1 GC | Family Law is a ‘fantastically strong children set‘ with ‘good calibre counsel at all levels for all matters’. The ‘powerful advocate’ Janet Bazley KC is ‘unflappable in difficult cases’ and has a solid track record in advising on private law children matters, and Charles Geekie KC is a ‘superb tactician’. Claire Heppenstall has established experience of handling cases involving parental alienation and relocation issues. Steven Ashworth has ‘exceptional attention to detail‘ and regularly represents local authorities, parents and children in care proceedings involving allegations of serious injuries and abuse. Sharon Segal KC was elevated to silk in March 2024, while Alev Giz is now a Circuit Judge.
Family: children and domestic abuse in
London Bar
1GC | Family Law
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‘The clerks are excellent and will always try their best to assist. David McDonald and Tommy Eyles are helpful.’
‘Paul Harris and his team are first-class. They are proactive, on top of the detail and commercial.’
‘All of the clerks are extremely helpful. Of particular note are Paul Harris and David McDonald.’
4PB
4PB is ‘a brilliant set across the board – top choice for children law matters’. Charles Hale KC is ‘a brilliant advocate’ who specialises in handling child abduction and relocation cases. Piers Pressdee KC ‘provides a razor-sharp strategy to every case he touches, and leaves no stone unturned to achieve the right outcome’. Henry Setright KC garners praise as ‘the top silk in the field of international children law, and is amazing at complex and difficult cases‘. Alex Verdan KC is ‘a first-class advocate in private law children cases’. Jacqueline Renton is ‘a phenomenal advocate’ who ‘identifies the issues in a case and remains laser-focused on them’. Charlotte Georges joined the set in January 2024.
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‘Michael Reeves, Paul Hennessy, Kenny Martin and the rest of the team are great. They always do what they can to get you the best barrister for your case.’
‘The clerks are brilliant. Paul Hennessy, Jamie Byrne and Kenny Martin are fabulous.’
‘Michael Reeves is professional and very effective.’
1 King's Bench Walk
1 King’s Bench Walk is ‘an excellent set full of talented barristers at the top of their game’. Deborah Eaton KC is ‘an exceptional, strategic and impressive advocate’ who handles complex cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Among the juniors, Caroline Lister is well versed in assisting with a broad range of private law children matters, and Nicola Fox is ‘an extremely effective advocate‘. Richard Harrison KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.
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‘Chris Gittins injects the clerking team with great energy and is an excellent promoter of the chambers’ talent.’
‘The clerks are exceptional. Chris Gittins is a fantastic senior clerk.’
‘Chris Gittins is incredibly accommodating, efficient and personable.’
Coram Chambers
Coram Chambers is ‘a top set that excels in all areas of family law’. Mark Twomey KC ‘elevates any case with his erudition, style and incisive cross-examination’. Shiva Ancliffe KC is ‘an extremely effective and impressive advocate', with solid expertise in handling public law cases involving allegations of serious injuries and sexual abuse. The 'very solid and pragmatic barrister’ Victoria Roberts is admired for her ‘well-prepared cross-examination and effective advocacy in the court’, while Alison Easton is ‘forensically outstanding and knows her cases thoroughly’. In recent developments, Shárin Diegan joined the group in October 2023, and on the management side, Sean Gentleman joined as senior clerk in June 2024.
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‘George Mo is helpful.’
‘The clerks are helpful. George Mo excels in his proactivity.’
‘The clerks, particularly George Mo, are excellent and second to none.’
42BR Barristers
42BR Barristers is 'an excellent set' with 'a wide range of fantastic counsel'. Tina Cook KC is 'impeccably prepared and speaks with persuasive authority', with a strong track record in representing local authorities in private law proceedings. Gemma Taylor KC's 'cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses is way ahead of the pack', and Damian Woodward-Carlton KC has 'a tremendous ability to build positive rapport with professional and lay clients, treating all around him with the utmost respect'. Among the juniors, the 'remarkable' Katie Phillips 'brings calm to any situation with ease'.
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‘The clerks are always helpful. James Tidnam is a star.’
‘Tim Dockrill is always prompt and friendly when dealing with enquiries.’
‘Luke Goodman is an excellent, kind and helpful clerk.’
