as may be required.'
Steven Veitch – St Mary’s Chambers
Ben Clulee – St Mary’s Chambers ‘Ben is extremely knowledgeable regarding the law and his calm and sensitive approach makes him stand out. His robust, yet caring approach, helps to resolve the case in the best interests of the child, and he clearly puts a lot of thought into his advocacy, whether that is cross-examination or submissions.’
Sian Waldron – St Ives Chambers ‘Sian has a wealth of experience within public and private law matters and she is regularly instructed for her sensible, caring and meticulous approach to her work. She is a thorough and well prepared advocate, she knows every brief inside out and has thoroughly considered the issues in the case as a whole beyond what has been briefed.’
June Williams – Cornwall Street Barristers ‘June is an incredible advocate and she is able to quickly gain the trust of her clients and the respect of her peers and judges. She is a formidable opponent in court and will always use her best efforts to fight the client’s corner.’
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Sarah Beasley – St Mary’s Chambers
Amy Beddis – 3PB
Ayesha Bell-Paris - 3PB 'Ayesha is an excellent advocate. She cares deeply for her clients and this is shown by her thoughtful explanation of the process to clients and her attention to detail about their specific case, which immediately puts clients at ease.'
Poonam Bhari – 3PB
Jonathan Bott – Halcyon Chambers
Patrick Bowe  – KCH Garden Square 'Patrick has a keen analytical mind coupled with excellent client care skills, he will fight tooth and nail for clients, and his dogged determination achieves excellent results. Patrick has always provided sound and good advice.'
Thomas Bramall – St Ives Chambers
Nathalie Bull – 3PB ‘Nathalie’s knowledge and case preparation is exemplary. She provides a clear strategy and is able to deal with any unexpected events as she is has prepared the case so thoroughly, her advocacy is excellent, and she is calm and polite at all times, even in the face of unpleasant litigants in person.'
Lucy Cash - No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Lucy is a highly competent barrister with a very personable approach to clients. She is focussed on the key issues, with an attention to detail, she achieves very impressive results for clients and they are extremely happy with the work she does, and she will also maintain communication with the instructing solicitor to ensure that the transition for the client is seamless.'
Ben Chapman – St Ives Chambers
Samuel Coe – St Ives Chambers ‘Sam is an excellent barrister, and his standards have always been consistent since the first instruction to the most recent. He excels at every stage and goes above and beyond, his communication is detailed and prompt, and his client care is understanding and approachable.'
Stephen Crispin – Harcourt Chambers 'A strong, calm, unflappable advocate who cuts straight to the key issues.'
Rebecca Cross – St Ives Chambers ‘Rebecca's advocacy consistently stands out for its clarity, strategic approach and the ability to adapt under pressure.  Her position statements and skeleton arguments are meticulously prepared, legally sound and persuasive, often framing the case in a way that significantly influences judicial thinking from the outset, and she presents arguments with confidence and precision, remaining composed under judicial scrutiny and can pivot effectively in response to unexpected developments.'
Frida Dahlqvist – 3PB
Naomi Dean – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Naomi demonstrates exceptional preparation and an exemplary attention to detail, her advocacy skills are highly impressive, and her in-depth knowledge of her cases is evident throughout.'
Lawren Dobson – St Ives Chambers ‘Lawren is a tenacious advocate and extremely hard working, she fights every case with passion and commitment, and she also works incredibly well with vulnerable clients, accommodating their additional needs with great care and skill. She remains calm in a crisis and any client is fortunate to have her representation as she always goes the extra mile.'
Samantha Dunn – The 36 Group ‘Samantha is knowledgeable about her area of practice, extremely hard working and is able to bring focus to the issues in the case and how to best achieve client objectives, working well as a part of a team.' 
Anthony Finch – St Ives Chambers ‘Anthony is an excellent barrister who works extremely well with clients and other professionals to achieve  the very best outcome for his clients. He is articulate and well respected by the judiciary, preparation of his cases is second-to-none, and he posses the skills of a very experienced barrister whilst maintaining the skills to get on the client's level and understand their individual needs.’
Adeo Fraser – 3PB  ‘Adeo is very confident, knows the case in detail and has a very good style of advocacy. Strong advocate, methodical and great with clients.'
Paul Froud – 3PB ‘Paul is such a wonderful advocate; he is knowledgeable, passionate and effective. He is also fantastic with clients, in particular young and vulnerable clients, who know that through Paul, they have a voice.'
Martha Gray  – Harcourt Chambers
Thomas Green – Halcyon Chambers 'Tom has a great attention to detail and it is clear that he takes pride in his work in each and every case he works on. He is willing to go above and beyond for clients and ensures their best interests are always provided for, even in difficult and complex cases.'
Emma Griffiths – 3PB
Grace Gwynne - No5 Barristers’ Chambers 'Grace is a consummate advocate. She is powerful in court and inspires the confidence of the judiciary, she is always able to maintain focus on the central issues and is not distracted or diverted, and she has excellent client skills and is an effective negotiator.'
Joshua Hazelwood - St Mary’s Chambers
Ria Herbert - 3PB 'Ria quickly gets to the main issues in a case and is highly skilled in preparing the case based on its individual, relevant facts.  Ria is a robust advocate and will fully explain to her clients the benefits of advancing their case in a particular way, whilst listening to their individual concerns.'
Vickie Hodges – St Mary’s Chambers
William Horwood – St Philips Chambers ‘William is a conscientious and thorough barrister. He ensures that he takes his time and is careful with the most vulnerable of witnesses, which allows them to give the best evidence they can.'
Marie Huggins – St Mary’s Chambers
Malvika Jaganmohan – St Ives Chambers ‘Malvika is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to her advocacy. She knows the facts of the case inside out, has a careful ear to every intricate detail of the other party's case, and her way with the client is personable, creating a great rapport with the client and explaining matters in a way that is understandable to them, in what is generally a very stressful time.'
