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Family: Children And Domestic Violence

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3PB
Albion Chambers
Pump Court Chambers
St John’s Chambers
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College Chambers
KBG Chambers
No.18 Barristers Chambers

Leading Silks

Lucy Hendry KC – 3PB ‘Lucy is a confident and robust advocate, her preparation is thorough and she always has a strong grasp of the papers, even in the most complex cases. Her understanding of complex medical issues and her ability to cross-examine experts makes her stand out from the crowd in terms of her advocacy.'
Penny Howe KC – Pump Court Chambers ‘Penny is a powerful advocate who takes command of the room in a measured and calm way. Her preparation is meticulous and she is able to read the judge and parties, and adapt her approach as to what is likely to be received well.'
Lucy Reed KC – St John’s Chambers ‘Lucy has very strong advocacy and a lovely, easy manner which finds favour with the court. Brilliant client management and bedside manner, and she completely puts clients at ease in very difficult cases and the client trusts her judgement instantly.'
Leslie Samuels KC – Pump Court Chambers ‘Leslie is absolutely first rate and a class act. He has a calm measured approach to his advocacy which reaps rewards from the most obdurate of judges, he presents his case skilfully without ever overstating his position, and speaks with absolute conviction when that is warranted.'
June Venters KC - 3PB 'June is a remarkable advocate, she is exceptionally hard working, and she knows her case from all directions. She is entirely unflappable in court and has a presence which demands the court's attention, and her ability to read a witness and understand how to get what she needs from them in cross-examination is second-to-none.'
Claire Wills-Goldingham KC – Colleton Chambers