Garden Court Chambers
At Garden Court Chambers, members have established expertise in handling the full range of public and private children law matters. Among the silks, Amanda Weston KC has an excellent track record in advising on complex public law cases, including, among other areas, surrogacy, adoption and allegations of abuse. At the junior end of chambers, Amanda Meusz‘s broad practice includes advising on cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse.
Harcourt Chambers
Harcourt Chambers is ‘a strong family law set, having depth in all aspects of family law‘. Edward Devereux KC has ‘a phenomenal practice in international child law cases‘; he recently acted in a case involving jurisdictional issues pertaining to a child being abducted to Zambia. Nick Goodwin KC‘s recent caseload includes advising a local authority in relation to a case involving allegations of sexual abuse. Edward Bennett is ‘a highly skilled and intelligent advocate’ with extensive experience of appearing before the High Court and the Court of Appeal in a range of child law work. Damian Garrido KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.
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‘The clerks are excellent and very responsive.’
‘The clerks are helpful and always willing to go the extra mile.’
‘All clerks are professional and client-focused.’
The 36 Group
The 36 Group is ‘a top tier set with strength and depth for all types of family work‘. The ‘fantastic‘ team is particularly well known for its strong capabilities in handling cases involving issues of fertility and surrogacy, and international child law matters. Hannah Markham KC is ‘a principled, passionate, and brave advocate‘, and William Tyler KC is ‘a phenomenally clever, insightful and world-class operator’, with an excellent reputation for advising on cross-jurisdictional matters. Among the junior end of chambers, Kate Grieve is ‘very robust in court when arguing for clients‘.
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‘Danny Chapman works hard to meet a client’s needs.’
‘Danny Chapman is a shining example of how clerking should be done. Adam Cope and Frazer Vye are also fantastic.’
‘The clerking team is superb, particularly Danny Chapman and Adam Cope. They always go out of their way to provide the right choice of counsel for a particular case. They are highly responsive to enquiries and provide a first-class clerking service.’
29 Bedford Row Chambers
29 Bedford Row Chambers is ‘a fabulous set with a plethora of senior and junior counsel who advise on the full breadth of family law issues‘. Paul Storey KC‘s ‘ability to cross-examine medical experts is second to none‘, and is well known for handling a wide spectrum of complex child law work. Other key members of the team include Dafydd Griffiths, who 'performs extremely well under pressure', and rising star Daniel Jeffrey is ‘an exemplary advocate.'
Referenzen
‘James Shortall is the best clerk in the business.’
‘The clerks are brilliant.’
‘The clerks are always helpful and go out of their way to assist.’
Four Brick Court Chambers
Four Brick Court Chambers is a ‘specialist family law set with exceptional barristers able to assist with all types of child law cases'. Jacqui Gilliatt is 'a tenacious advocate, committed to achieving the best outcome for her client'; she fields extensive experience in handling public and private law matters, often on behalf of vulnerable clients, involving allegations of sexual abuse and fabricated or induced illness.
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‘Clive Barrett is very knowledgeable and helpful. Richard Gillham is also helpful when identifying counsel, especially on urgent matters.’
‘Billy Forecast is excellent.’
‘Billy Forecast and Jordon King are always helpful and go over and above to assist clients.’
7BR
7BR's 'dynamic family law team consists of several impressive and focused advocates'. The group garners praise for its strength in handling cross-border cases, often involving issues of international child abduction. Barbara Connolly KC is a 'tough and able cross-examiner' who specialises in cases related to surrogacy and fertility treatment. Turning to the juniors, Helen Compton is regularly instructed in complex cases involving allegations of traumatic brain injuries. Bolstering the team at the senior end, Anita Guha KC and Susannah Johnson KC took silk in March 2024.
Referenzen
‘Clerks are efficient and helpful and will go above and beyond to try and resolve any issues. Harry Smith responds to enquiries promptly and will assist wherever he can.’
‘Harry Smith is a delight and wonderful to work with. He goes the extra mile and is very supportive and understanding.’
‘Harry Smith and Nathan Keegan are excellent, always willing to assist and move things around the diary to accommodate last-minute hearings.’
