Department profile
30 Park Place

Family/Matrimonial

UK Bar Guide 2026 : Wales & Chester (Bar)


30 Park Place

Rankings

Chambers Review

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Family/Matrimonial - Wales & Chester (Bar)

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

30 Park Place remains a pre-eminent set in Wales, known for its established expertise in matrimonial finance and children matters. It has an impressive roster of counsel handling financial remedy mandates featuring agricultural and corporate elements. Members also have a strong capacity to act on public and private children matters of a highly sensitive nature, including sexual abuse, factitious illnesses, trafficking and Hague Convention cases. A source comments that 30 Park Place is "an exceptional set with barristers who are all very experienced and thorough in their knowledge and approach."

James Dowse is the lead family clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are excellent.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are very quick to respond to enquiries and always helpful.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Excellent friendly clerks who will bend over backwards to assist.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • James Dowse is an exceptional clerk always prepared to go the extra mile to assist. Makes you feel at ease and always manages to find a barrister with the right expertise for a particular case.

    Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Claire Williams
    Band 1Claire Williams

    Claire Williams

    Claire Williams is a respected junior frequently instructed by local authorities in a range of serious physical and sexual abuse cases. She also represents parents, guardians and interveners, and her experience has been further cemented by undertaking cases in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. She has in-depth knowledge of Hague Convention matters.

    • Her knowledge of the law is extensive. Claire is an excellent advocate, thorough and is very balanced in her decision-making.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Claire’s analytical skills and commitment to achieving the best outcomes for her clients set her apart. Her calm, measured approach inspires confidence, making her an invaluable asset in any case.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Claire is a safe pair of hands.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • The advice Claire gives is sound and insightful and her cross-examination is excellent.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1James Tillyard
    Band 1James Tillyard

    James Tillyard

    James Tillyard KC is a highly respected family practitioner with an exceptional reputation in financial matters. He is frequently instructed to act in challenging care cases. Tillyard regularly undertakes high-value work with complex asset issues, including international elements.

    • James is approachable and compassionate to clients. He commands the courtroom and his forensic analysis of medical evidence is something else.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Jim has an exceptional grasp of both the legal and medical framework. He has an incredible ability to challenge expert opinions and will often exceed that of the professionals themselves.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Rhian Jones
    Band 1Rhian Jones

    Rhian Jones

    Rhian Jones specialises in Children Act cases, particularly public law proceedings involving domestic abuse, sexual abuse and severe non-accidental injuries. She also handles private children work and has significant appellate experience. She is experienced in handling allegations of historic as well as recent crimes.

    • Rhian is an exceptional barrister, thorough, knowledgeable and such an effective advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rhian is thorough and well respected. She is superb in cross-examination.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rhian’s ability to balance technical expertise with empathy makes her a formidable advocate and a trusted adviser.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Her advocacy is superior, and she has a fantastic skill of being able to calmly interrogate witnesses or forcefully make arguments in submissions.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Rhys Evans
    Band 1Rhys Evans

    Rhys Evans

    Rhys Evans is an expert in public children law matters and is frequently instructed by local authorities and guardians. His work has included highly complex cases involving injuries and illnesses.

    • Rhys is very knowledgeable in child law; he is a very good advocate and is very much in demand by local authorities, guardians and parents' solicitors.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rhys is a robust and formidable advocate. His preparation is meticulous and his knowledge of the law is second to none.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Rhys's legal knowledge is first-rate and always encompasses a much broader canvas of knowledge than required.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Catherine Heyworth
    Band 2Catherine Heyworth

    Catherine Heyworth

    Catherine Heyworth KC has a breadth of experience in complex injury cases and undertakes a range of care work, including serious physical and sexual abuse matters. She has notable expertise in cases involving complicated head injuries, and her work has also included grooming cases.

    • Catherine combines technical brilliance with genuine empathy, making her an exceptional silk and a pleasure to work with.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • She is calm, considered and clearly knowledgeable beyond her brief. She is a kind and considerate colleague and a pleasure to instruct and work alongside.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Catrin John
    Band 2Catrin John

    Catrin John

    Catrin John is highly regarded in the public law children field and she specialises in representing local authorities and guardians in heavyweight sexual and physical abuse matters.

    • Catrin has a vast knowledge of child care matters and is an excellent advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Catrin was extremely well prepared, gave excellent advice, and her cross-examination was effective and on point.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Catrin is very experienced - an impressive advocate whilst also maintaining a very grounded practice.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Colin Douglas
    Band 2Colin Douglas

    Colin Douglas

    Colin Douglas handles public and private law cases involving children, with a particular emphasis on care matters. He has extensive experience of representing vulnerable clients in cases of serious physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

    • Colin is very thorough, reasonable and an excellent advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Colin has great rapport with clients and is very thorough in his preparation and is a strong advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Colin Douglas is excellent in children cases, showing knowledge and experience.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Katy Morgan
    Band 2Katy Morgan

    Katy Morgan

    Katy Morgan is an experienced family law specialist who handles matters relating to care proceedings. She is also instructed in serious physical and sexual abuse cases.

    • Katy is an exceptional barrister. She is thorough, has excellent knowledge and understanding of the law, is an excellent advocate and is very reasonable in her approach.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Katy is professional yet personable and a brilliant barrister and colleague.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Nathan Jones
    Band 2Nathan Jones

    Nathan Jones

    Nathan Jones has significant experience in public law children cases. He regularly deals with cases of neglect, sexual abuse and non-accidental injury. He is additionally able to act in TOLATA cases.

    • Nathan has an extremely thorough approach to cases. He is razor-sharp in cross-examination and is a truly exceptional advocate.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • Nathan is an outstanding advocate and his attention to detail is second to none. He is approachable and level-headed.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • He has a wealth of knowledge in the medical field and is able to analyse medical and expert reports with forensic clarity.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
    • His client care is second to none.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Rebecca Harrington
    Band 2Rebecca Harrington

    Rebecca Harrington

    Rebecca Harrington undertakes the full range of family finance work, including ancillary relief and enforcement cases, often involving owner-run companies and foreign assets. She is noted for her knowledge of matters involving third-party interveners.

    • Rebecca has conducted high-value, complex financial cases which she has concluded with excellent results.

      Family/Matrimonial respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at 30 Park Place (11)

Wales & Chester (Bar)

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