Leading Juniors

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Laura Baines – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Laura is an exceptional advocate, as she is quick thinking and articulate with a deep knowledge of the law. Her strength is her ability to communicate effectively with professionals and lay clients alike and she is extremely approachable and personable.'
Abigail Bond – St John’s Chambers ‘Abigail has a wealth of experience and is able to get the the crux of the issue and provide clear and concise legal advice to clients. Her advocacy skills are empathetic when needed and she is able to put forward the clients position in a robust yet measured way.'
Gemma Chapman – 3PB ‘Gemma is quick thinking and hard working, she fights tirelessly for her clients and doesn't readily settle and instead she rises to the challenge and keeps pressing forwards to overcome obstacles that may be in her path.'
Judi Evans – St John’s Chambers
Emma Harman – 3PB ‘Emma is an exceptional advocate, well prepared, empathetic and clear about the client's objectives and how they might be achieved.  She provides clear advice throughout, and her advocacy is concise and calm, whilst being deeply rooted in her instructions and the law.'
William Higginson – KBG Chambers ‘William is a quality advocate and his in-depth knowledge of the facts of the case and of the relevant law are always exemplary. Alongside that is his ability to make professional clients feel at ease and comfortable in his presence, and he is meticulous in his preparation and a pleasure to work with.'
Steven Howard – 3PB ‘Steven is an exceptionally diligent, thorough and knowledgeable advocate. He is capable of advocating on extremely complex and nuanced medical issues and points of law, to great effect.'
Elisabeth Hudson – 3PB ‘Elisabeth is very personable and is able to put clients at ease very quickly, which helps them to trust and understand the advice she provides. She always plans her advocacy so she is able to explain to the client the arguments to be made, and the potential pitfalls.'
Susan Hunter – St John’s Chambers
David Josty – Pump Court Chambers ‘David is an exceptionally strong advocate seeking to put his client’s case positively, both in pre-hearing discussions and in the hearing itself. He is always well prepared and spends time speaking with his instructing solicitor and the client to ensure that he has all of the details and to provide clear advice about the likely outcome, issues to argue, relevant law etc, and within the hearing, David is sensitive to the approach of the particular tribunal making his submissions more powerful.'
Jennifer Swan – Pump Court Chambers
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Charlotte Ash – KBG Chambers ‘Charlotte is fantastic to work with, she is hard working, thorough, reliable, prepares her cases extremely well, is forthright, and demonstrates empathy and care for the client. The clients whom have worked with Charlotte find her to be a great resource for their case and they respond well to Charlotte’s advice and representation.’
Hugh Cornford – Colleton Chambers ‘Hugh is compassionate and approachable. He makes clients feel very comfortable in what are extremely stressful circumstances, he cuts straight to the chase with points of law and questioning in court, and he takes the time to listen to the client and give clear guidance.'
Sally Daulton – Devon Chambers 'Sally is a very safe pair of hands. She is knowledgeable and thorough, she is very kind to clients and very patient, and nothing ruffles her feathers.'
Caroline Elford – St John’s Chambers ‘Caroline has great professionalism, expertise and commitment to client care. She is very approachable with excellent communication and organisational skills, she has an in-depth understanding of the legal complexities in child law and is able to navigate them effectively, with a very child focused approach, and she is an accomplished advocate, who is well respected by her peers and the judiciary alike.’
Fiona Farquhar – Albion Chambers ‘Fiona is a family law expert and her knowledge of the law is impressive, which she is able to use effectively for her clients. Her advocacy is extremely high quality, and she is tenacious and always clear and detailed.'
Nicola Frost – 3PB ‘Nicola has incredible advocacy skills, a great kindness with clients and is always available to take a call, answer an email or take a brief meeting with a vulnerable client. Her advocacy style is firm when necessary, and she gets the ear of the judge and ensures that the judge has considered her point before moving on.’
Andrew Grime – Pump Court Chambers ‘Andrew's knowledge of the law is superb; there really is nothing he doesn't know! He is always quick to inform what has happened in court and any points that need to be addressed, he communicates very well making sure there is nothing he hasn't missed nor misunderstood, and he is able to deal with tricky lay clients and professional clients with the same professional attitude and skill.'  
Anthony Hand – College Chambers ‘Anthony has such a wealth of experience and knowledge that he is unfazed by any situation or occurrence, no matter how complex. He is always very well prepared and has a calm manner even when conducting the most difficult of hearings, and he will always provide an update without delay following a hearing and never hesitates to go above and beyond in supporting those instructing.'
William Heckscher – Albion Chambers ‘William is excellent, always professional, and well prepared. He is a strong advocate, intellectual, reassuring and empathetic, and inspires confidence both for clients and the court.'
Tracey Hennessey – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Tracey is an experienced and exceptional advocate with a deep knowledge of the law and she is able to articulate complex legal arguments, making her a first port of call for complex cases. She is personable and friendly and well liked by both professional and lay clients.'
Katherine Henry – Henry Chambers  'Katherine's analysis is second-to-none in private children work; she has a wonderfully calm manner about her advocacy which quietly reassures everyone in any courtroom that she knows what she is doing and you can trust her analysis and submissions entirely. Clients love her friendly, down-to-earth approach but when the need strikes her advocacy can be powerful and straight to the point.'
Victoria Hoyle – Devon Chambers ‘Victoria is really hard working, thoroughly prepared, easy to work with and has exceptional client skills. Her presentation of the case is skilful and always effective.'
