Department profile
The 36 Group

Family: Children

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


The 36 Group

Rankings

About

Provided by The 36 Group

We are experts in all areas of family law, from family finance to the welfare of children. We approach every case with sensitivity, respect for our clients, and fearless advocacy.

As one of the leading sets of chambers for family law nationally and internationally, our barristers are known for their tenacity and are frequently involved in complex and challenging cases. But no matter the status or value, we treat every case with the same determination to succeed for our clients.

We have also been recognised for our expertise in family-chancery crossover work and as pioneers in alternative dispute resolution.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family: Children - London (Bar)

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

A renowned set that handles a wide range of public and private family proceedings. Members appear in both matrimonial finance and children cases for clients who include high net worth individuals, celebrities, politicians, and members of the general public. Matters of the greatest complexity are handled including those complicated by the presence of trusts, assets, pensions and tax issues. Individuals here also appear in highly sensitive children proceedings, many of which include serious allegations of abuse, FGM, parental alienation and drug use. The set is further noted for having specialist expertise in disputes involving unmarried couples. Commentators note: "36 Family has experienced counsel across all levels." Another adds: "It has a very good offering of high quality barristers, who have a wealth of experience of handling all aspects of private family law."

Danny Chapman is the senior clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Quite simply the best clerking team in London - hands down.

    Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are extremely helpful and really do go over and above to provide an unprecedented level of service.

    Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team at 36 Family has rightly earned a reputation for excellence and outstanding client care.

    Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • A knowledgeable and honest set of clerks. A special mention to Danny Chapman, senior clerk, and Adam Cope, deputy senior family clerk, who, in particular, go above and beyond.

    Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Danny Chapman is an exceptional senior clerk who clearly leads from the front and has the ability to create an effortless rapport with everyone whom he encounters.

    Family: Children respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsHannah Markham
    Star IndividualsHannah Markham

    Hannah Markham

    Hannah Markham KC focuses on sensitive children matters in the public and private law spheres. Her practice has a strong international focus and she is fluent in Spanish. She is well versed in the most serious care cases as well as matters concerning international relocation.

    • I thought she was outstanding. I appreciated her awareness and approach throughout the case.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • She's an outstanding advocate, probably one of the busiest lawyers I've ever worked with, but one who will always give you her time. She is one of the best at what she does.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • She will fight for the underdog in any case and she knows what justice means for her clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Hannah is amazing with clients and has a great manner in court. She is a brilliant tactician and strategic planner, who creates a fantastic team approach on cases.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Clients let themselves open up to her. She's so good at building relationships.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Star IndividualsWilliam Tyler
    Star IndividualsWilliam Tyler

    William Tyler

    William Tyler KC is a well-regarded silk specialising in both public and private children law proceedings, and an expert in jurisdiction issues. He is noted for his experience in handling proceedings involving serious allegations. Tyler has experience of handling, among others, matters involving molestation and human rights abuses.

    • The King of family law. He is respected massively and phenomenally hands-on with the solicitors.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Will Tyler is a top rate advocate and children practitioner - judges listen to him and clients love him. A delight to work with.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Clients love him. While he is kind and charming, he also cuts through the noise effortlessly and is highly effective.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Kate Tompkins
    Band 1Kate Tompkins

    Kate Tompkins

    Kate Tompkins is a children law specialist who handles both private and public law issues. She has particular expertise in cases where a serious allegation is made against one parent and the other seeks full custody. Her practice has seen her receive instructions in matters with jurisdictional disputes.

