I am a Direct Access Barrister specialising in family and immigration law.

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My expertise covers a broad range of cases involving children.

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I often work in cases where the children and/or their parents have learning disabilities or mental health problems – often caused by stress or anxiety.

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I tend to act for parents in care work and have considerable experience in all aspects of children law including relocation cases (abroad and in the UK) and child arrangement orders (“living with” and “spending time with” orders) which used to be called residence and contact. I regularly represent clients in cases involving domestic violence, (non-molestation and occupation orders), specific issue orders, finding of fact hearings, prohibited steps orders and parental responsibility/declarations of parentage. I also have considerable experience in matrimonial finance cases and TOLATA claims where the partners have cohabitated but never married.

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I have a sympathetic and insightful approach to all my cases. I take the time to help and support my clients through the court experience. All of my creative energy is used in approaching my cases from all angles to ensure that a successful and workable outcome is achieved. When a robust approach is needed – particularly in negotiation with the other side, I will hold my ground. I trained as a mediator and use these skills in my negotiation of settlements/agreements.

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I am also a fluent French speaker and my other expertise lies in my work with foreign clients which I have developed in my immigration and family practice over the years. I am used to working through interpreters.

I firmly believe in the rights of the individual and human rights law has influenced my working life to date following the time I spent working at the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg, France. I believe strongly in the need to promote fairness and impartiality whilst always respecting the private and family life of individuals. The welfare of the child is paramount.

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CASES OF INTEREST:

• SSHD v Nargis Chowdry (2nd February 1998) Court of Appeal

• The Queen on the application of AM (Cameroon) v the AIT and the SSHD [2008] EWCA Civ 100

• Re Q (Fact-Finding Hearing: Apparent Judicial Bias [2014] EWCA CIv 918

 

EXPERIENCE:

• Rowan Chambers, Taunton (2018 - Present)

• Octagon Chambers, Taunton (2009-2018)

• Clerksroom (2004-2009)

• Mitre House Chambers, London (1995-2004)

• Britton Street Chambers, London (1994-1995)

• Registry of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg (1990-1993)