Corinne Iten – Pump Court Chambers ‘Corinne is an excellent advocate, putting her client's case strongly and clearly while remaining conscious of the law, the current practice and policies and the needs of all parties. She is vulnerable witness trained and ensures that the proper practices are put into action while being pragmatic about an individual witness's needs and wishes, and she is very analytical and clear in her case plan and interrogation and she prepares hugely helpful position statements and skeleton arguments setting out the law and her client's position clearly and with proper force.'
Sarah O’Hara – 3PB
Sarah Pope – Albion Chambers ‘Sarah is an extremely robust advocate who will fight hard for her client. She is extremely experienced in dealing with complex private children law matters and will give clear advice.'
Daniel Swan – KBG Chambers
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Gemma Borkowski – Albion Chambers ‘Gemma is extremely knowledgeable and her attention to detail is impeccable. Her advocacy skills are incredible, she combines the ability of being gentle, kind and understanding with the client and being robust when cross-examining the other side, and she can quickly think on her feet and adapt her cross-examination to reflect the answers given.'
Sara Chalk – No.18 Barristers Chambers ‘Sara is well adept at dealing with highly complex legal matters including FII and NAI cases. She is exceptionally well prepared and familiar with a wide array of expertise making her a valuable resource.’
Nigel Cholerton – No.18 Barristers Chambers ‘Nigel is an excellent advocate in court and the feedback from clients is always positive. He puts the clients at ease and is also a good negotiator outside of the courtroom, managing to reach an agreement with the other side outside of court on many occasions.’
Alice Darian – Albion Chambers ‘Alice is a real class act who is years ahead of her call. Alice is an exceptional barrister who will always fight hard on behalf of her client, and she is solid, robust and extremely persuasive on her feet.’
Victoria Ellis – Pump Court Chambers ‘Victoria is a measured and robust advocate who is able to adapt her style to the needs of the case. She specifically does not need to exert herself, but rather makes submissions and examines in a considered manner which makes her compelling to the court but also leads the party being examined to react as required.’
Hayley Griffiths – Albion Chambers ‘Hayley is very user friendly and popular with clients and she has a particular skill representing vulnerable parents. Hayley is an excellent advocate who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to any case, and she is always well prepared and will go the extra mile for her clients who warm to her immediately.'
Caroline Hartley – Pump Court Chambers
Sophie Smith-Holland – St John’s Chambers ‘Sophie is extremely thorough and diligent in her preparation, and her attention to detail is second-to-none. Her knowledge and experience is fantastic, and she is able to look at a case in creative ways to ensure that progress is made.’
Joanna Lucas – Albion Chambers ‘Joanna is clear and pragmatic in her advice, she thinks laterally around any issue, and delivers advice in a way that clients are able to understand and follow. Her communication with her instructing solicitor is prompt, helpful and creates a constructive dialogue which assists in providing the client with the most cohesive representation.'
Ryan Morgan – St John’s Chambers ‘Ryan is a very confident and well respected advocate. His preparation and drafting abilities are unmatched, he is always approachable both to instructing solicitors and clients, and he is very calm and thorough and puts the most vulnerable and anxious clients at ease.'
Amy Oke – College Chambers ‘Amy is incredibly knowledgeable and her abilities are well beyond her years. She handles cases and the client incredibly professionally, remaining calm and unfazed throughout, providing the client with reassurance and confidence in her abilities and skills.'
Olivia Pike – St John’s Chambers ‘Olivia has a practical, focused approach with an ability to identify the important issues and to filter out those matters that are not going to greatly assist the court in making a decision. Her paperwork is clear and concise and she communicates well with those instructing her to ensure that nothing is overlooked.'
Laura Searle – Walnut House ‘Laura has a real attention to detail, and she is a very effective advocate. She manages difficult clients and opponents remarkably well.’ 
Emma Southern – 3PB ‘Emma’s advocacy is second-to-none. She is a go-to advocate in the most complex of cases, in particular cases involving non-accidental injuries, and she is empathetic with clients and also meticulous in her analysis of the case papers.’
Jonathan Wilkinson – Albion Chambers
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Ruth Armstrong  - Queen Square Chambers  'Ruth is able to speak with clients in a way they are able to understand and has a sympathetic and practical approach.  She ensures clients have realistic expectations whilst also ensuring the client has the best opportunity to succeed in their case.'
Helen Brander  – Pump Court Chambers
Richard Carron – Queen Square Chambers
Rachel Chapman – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Rachel is an excellent all-round advocate, she is always well prepped and knowledgeable about discreet points of law, and she is excellent at reporting the outcome in a timely manner and is always happy to answer any further queries.'
Jade Corden – KBG Chambers
Emma Cross – Magdalen Chambers
Yasmine El-Nazer – Albion Chambers ‘Yasmine is an incredibly supportive barrister, as she is fully engaged in your case, responsive to calls and emails and works collaboratively to provide clients with the best service from their legal team. As an advocate, Yasmine is confident, persuasive, knows when to be firm and also when to take a more delicate approach.'
Emma Favata – KBG Chambers 
Libby Harris - Albion Chambers 'Libby is an exceptionally strong advocate who is calm under pressure but is able to articulate herself very well when on her feet and is an effective and strong advocate. She prides herself with a great level of empathy, she is very well respected not only with clients but with other barristers and lawyers, and she is a very safe pair of hands and is very pragmatic in terms of resolving issues before the court.'
Claire Hook – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Claire is an extremely strong advocate who puts a client's argument to the court in the strongest way possible, often leading to positive outcomes for clients. She has a soft and gentle approach and excels with vulnerable clients due to her personable and sensitive approach.'
Sarah Jennings – 3PB 'Sarah is very organised, she is always well prepared and promptly advises those instructing of the hearing outcome. Sarah is strong, confident and always has a wonderful compassionate manner with clients.'