Deka Chambers
Deka Chambers' family law team is renowned for having a ‘wealth of knowledge and expertise in complex and sensitive child law cases'. Tim Parker KC has established strength in handling public child law matters, and often advises on complex cases involving sexual abuse, serious injuries and deaths. Among the juniors, Tabitha Barran is 'an excellent barrister who excels in complex cases due to her thorough case preparation'; she is adept at handling cases involving adoption, international child abduction and allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. In a boost to chambers, Edward Lamb KC took silk in March 2024.
Referenzen
‘Jaime Brooks is fantastic.’
‘Louis Candy and Abigail Clark are very helpful.’
‘The clerks’ room is approachable. Jaime Brooks is the go-to clerk to find counsel and goes above and beyond to help when there is an issue or a clash.’
Field Court Chambers
The 'good set' Field Court Chambers houses a team of 'skilled and personable advocates', with a solid track record in representing intervenors, local authorities, children's guardians and parents in a broad spectrum of public and private child law matters. Key members of the group include Barry McAlinden, who stands out for his expertise in advising on complex cases involving allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse and parental alienation, often before the High Court.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are friendly, competent and very helpful.’
‘The clerks are lovely, polite, friendly and always ready to assist.’
‘The clerks are helpful and do their best to accommodate urgent and last-minute hearings.’
Fourteen
Fourteen‘s team of ‘excellent family and child law barristers‘ has particular expertise in advising on cases involving allegations of serious injuries, and is well versed in representing local authorities in child law matters. The ‘hardworking and intelligent‘ Christopher Miller ‘provides clear and effective advice‘. In October 2023 Ronan O’Donovan was appointed as a Circuit Judge.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are all great, helpful and efficient. Ben Brotherton stands out.’
‘Joe Lamb, Dan Lee and Tyler Woodyatt-Butwell are all amazing due to their communication and approachability.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent, particularly Joe Lamb, Dan Lee and Tyler Woodyatt-Butwell.’
New Court Chambers
New Court Chambers garners praise as ‘an excellent set', with a team of 'brilliant advocates' acting in a range of high-profile child law and care cases. Kyri Lefteri is a ‘formidable advocate' with significant experience in handling private law cases and child abduction matters. Other key members of the group include Andrew Shaw, 'an extremely knowledgeable, helpful, highly skilled advocate who obtains excellent results' and is regularly instructed in public law cases on behalf of local authorities, parents, and children.
Referenzen
‘James Stammers and Adam Grant go to all lengths to assist.’
‘The clerks are organised and friendly. Adam Grant is helpful and will always go the extra mile to assist.’
‘Adam Grant is fantastic.’
1GC | Family Law
Referenzen
‘The clerks are excellent and will always try their best to assist. David McDonald and Tommy Eyles are helpful.’
‘Paul Harris and his team are first-class. They are proactive, on top of the detail and commercial.’
‘All of the clerks are extremely helpful. Of particular note are Paul Harris and David McDonald.’
4PB
4PB is ‘a brilliant set across the board – top choice for children law matters’. Charles Hale KC is ‘a brilliant advocate’ who specialises in handling child abduction and relocation cases. Piers Pressdee KC ‘provides a razor-sharp strategy to every case he touches, and leaves no stone unturned to achieve the right outcome’. Henry Setright KC garners praise as ‘the top silk in the field of international children law, and is amazing at complex and difficult cases‘. Alex Verdan KC is ‘a first-class advocate in private law children cases’. Jacqueline Renton is ‘a phenomenal advocate’ who ‘identifies the issues in a case and remains laser-focused on them’. Charlotte Georges joined the set in January 2024.
Referenzen
‘Michael Reeves, Paul Hennessy, Kenny Martin and the rest of the team are great. They always do what they can to get you the best barrister for your case.’
‘The clerks are brilliant. Paul Hennessy, Jamie Byrne and Kenny Martin are fabulous.’
‘Michael Reeves is professional and very effective.’
1 King's Bench Walk
1 King’s Bench Walk is ‘an excellent set full of talented barristers at the top of their game’. Deborah Eaton KC is ‘an exceptional, strategic and impressive advocate’ who handles complex cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse. Among the juniors, Caroline Lister is well versed in assisting with a broad range of private law children matters, and Nicola Fox is ‘an extremely effective advocate‘. Richard Harrison KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.
Referenzen
‘Chris Gittins injects the clerking team with great energy and is an excellent promoter of the chambers’ talent.’
‘The clerks are exceptional. Chris Gittins is a fantastic senior clerk.’