Karen Kabweru-Namulemu – 1GC | Family Law ‘Karen is a brilliant advocate for clients, as she will always bear in mind any disabilities or needs of clients and make sure she works in a way that is suitable for them. Karen is not afraid to go the extra mile to try and help clients and will always try and remain on cases if requested to keep consistency in counsel.'
Tom Lawal – St Ives Chambers 'Tom is an exceptional barrister, he has an extremely caring nature, putting the client at the heart of everything, and the advice given is proactive, realistic and robust. He is not afraid to highlight the weaknesses of a clients position but will readily advise on how to counter such a problem, and his advocacy skills are exceptional, he fights clients corners and strives for the best possible outcome.'
Victoria Lovett - St Mary’s Chambers 'Victoria is a brilliant advocate and great with clients. She builds rapport with clients and supports them in a way that few others can.'
Eleanor Marsh – 3PB ‘Eleanor's written work is of exceptionally high quality and she is meticulous with her preparation. Her advocacy is equally good and she is a safe pair of hands who clearly takes pride in her work and ensures she listens to her client's concerns too.' 
Laura Martin – St Mary’s Chambers ‘Laura is an all rounder. Extremely intelligent, quick on her feet, empathetic and understanding with clients and a force to be reckoned with when required.’
Nicola McIntosh – The 36 Group 'Nicola is a very experienced barrister and a very safe pair of hands in complex cases. She is calm and knowledgeable, pressing her case with courtesy - something that is welcomed by judges and clients.'
Katie Miller – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Katie is a bright, well prepared barrister who is eloquent and persuasive in her advocacy. She is measured when she deals with cases and provides advice to clients in a very professional and sympathetic way, and she has a very good reputation within the local legal circuit and is often a first port of call for most instructing solicitors.’
Natasha Miller – Harcourt Chambers ‘Natasha is a really good advocate with razor sharp cross-examination skills. She works tirelessly for clients, even in cases which seem to have less merit, and she is a strong advocate who is very well respected by judiciary and other counsel.'
Kathryn Moran – St Mary’s Chambers 'Kathryn is an exceptionally diligent, thorough and hard working advocate, and she regularly volunteers to take on tricky additional tasks to improve the presentation of the case and to take pressure off her instructing solicitor. Her advocacy is further enhanced by the quality and thoroughness of her preparation, meaning that she is never caught out and rarely on the back foot as a result.'
Arrin Nouri – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Arrin's attention to detail and presentation at court is vastly beyond her year of call. She holds herself in high regard with the court and her knowledge is extensive, and Arrin goes above and beyond in providing continued support.'
Edward Pearce – Halcyon Chambers 'Edward has excellent knowledge of the law and is excellent with clients who always feel very comfortable around him and are always happy with their representation. Edward's advocacy is always been brilliant, and it doesn't matter what the client's instructions are, he is always able to make a case and leave the client feeling like their case has been put across.'
Richard Posner - KCH Garden Square 'Richard is excellent at putting clients at ease, particularly when they are faced with tough proceedings. He ensures that client's instructions are put to the court in the strongest possible way, and he always provides good and quick feedback following the hearing so that there is no delay.'
Oliver Powell – Harcourt Chambers ‘Oliver is able to bring together key themes in what can often be complicated proceedings and present this in a very clear and organised format to the court.'
Amy Richardson – Cornwall Street Barristers 'Amy is always approachable and goes above and beyond every time in her work ensuring her thorough preparation. She always makes every effort to ensure her instruction eases workload rather than becoming a burden, and she is well liked by clients and is able to give advice in a way that they can understand, even when that advice is difficult to hear. '
Gregory Rogers – St Ives Chambers ‘Gregory's strength is his preparation and presentation in complex cases. He is a very well-respected advocate who is regularly instructed by all parties in family public law cases, he is known for his straightforward and informed approach in complex and sensitive care cases, and he is one of the best in his field and parties always want to instruct him before others do.'
Ricky Seal – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Ricky is always calm, measured and professional, and his knowledge and written documents are always comprehensive and strong. He is extremely analytical and has a particular strength on complex cases where he excels. and his advocacy is always focussed and persuasive, often against KCs or in dealing with litigants in person.’
Susan Todd – 3PB ‘Susan is an exceptionally hardworking member of the Bar with outstanding attention to detail. Her dedication and precision in every task is truly impressive, and she consistently ensures accuracy in all aspects of  her cases, from thorough research to meticulous document preparation.’
Hena Vissian – The 36 Group 'Hena is an outstanding barrister whose advocacy skills are consistently impressive, and you can have complete confidence when instructing her, knowing that she will represent clients with exceptional professionalism and diligence. Hena is a tenacious advocate who presents her client’s case with clarity, confidence, and conviction, and she is unwavering in her commitment to advancing her client’s position, no matter how complex or challenging the circumstances may be.'
Rachel Watkins – The 36 Group
Stephen Williams – St Mary’s Chambers 'Stephen is a thorough and articulate advocate who advances his client's case with passion and skill. He is very personable and puts clients at ease through difficult situations.'
Grace Wright – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Grace is an impressive advocate who is able to identify relevant issues quickly and is able to present the case in the best possible light. She prepares her case meticulously and is able to provide good quality position statements and other legal documents, including relevant case law to support any relevant legal arguments.'
Stuart Yeung – The 36 Group