Amelia King - No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Amelia is robust and thorough in her approach, demonstrating exceptional attention to detail and a strong grasp of the law and case law. Amelia manages clients effectively, ensuring they understand the process while setting realistic expectations.'
Esther Lieu – 3PB ‘Esther is an exceptional advocate, and she is calm, measured and focused. She is highly skilled, very approachable and has excellent client care skills, and she instils confidence in the instructing solicitor.’
Amy Lush – 3PB ‘Amy’s preparation is meticulous, she will always arrive at court or at a hearing with a comprehensive knowledge of the case and the finer details of it, and a thorough case note is always prepared well in advance containing all the salient points that the court needs to be aware of. Amy’s manner with clients is such that she puts them at ease with her demeanour.’
Fiona McCreath – College Chambers ‘Fiona is an incredibly experienced advocate who has worked for local authorities, Guardians and parent clients. She is an excellent advocate with a real ability to get to the heart of the issues, and she is particularly good with vulnerable clients who say she is adept at breaking down complex information so that it is readily understandable.'
Danielle Metters - Devon Chambers 'Danielle is an extremely skilled barrister with exceptional advocacy skills, and when instructing her, you know your client is in a safe pair of hands. She provides sensible advice and you can guarantee that she will be well prepared and take a robust approach to ensure the best outcome.'
Caroline Middleton – Albion Chambers ‘Caroline has superb client handling skills. She is able to manage the most difficult and challenging clients, and has seemingly endless patience, she adopts a pragmatic approach to resolving cases and works hard to find a workable resolution, and her advocacy is clear, calm and persuasive.'
Anita Noerr – Colleton Chambers ‘Anita is fantastic to work with, as she is hard-working, thorough, reliable, prepares her cases extremely well, is forthright when required to progress the case, and demonstrates empathy and care for the client. Clients find her to be a great resource for their case and they respond well to her advice and representation, and she is also a barrister that you can easily drop an email to or call, and she has no hesitation in providing support and response.’
Francis Payne – No.18 Barristers Chambers 'Francis is a highly skilled barrister known for his exceptional advocacy and meticulous case preparation. His strength really does lie in his clear, persuasive communication style, strategic thinking and ability to adapt his arguments effectively to the needs of the case.'
Emma Pearce – KBG Chambers ‘Emma is able to grasp the fundamentals of a case with ease and provide effective legal advice. Emma is a calm and effective advocate with a no nonsense approach.'
Richard Pinhorn  – Queen Square Chambers  'Richard is extremely thorough and a very reassuring presence in court.'
Jessica Price – College Chambers
Emma Roberts - Albion Chambers 'Emma, having previously worked as a solicitor, is very strong in relation to client care and understanding the timescales that solicitors can work to. Her previous experience of working in-house for a local authority also makes her a strong advocate in public law matters.'
Charlotte Street – Pump Court Chambers
Kingsleigh Viollet – College Chambers ‘Kingsleigh is incredibly bright and affable, his preparation is scrupulous and his advocacy skills are top tier, and he has earned a fabulous reputation in the local region due to his diligent representation of instructing solicitors’ clients.’
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 rigour.'
Charlie Barrass-Evans - Devon Chambers 'Charlie is a breathe of fresh air, as he is fantastic in handling proceedings of a sensitive nature, ensuring vulnerable clients are supported, heard and feel at ease. He is available to discuss matters at length, offering guidance and assistance to ensure the best outcome for the client, he has excellent communication skills, and he takes a calm, empathetic approach, showing a good level of understanding whilst providing clear and sensible advice.'
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.’
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 a confidence in the clients when acting for parents particularly.’
Vivien Croly - St John’s Chambers 'Vivien is at the top of her game. She has an eye for detail, gives common sense advice and is able to capture the court's attention with confidence.'
Simranjit Kamal – Albion Chambers ‘Simranjit demonstrates exceptional individual strengths in her representation of clients who have learning difficulties, as she shows skill in making complex legal processes accessible and understandable. Her empathetic approach creates a supportive environment where the client feels comfortable expressing their views and concerns, and most importantly, she carefully listens to instructions and powerfully advocates for her clients' position in court.'
Rhys Llewelyn Jenkins - Colleton Chambers  'Rhys is always exceptionally well prepared and invariably has an excellent grasp of the facts and legal issues of a case. Of note is his superior knowledge of a case and he is an incisive advocate who is able to articulate complex concepts in a way that can be understood by everyone in the court room.'
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.'
Dominik Morton - St John’s Chambers 'Dominik is incredibly thorough when preparing matters, and always engages well with the solicitor and the client department in advance, to provide expert advice and support in complex cases. In court, Dominik is a very thoughtful and precise advocate, who goes above and beyond in ensuring instructions and expectations are met.'
Diana Panizzon-Pineda - St John’s Chambers 'Diana's preparation and communication both before and after hearings is immaculate, very prompt and thorough.  Her client care, both towards solicitor and lay client, is attentive and understanding, and her advice is sound and comprehensive.'
Kellie Salter – 3PB ‘Kellie is very organised and well prepared for every hearing. A particular strength is her compassion and interpersonal skills, which helps client's feel supported throughout the court day and in particular Kellie is very good with vulnerable clients with issues such as victims of domestic abuse or mental health difficulties.'
Georgina Swinglehurst – St John’s Chambers ‘Georgina's preparation is excellent, she knows the case inside out and has the relevant law at her fingertips. She is both empathetic and pragmatic, clients feel that she has their back and they are very well supported by her in difficult and sensitive situations, and she is a persuasive and determined advocate.'
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 deals with giving advice that can be difficult for them to hear sensitively but robustly.'