    • She was very well prepared, presented exceptionally well in court and her orders were detailed and quick.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • She's always focused on what's best for the child.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • An outstanding junior who is very good with the clients. She has a gravitas well beyond her years. Judges like her sensible no-drama common sense approach to all matters.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Kate is an excellent advocate who cuts through issues with laser-like focus and is unmatched in cross-examination.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Martin Kingerley
    Band 1Martin Kingerley

    Martin Kingerley

    Martin Kingerley KC is an experienced family practitioner who focuses his practice on surrogacy and fertility matters. His expertise also extends to adoption, fictitious illness cases and placement disputes. Kingerley has represented clients before the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

    • Martin Kingerley is approachable and takes a collaborative approach.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • His technical knowledge and judgement are second to none. He is calm, measured and a pleasure to work with.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Smooth and succinct advocacy; judges love him.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Martin has the most extraordinary manner about him. He is mesmerising and absolutely brilliant.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Niki Langridge
    Band 1Niki Langridge

    Niki Langridge

    Niki Langridge exclusively practises in the matrimonial finance sphere, handling moderate to high net worth financial remedy cases, many of which have fact-finding or asset issues attached to them. She is a qualified collaborative counsel and mediator, offering services in ADR. Langridge has particular expertise in high-income cases involving a high level of disputed maintenance.

    • Niki is a go-to barrister for high earning clients. She is so savvy when handling complex finances and her judgement is spot on.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Niki Langridge gains the client's trust and is sensible and commercial in her advice and approach.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Niki is as good as it gets. She is astute, insightful, deeply analytical and someone who has a wonderful way with clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • She is first class and one of the best senior juniors there is. Her preparation and presentation of the case are both outstanding.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • She has a deep corporate knowledge which stands her in good stead for the sort of work which she regularly undertakes. She is destined for higher things.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Rhys Taylor
    Band 1Rhys Taylor

    Rhys Taylor

    Rhys Taylor is a family barrister who receives praise from commentators particularly for his pensions knowledge. He has additional expertise in TOLATA disputes, and is adept at assisting with cases which have international elements. He is also frequently instructed in cases with complex company and trust structures.

    • A very experienced barrister with particular expertise in pension-related family cases.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Rhys creates a comfortable environment which puts everyone at ease. His judgement is sound and his views are always perfectly justified and fully explained.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Chris Carr
    Band 2Chris Carr

    Chris Carr

    Chris Carr specialises in the financial aspects of relationship breakdown, and has experience of dealing with tricky, technical issues such as pension and company assets, trusts and international complications. He is also instructed to handle cases concerning Schedule 1 applications.

    • Chris Carr is a wise head on young shoulders. He is very good with difficult clients and has the patience of a saint.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Chris is always a hit with clients. He is excellent with instructing solicitors and always brings a new dimension to a case.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • I love Chris's no-nonsense approach - he gets to the issues quickly and with ease. He cleverly distils complex issues and presents them concisely and persuasively.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • A deeply intelligent barrister. He sets out each case clearly, succinctly and with great authority.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Hannah Jones
    Band 2Hannah Jones

    Hannah Jones

    Hannah Jones is a matrimonial finance junior, who is quickly establishing her practice and is praised for the quality of her advocacy. She is adept in matters which involve properties, businesses and pension structures. Jones has experience in financial remedies disputes with jurisdictional issues.

    • Clients love her and feel safe with her. You want her on your team.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Hannah is a very safe pair of hands - clients love her enthusiasm and completely trust her advice.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • A superb advocate, who is balanced but very strong in her views and highly informative. She's fantastic with clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Andrzej Bojarski
    Band 3Andrzej Bojarski

    Andrzej Bojarski

    Andrzej Bojarski is a well-regarded family practitioner specialising in complex, high-value financial disputes following relationship breakdown, who has particular expertise in cases involving offshore trusts and chancery matters. He also acts as a family arbitrator and mediator in finance proceedings. His international profile has seen him instructed in cases in places as far afield as the Middle East.