Rising Stars

Bethany Armitage - St Philips Chambers 'Bethany has a specific strength in dealing with vulnerable clients, as she takes the time to understand clients’ needs and continuously advocates for their best interests. She excels at explaining complex legal concepts in layman's terms, ensuring that clients fully understand their situations and options, and her empathetic and humanistic approach enables clients to give their instructions without fear of judgement.'
Rachel Bloxwich - 3PB 'Rachel has experience and expertise beyond her call having also previously practised as a solicitor. Rachel has a compassionate and reassuring manner with clients, whilst being a robust and respectful advocate, and she is particularly skilled at explaining the benefits of advancing a client's case in the most effective way, given the facts of their particular case, which puts clients at ease and obtains the necessary results.'
Paige Campbell – Harcourt Chambers ‘Paige is an exceptional barrister who is way advanced beyond her year of call. She is always well prepared, strategic whilst providing empathy and understanding to a client.'
Thomas Duggan – St Ives Chambers
Holly Hilbourne-Gollop – St Ives Chambers ‘Holly is an exceptional advocate in every way. Her preparation is always meticulous and her client care is exemplary. Holly always goes the extra mile in supporting both the client and instructing solicitor and will make herself available for any urgent queries that may come up as part of the case, and she is extremely confident and impressive in terms of her advocacy and will always fight on the client’s behalf.’
Zara Mahmood – St Ives Chambers ‘Zara is a passionate and dedicated barrister, who prepares her cases excellently and has a strong attention to detail and firm advocacy skills. She has consistently achieved very good outcomes for the clients, going the extra mile to ensure their case is well represented, and she provides accurate and sensible advice, maintaining the focus on the key issues to ensure the best results and client satisfaction.'
Rhianna Manani – No5 Barristers’ Chambers ‘Rhianna is an articulate, well prepared and personable barrister. She has excellent client and advocacy skills and is confident in dealing with a range of cases in court, including complex international element cases.'
Sam Pentony – 3PB ‘Sam is a robust and reliable advocate with a keen eye for detail. His meticulous preparation allows him to drill down to the real issues at hand, with ease, and he is an incredibly hardworking individual who approaches every task with a level of commitment and precision that is truly commendable.'
George Smith – St Ives Chambers ‘George is a very capable and confident junior who often punches above his weight in terms of year of call. He is extremely well-prepared for every hearing, and having been led by leading juniors and silks on several big cases, he has learned a lot about how to handle complex proceedings.'
Olivia Whitworth – No5 Barristers’ Chambers