Family: children and domestic abuse in Regional Bar

3PB


3PB is ‘an excellent chambers and a go-to for family matters'. Among the silks at the set, Lucy Hendry KC is praised as ‘one of the best silks on the circuit’; she is a children’s law specialist, frequently handling both public and private law mandates for children, interveners, and Guardians. The set is also home to June Venters KC, the first woman solicitor to be appointed silk before joining the bar. Among the juniors, Sarah O’Hara has appeared before the Court of Appeal, and her practice has a strong focus on injuries to children, including fractures, bruising, and brain injuries. ‘Exceptional advocate' Emma Harman sits part time as a Deputy District Judge, and she practices in both public and private law, the former part of her offering covering neglect, sexual abuse, and fatal injuries to children, and the latter consisting of disputes around contact, the abduction of children, and removal of children to a different jurisdiction. Steven Howard, who is ‘always impeccably prepared', is predominantly active in care proceedings, while Elisabeth Hudson has experience in cases surrounding the Hague Convention and moving children to other countries.

Les références

‘All of the clerks are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Patrick Steptoe and Jess Street in particular, both of whom have been great to work with. They respond promptly and are happy to help.’

‘The clerks’ room is excellent. Ian Charlton, Gemma Hyett, Robert Leonard and Philip Jones are exceptional. They will do anything they can to help and are very approachable.’

‘Very good, will always go the extra mile to find counsel for you. Mark Heath is excellent.’

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Albion Chambers


Albion Chambers is highly praised as a 'go-to' family law set in Bristol, and it is home to 'family law expert' Fiona Farquhar , who has a strong grounding in fabricated or fictious illness cases, as well as historical sexual abuse cases. Sarah Pope is 'fearless on her feet' and highly skilled in care proceedings concerning the death of a child, child poisoning, and sexual abuse. Hayley Griffiths 'has a particular skill representing vulnerable parents', and she also frequently represents local authorities, grandparents, and guardians a range of public law proceedings, including adoption and child arrangement orders, as well as secure accommodation orders. Gemma Borkowski  boasts particular expertise in private children law proceedings, and is especially adept in cases surrounding issues of relocation, as well as cases involving allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour. Alice Darian is another name to note as a 'highly knowledgeable and a formidable advocate' that exclusively practices in public children law, and often handling cases with complex medical and forensic evidence on behalf of local authorities, parents, and children. 

Les références

‘Michael Harding and Julie Hathway are incredibly knowledgeable, accommodating and flexible. They will do anything possible to assist. They are usually available for a preliminary chat and to see if they can help. If they are not available to pick up the telephone, they usually return the call within a couple of hours.’

‘Julie Hathway and Joanne Banfield are unfailingly organised and helpful. They are also incredibly pleasant to deal with.’

‘You will always receive a high level of service from the clerks. Michael Harding and Julie Hathway in particular are very helpful and come back to you promptly with available counsel and keep you updated.’