    • Andrzej is incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable. He is a skilful advocate and his drafting and submissions are concise and extremely effective.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • He brings great insight to complex financial matters and has a vast reservoir of knowledge.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • An excellent silk, who is thoroughly likeable whether for or against you. He is tactically very incisive.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • A pleasure to work with. He has an incredible eye for detail and an excellent way with clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • In Andrzej Bojarski KC, you have a silk who can match the best in London. He knows the law inside out and is a very calm and collected advocate.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Chloe Kenvin
    Band 3Chloe Kenvin

    Chloe Kenvin

    Chloe Kenvin is a practitioner who specialises in financial remedy disputes, often involving overseas assets. She routinely handles matters with non-disclosure, trust structure and company valuation issues.

    • Chloe is an effective advocate who has a calming and reassuring manner. This enables her to build great rapport with instructing solicitors, clients and judges.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • As an advocate, she is polite and calm, but also robust and a real fighter when she needs to be.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Chloe is a top-class family barrister. She gives sound advice in a no-nonsense way.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Kate Grieve
    Band 3Kate Grieve

    Kate Grieve

    Kate Grieve is regularly instructed in complex public and private law children's proceedings, often involving sensitive issues of parental alienation. She particularly specialises in cases involving severe abuse and also acts in adoption cases.

    • Kate is simply amazing. She is always there for the client and works collaboratively with the team.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • A really safe pair of hands. Kate is sensible, well prepared and someone who gives realistic advice. She is good at managing high maintenance clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Clients feel safe with her, both in court and outside of court. She has an amazing ability to make people feel at ease and to feel heard and supported.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Kate's is an excellent advocate whose attention to detail is second to none.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Kelly Webb
    Band 3Kelly Webb

    Kelly Webb

    Kelly Webb is a barrister with recognised experience in high-conflict children disputes, with additional expertise in appellate matters. She focuses her practice on abduction and parental alienation, and routinely acts on sexual abuse allegations. She also acts on cases with parallel criminal proceedings.

    • Kelly is a go-to for private law children work; her calm approach fills her clients with confidence.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Kelly is fierce when on her feet.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Rebecca Rothwell
    Band 3Rebecca Rothwell

    Rebecca Rothwell

    Rebecca Rothwell frequently acts on behalf of clients on trust-related mandates and financial remedy disputes with non-disclosure issues. Rothwell is also instructed on multi-jurisdictional and cohabitation disputes. She is additionally equipped to handle cases involving high-value pension and business assets.

    • Rebecca is a brilliant advocate, who has a wonderful manner with clients. Her advice is always spot on.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Rebecca has a clear, straightforward approach that put clients at ease. Her case preparation is exceptional and she works hard for her clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Rebecca is very approachable and supportive throughout and beyond the life of a case. She is a very strong advocate who applies a fantastic balance of hand-holding and informative firmness to clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Her written notes for hearing are detailed yet clear and concise, and her oral presentations have an understated eloquence which makes her arguments all the more compelling.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Rebecca is well prepared, diligent, calm at all times and excellent with clients. She is friendly and approachable to client and solicitor alike.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Ben Mansfield
    Band 4Ben Mansfield

    Ben Mansfield

    Ben Mansfield is a specialist in both public and private children law, who has experience of handling landmark test cases and a number of matters that are international in nature. He has particular expertise in relocation cases.

    • Ben has a very clam and measured approach.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is a formidable advocate, who is articulate, incisive and fearless. He has an ability to pitch arguments in a way that resonates with judges.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Ben Mansfield is calmness personified and is somehow able to unpick the most complex of knotty children cases.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Gavin Lyon
    Band 4Gavin Lyon

    Gavin Lyon

    Gavin Lyon is a matrimonial finance practitioner specialising in financial remedy disputes. He frequently acts on behalf of wives and husbands in cases with numerous complicating factors, including property assets, pension funds, and multiple jurisdictions. He has expertise in Schedule 1 applications and cross-border work.

    • Gavin is a very solid counsel, who has an exceptionally calming manner with clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • He's very detailed, very thorough and very personable.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Gavin Lyon is always meticulously prepared and delivers advice in a way that clients understand and accept.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Gavin is practical, approachable and astute. He's a pleasure to work with.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4George Harley
    Band 4George Harley

    George Harley

    George Harley is a financial remedies and private children law practitioner who frequently represents parents in the context of family disputes. He focuses his practice on highly sensitive cases, usually those involving allegations of parental alienation and relocation disputes. Harley is frequently sought out by clients whose cases have cross-border dimensions.