Family: children and domestic abuse in Regional Bar

3PB


With ‘a profound understanding of family law and non-accidental injury cases‘ and considerable experience in care, adoption, and private law matters Vanessa Meachin KC heads up the family law group at 3PB, ‘an excellent set with a range of barristers of the highest quality in the field of complex care proceedings‘. Emma Griffiths leads the children law practice, and head of chambers Elizabeth McGrath KC has a ‘brilliant bedside manner‘ and an active private and public law practice, the former including cases surrounding domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, and parental alienation, and the latter demonstrating expertise in proceedings with international elements. Lucy Hendry KC is an ‘extremely effective and dynamic advocate‘ and is highly proficient in representing an array of clients, including children, intervenors, and guardians, including those with cognitive and capacity issues. Turning to the juniors, Nicola Martin also has a broad ranging practice, encompassing care cases arising from serious and fatal injuries to children, and private law cases concerning abduction and relocation. Aimee Fox is highly skilled in handling proceedings centred around children with significant educational needs. Matiss Krumins is another notable practitioner with prowess in administrative law and judicial review proceedings - he appeared in the unusual case of The Father v Worcestershire CC, representing the local authority in the Supreme Court against a litigant in person, who sought the return of his children from a care order not through any family law remedy but through a writ of habeas corpus. Lucy Clayton has a strong focus on cases surrounding issues of parental alienation, sexual abuse, and coercive control, as well as surrogacy-related matters.

Les références

‘Ian Charlton is always attentive and will always be available to help. Isabelle Lea is extremely good, has excellent communication and makes you feel that she has everything under control.’

‘Ian Charlton is a go-to. You can completely trust his opinion.’

‘David Sadler is efficient, helpful and provides excellent customer service.’

Principaux dossiers














No5 Barristers' Chambers


No5 Barristers’ Chambers boasts ‘an excellent range of counsel with formidable knowledge’, and one such practitioner is Stefano Nuvoloni KC, who has ‘a thorough and complete knowledge of children’s matters,‘ and predominantly focuses on public children law cases surrounding the most serious of allegations, including the murder of children and parents, as well as fabricated or induced illnesses. Kristina Brown is especially notable in Children Act cases; she has a significantly varied practice that encompasses cases regarding sexual abuse, surrogacy, neglect, and child trafficking, and she is lauded as ‘a wonderfully engaging advocate who is highly respected by judges and opponents’. Victoria Clifford regularly appears before the High Court and is also highly experienced in cases regarding child trafficking, as well as sexual exploitation, brain injuries, and fractures. ‘Formidable advocate‘ Kirsty Gallacher is particularly skilled in handling cases concerning catastrophic brain injuries to children, while for Orla Grant, FGM protection orders and terrorism-related cases are an area of expertise; across the public and private law spheres, she is instructed by local authorities, parents and extended family members, children, and prospective adopters.

Les références

‘Clerks are all very helpful. A go-to is Adam Wadley, who knows his team well and can make appropriate suggestions for a particular case.’

‘Always excellent service from the clerks, in particular Adam Wadley.’

‘Adam Wadley and Clare Radburn are superb.’