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Pump Court Chambers


With 'a wide base of excellent public law counsel', common law set Pump Court Chambers is a go-to for a variety of children law matters. It is home to numerous notable silks, including Leslie Samuels KC, who is lauded for his 'extensive experience spanning over three decades'; he is often instructed on complex cases surrounding injuries to young children and babies, especially those regarding head injuries, fractures, and poisonings, while 'powerful advocate' Penny Howe KC leads the family law team with a focus on public law cases regarding death or serious harm, in addition to fictitious illnesses. Turning to the juniors, David Josty is of note for his expertise in acting for local authorities, lay parties, and children in cases arising from substance abuse and neglect. Corinne Iten is praised for her 'extensive legal knowledge' and is especially skilled in public children law cases, including cases concerning deprivation of liberty and issues of capacity.

Les références

‘The clerks at Pump Court are excellent and even more organised and communicative as the years pass. Tony Atkins, their senior clerk, is approachable and flexible wherever he can be and they are a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent. Lloyd Parker is extremely efficient at responding to enquiries and always gets back to you!’

‘The clerking at Pump Court Chambers is exceptional, providing solicitors with the trust and flexibility they need. Solicitors can be confident that their cases will be prioritised, and the clerks’ realistic and adaptable approach greatly simplifies solicitor’s work. James Collier, the new head family clerk, has been outstanding in his role, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.’

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St John's Chambers


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.

Les références

‘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.’

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College Chambers


Anthony Hand sits as head of the family law team at the ‘fantastic‘ and ‘highly recommended’ College Chambers, which is also home to Fiona McCreath, an ‘incredibly experienced advocate' who frequently handles proceedings surrounding allegations of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse, as well as controlling and coercive behaviour. Amy Oke is sought after by local authorities, and Kingsleigh Viollet is ‘is utterly brilliant with clients' and is notable in private children law proceedings, including those with international elements which are aided by his fluency in French.

Les références

‘The clerking team is one of the strongest and this is no doubt down to the strong leadership of its senior Clerk, J-P Schulz.’

‘The head clerk J-P Schulz is professional and friendly, and clearly cares about his job, the chambers and everyone in it, whilst also ensuring a high level of service to instructing solicitors.’

‘The clerks, headed by J-P Schulz, are first-class. They are extremely helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. Of particular note are Amy Lindley and Alis Simioniuc.’

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KBG Chambers


KBG Chambers boasts ‘a very large stable of excellent family counsel‘ and is home to head of the family group and ‘excellent communicator‘ William Higginson, who exclusively practices in public children law proceedings; he has appeared before all levels of court and is sought after by local authorities, as well as as parents. He also has a strong grounding in acting on the instruction of the Children’s Guardian. ‘Exceptionally skilled advocate‘ Samuel Castlehouse has expertise in cases surrounding injuries to children, as well as neglect and sexual abuse. Emma Pearce is another notable name at the set with a ‘calm and effective‘ approach and an expansive offering that includes representation in cases of substance abuse and allegations of fabricated induced illnesses.

Les références

‘All of the clerks are helpful, including Yvonne Simmons and Ryan Ferguson, who has also been very good at communicating with some tricky matters.’

‘Yvonne Simmons is just sensational and a joy to work with.’

‘The clerks are always polite and helpful, in particular Ryan Ferguson. They provide responses quickly which is also very helpful.’

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No.18 Barristers Chambers


No.18 Barristers Chambers is home to ‘incredibly talented barristers who are tenacious in their approach to achieving the best outcome for the client‘. One such practitioner is Laura Baines, ‘a walking legal encyclopaedia’ with notable expertise in public law proceedings, especially those surrounding care and supervision orders and matters concerning other jurisdictions. Nigel Cholerton is ‘an exceptionally skilled and compassionate advocate, particularly in sensitive areas like domestic abuse’, as well as disputes surrounding contact residence issues. Tracey Hennessey ‘is able to articulate complex legal arguments, making her a first port of call for complex cases’, and she is well-equipped to represents clients with mental health difficulties and issues of capacity in both public and private children law proceedings in cases arising from allegations of sexual and physical abuse, as well as neglect.

Les références

‘The clerks are exceptional, especially Mark Windebank. He will always go the extra mile.’

‘The clerking team at No 18 Chambers deserves special recognition for their exceptional service. Led by Mark Windebank, the clerking team provides seamless administrative support that enhances the barristers’ ability to deliver outstanding representation.’

‘Mark Windebank, senior clerk, can be relied upon to go that extra mile and is always so happy to help.’

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