‘Chris Gittins is incredibly accommodating, efficient and personable.’
Coram Chambers
Coram Chambers is ‘a top set that excels in all areas of family law’. Mark Twomey KC ‘elevates any case with his erudition, style and incisive cross-examination’. Shiva Ancliffe KC is ‘an extremely effective and impressive advocate', with solid expertise in handling public law cases involving allegations of serious injuries and sexual abuse. The 'very solid and pragmatic barrister’ Victoria Roberts is admired for her ‘well-prepared cross-examination and effective advocacy in the court’, while Alison Easton is ‘forensically outstanding and knows her cases thoroughly’. In recent developments, Shárin Diegan joined the group in October 2023, and on the management side, Sean Gentleman joined as senior clerk in June 2024.
Referenzen
‘George Mo is helpful.’
‘The clerks are helpful. George Mo excels in his proactivity.’
‘The clerks, particularly George Mo, are excellent and second to none.’
42BR Barristers
42BR Barristers is 'an excellent set' with 'a wide range of fantastic counsel'. Tina Cook KC is 'impeccably prepared and speaks with persuasive authority', with a strong track record in representing local authorities in private law proceedings. Gemma Taylor KC's 'cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses is way ahead of the pack', and Damian Woodward-Carlton KC has 'a tremendous ability to build positive rapport with professional and lay clients, treating all around him with the utmost respect'. Among the juniors, the 'remarkable' Katie Phillips 'brings calm to any situation with ease'.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are always helpful. James Tidnam is a star.’
‘Tim Dockrill is always prompt and friendly when dealing with enquiries.’
‘Luke Goodman is an excellent, kind and helpful clerk.’
Garden Court Chambers
At Garden Court Chambers, members have established expertise in handling the full range of public and private children law matters. Among the silks, Amanda Weston KC has an excellent track record in advising on complex public law cases, including, among other areas, surrogacy, adoption and allegations of abuse. At the junior end of chambers, Amanda Meusz‘s broad practice includes advising on cases involving allegations of physical and sexual abuse.
Harcourt Chambers
Harcourt Chambers is ‘a strong family law set, having depth in all aspects of family law‘. Edward Devereux KC has ‘a phenomenal practice in international child law cases‘; he recently acted in a case involving jurisdictional issues pertaining to a child being abducted to Zambia. Nick Goodwin KC‘s recent caseload includes advising a local authority in relation to a case involving allegations of sexual abuse. Edward Bennett is ‘a highly skilled and intelligent advocate’ with extensive experience of appearing before the High Court and the Court of Appeal in a range of child law work. Damian Garrido KC, as was, is now a High Court judge.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are excellent and very responsive.’
‘The clerks are helpful and always willing to go the extra mile.’
‘All clerks are professional and client-focused.’
The 36 Group
The 36 Group is ‘a top tier set with strength and depth for all types of family work‘. The ‘fantastic‘ team is particularly well known for its strong capabilities in handling cases involving issues of fertility and surrogacy, and international child law matters. Hannah Markham KC is ‘a principled, passionate, and brave advocate‘, and William Tyler KC is ‘a phenomenally clever, insightful and world-class operator’, with an excellent reputation for advising on cross-jurisdictional matters. Among the junior end of chambers, Kate Grieve is ‘very robust in court when arguing for clients‘.
Referenzen
‘Danny Chapman works hard to meet a client’s needs.’
‘Danny Chapman is a shining example of how clerking should be done. Adam Cope and Frazer Vye are also fantastic.’
‘The clerking team is superb, particularly Danny Chapman and Adam Cope. They always go out of their way to provide the right choice of counsel for a particular case. They are highly responsive to enquiries and provide a first-class clerking service.’
29 Bedford Row Chambers
29 Bedford Row Chambers is ‘a fabulous set with a plethora of senior and junior counsel who advise on the full breadth of family law issues‘. Paul Storey KC‘s ‘ability to cross-examine medical experts is second to none‘, and is well known for handling a wide spectrum of complex child law work. Other key members of the team include Dafydd Griffiths, who 'performs extremely well under pressure', and rising star Daniel Jeffrey is ‘an exemplary advocate.'
Referenzen
‘James Shortall is the best clerk in the business.’
‘The clerks are brilliant.’
‘The clerks are always helpful and go out of their way to assist.’