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St Ives Chambers


‘Go-to‘ set St Ives Chambers is ‘firmly established within the Midlands‘ and has experienced significant growth, with a number of barristers from KCH Garden Square joining the set in September 2024, and subsequently a new Nottingham office was opened in March 2025. Having previously worked as a child protection social worker, Elizabeth Isaacs KC is exceptionally well-placed to handle both complex private and public law proceedings, and she is ‘restless in her pursuit of justice‘. Timothy Bowe KC is ‘extremely intelligent and has an excellent knowledge of the law‘, and he has appeared before the High Court and Court of Appeal on behalf of local authorities, parents, and children in cases surrounding allegations of sexual abuse, fabricated and induced illness, and fatal injuries. Among the juniors, Justine Lattimer is a key name to note as an ‘absolutely unshakable‘ practitioner with significant experience in cases surrounding forced marriages, FGM, and sexual abuse allegations, as well as deprivation of liberty. Family law specialist Matthew Maynard, who is ‘always impeccably prepared‘, predominantly practices in public children law, especially complex care proceedings, with expertise in human trafficking and severe injuries to children. Tom Lawal is joint head of the private family law team and exclusively represents parents, grandparents, and children through guardians.

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‘The clerks are personable and it feels like they care. They can make recommendations based on the nature of the case which is invaluable. Sarah Robinson, Nick Burdon and Asma Akhtar run matters like a well-oiled machine!’

‘The clerks provide an excellent service. They are highly responsive and user friendly. Stuart Walker and Nick Burdon are standouts.’

‘Clerks are superb. Nick Burdon in particular will aways do his utmost to help even in an emergency.’

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Harcourt Chambers


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‘.

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‘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.’

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St Mary's Chambers


Specialist family law set St Mary’s Chambers is praised for its ‘top-rate‘ barristers, and it is home to ‘fantastic barrister‘ Sara Davis, who was originally called to the Bar in Canada, and head of chambers Claire Howell, who is sought after by local authorities and guardians. Judy Claxton‘s practice exclusively focuses on public children law work, and she is especially skilled in handling proceedings surrounding significant and fatal injuries, as well as significant allegations of sexual abuse. Laura Martin undertakes both private and public law work, with expertise in proceedings surrounding forced marriages and FGM; she is highly praised as ‘extremely intelligent, quick on her feet, empathetic and understanding with clients‘. 2024 saw Steven Veitch, Zoe Henry, Marie Huggins, and Sarah Beasley join the set to considerably bolster its family law offering.

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‘Tim Smith and Kamla Chall are always helpful, polite and accommodating and will frequently go out of their way to assist you. They also offer a service whereby clients, solicitors and counsel can attend the chambers for a CVP hearing, which their technology makes absolutely seamless.’

‘Tim Smith and his team are truly excellent.  They provide a brilliant service and always, without exception, will try to help. Tim cares about the service his team and his barristers provide and has yearly check-ins with us. He is proactive and responsive.’

‘All of the clerks are helpful and accommodating. Their diary management is efficient and organised and they are very quick to find solutions to assist solicitors practices.’

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St Philips Chambers


Christopher Adams, who regularly acts for local authorities, parents, and children in cases surrounding serious injuries to children, and Christopher Watson, who is experienced in international adoption and inherent jurisdiction cases, jointly head up the children law group at St Philips Chambers, within which sits specialist family practitioner Sara Lewis KC, who is often in the High Court due to her ‘fantastic knowledge of the medical issues‘, representing clients in cases of the upmost seriousness surrounding complex medical evidence and allegations of causing catastrophic and fatal injuries to children, as well as sexual abuse and fabricated and induced illness cases. The set is praised for having ‘top-class barristers‘, and head of the family team as a whole is Carolyn Jones, a ‘formidable advocate‘ who handles both public and private law matters. The ‘sagacious and highly experienced‘ Gemma Bowes has considerable strength in proceedings surrounding forced marriages, fabricated illness, and extremism. Nicholas Brown boasts expertise in care proceedings, with particular expertise in cases regarding FGM; he has an ‘eye for detail and is extremely knowledgeable about the law and procedure‘. Yolanda Pemberton exclusively acts in public law matters and is highly equipped to act in cases surrounding historic sexual abuse, neglect, and radicalisation. William Horwood predominately acts in public law proceedings and is sought after for his expertise in handling cases regarding the placement of children outside of the UK.

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‘Very receptive chambers with clerks that are responsive and helpful. Anthony Burgess and Sarah Doyle particularly amenable and friendly and do their best to accommodate any requests.’

‘St Philips is the go-to chambers in Birmingham with top-class barristers, but having top class barristers do not make the chambers alone – it is also having top class clerks in Kelly Fullwood and Mark Mansell. The clerking at St Philips is brilliant and very supportive and will go that extra mile to support you and the case.’

‘The clerks are very helpful and accommodating, especially Kelly Fullwood, who is always friendly and happy to help.’

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