Four Brick Court Chambers
Four Brick Court Chambers is a ‘specialist family law set with exceptional barristers able to assist with all types of child law cases'. Jacqui Gilliatt is 'a tenacious advocate, committed to achieving the best outcome for her client'; she fields extensive experience in handling public and private law matters, often on behalf of vulnerable clients, involving allegations of sexual abuse and fabricated or induced illness.
Referenzen
‘Clive Barrett is very knowledgeable and helpful. Richard Gillham is also helpful when identifying counsel, especially on urgent matters.’
‘Billy Forecast is excellent.’
‘Billy Forecast and Jordon King are always helpful and go over and above to assist clients.’
7BR
7BR's 'dynamic family law team consists of several impressive and focused advocates'. The group garners praise for its strength in handling cross-border cases, often involving issues of international child abduction. Barbara Connolly KC is a 'tough and able cross-examiner' who specialises in cases related to surrogacy and fertility treatment. Turning to the juniors, Helen Compton is regularly instructed in complex cases involving allegations of traumatic brain injuries. Bolstering the team at the senior end, Anita Guha KC and Susannah Johnson KC took silk in March 2024.
Referenzen
‘Clerks are efficient and helpful and will go above and beyond to try and resolve any issues. Harry Smith responds to enquiries promptly and will assist wherever he can.’
‘Harry Smith is a delight and wonderful to work with. He goes the extra mile and is very supportive and understanding.’
‘Harry Smith and Nathan Keegan are excellent, always willing to assist and move things around the diary to accommodate last-minute hearings.’
Deka Chambers
Deka Chambers' family law team is renowned for having a ‘wealth of knowledge and expertise in complex and sensitive child law cases'. Tim Parker KC has established strength in handling public child law matters, and often advises on complex cases involving sexual abuse, serious injuries and deaths. Among the juniors, Tabitha Barran is 'an excellent barrister who excels in complex cases due to her thorough case preparation'; she is adept at handling cases involving adoption, international child abduction and allegations of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. In a boost to chambers, Edward Lamb KC took silk in March 2024.
Referenzen
‘Jaime Brooks is fantastic.’
‘Louis Candy and Abigail Clark are very helpful.’
‘The clerks’ room is approachable. Jaime Brooks is the go-to clerk to find counsel and goes above and beyond to help when there is an issue or a clash.’
Field Court Chambers
The 'good set' Field Court Chambers houses a team of 'skilled and personable advocates', with a solid track record in representing intervenors, local authorities, children's guardians and parents in a broad spectrum of public and private child law matters. Key members of the group include Barry McAlinden, who stands out for his expertise in advising on complex cases involving allegations of serious physical and sexual abuse and parental alienation, often before the High Court.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are friendly, competent and very helpful.’
‘The clerks are lovely, polite, friendly and always ready to assist.’
‘The clerks are helpful and do their best to accommodate urgent and last-minute hearings.’
Fourteen
Fourteen‘s team of ‘excellent family and child law barristers‘ has particular expertise in advising on cases involving allegations of serious injuries, and is well versed in representing local authorities in child law matters. The ‘hardworking and intelligent‘ Christopher Miller ‘provides clear and effective advice‘. In October 2023 Ronan O’Donovan was appointed as a Circuit Judge.
Referenzen
‘The clerks are all great, helpful and efficient. Ben Brotherton stands out.’
‘Joe Lamb, Dan Lee and Tyler Woodyatt-Butwell are all amazing due to their communication and approachability.’
‘The clerks’ room is excellent, particularly Joe Lamb, Dan Lee and Tyler Woodyatt-Butwell.’
New Court Chambers
New Court Chambers garners praise as ‘an excellent set', with a team of 'brilliant advocates' acting in a range of high-profile child law and care cases. Kyri Lefteri is a ‘formidable advocate' with significant experience in handling private law cases and child abduction matters. Other key members of the group include Andrew Shaw, 'an extremely knowledgeable, helpful, highly skilled advocate who obtains excellent results' and is regularly instructed in public law cases on behalf of local authorities, parents, and children.
Referenzen
‘James Stammers and Adam Grant go to all lengths to assist.’
‘The clerks are organised and friendly. Adam Grant is helpful and will always go the extra mile to assist.’
‘Adam Grant is fantastic.’