    • George always has a sharp focus on securing excellent outcomes, and he has the adaptability to achieve his aims whether by constructive negotiations or powerful advocacy.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • George is always very committed to his clients and their cause.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • George punches above his weight and has excellent client management skills.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • George Harley is a charming, eloquent and effective barrister. He is calm under pressure and able to manage a difficult client while ensuring a positive outcome.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Gerald Wilson
    Band 4Gerald Wilson

    Gerald Wilson

    Gerald Wilson focuses his practice on family and property law, and is a true expert in the financial aspects of relationship dissolution. His practice covers cases which have tax, asset and jurisdictional angles to them. Wilson is particularly highly regarded for his expertise in matters involving same-sex couples.

    • Gerald is a go-to counsel for complex money matters.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • The depth of knowledge that Gerald has is unbelievable, and his ability to simplify very complex financial issues is unrivalled.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • He has excellent drafting skills.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Lauren Lanson
    Band 4Lauren Lanson

    Lauren Lanson

    Lauren Lanson is a specialist family finance barrister. Her expertise extends to TOLATA work, schedule 1 proceedings and Children Act applications. She is frequently involved in cases involving trusts, companies and pension arrangements.

    • Lauren is absolutely brilliant. Her ability to see the bigger picture from the very beginning sets her apart.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Lauren is superb with clients. Her natural warmth puts them at ease and it is always obvious to them that she is fighting their corner.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • A sensible, rigorous and client-focused barrister, who always has her eye on the big picture.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Lauren Lanson is a robust litigator and advocate who thinks two steps ahead. She is also exceptional at dealing with very emotive clients, bringing an air of calm to the trickiest of cases.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Lauren is very commercially-minded and knows when to push a point and when to concede. She is tough in court and great with clients.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Madeleine Whelan
    Band 4Madeleine Whelan

    Madeleine Whelan

    Madeleine Whelan specialises in complex children law matters. She has a very varied practice that finds her acting in cases covering care orders, abuse and non-accidental injuries. Whelan also has impressive knowledge of growing matters such as surrogacy and LGBTQ+ family issues.

    • A brilliant advocate, who is charming with clients and an excellent all round family lawyer.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Madeleine is forceful, tactical and not someone who concedes points easily, Brilliant at cross-examination, sensible and very organised in her approach, she will undoubtedly be a silk of the future.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Maddie is exceptional and has a natural way with clients even in very difficult situations. She is fierce on her feet and has an obvious flair for family law and a desire to succeed.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Marc Samuels
    Band 4Marc Samuels

    Marc Samuels

    Marc Samuels focuses his practice in matrimonial finance. He acts in complex cases that involve disputes over assets, trusts, inheritance and corporate structures, as well as the novel area of cryptoassets. Samuels is regularly sought to represent clients in cross-border matters.

    • Marc Samuels is thorough and clear on financial matters, and offers excellent client care.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Marc is a fantastic barrister. He makes both the client and solicitor feel as though they are in very capable hands.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Marc is exceptional for his year of call. Clients love him and he is always extremely well prepared.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • He is quick to identify issues and offer strategic advice which can help achieve early settlement, although he is also a tenacious litigator when he needs to be.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Sabuhi Chaudhry
    Band 4Sabuhi Chaudhry

    Sabuhi Chaudhry

    Sabuhi Chaudry handles both children and finance work. As a private law children practitioner, she specialises in the representation of parents in proceedings in the Family Court. Her cases often include addressing the needs of the family in matters relating to sensitive issues such as severe mental health problems and sexual abuse, or allegations of domestic violence and coercive control. On the finance front, she undertakes a broad spectrum of matters dealing with finances on marital breakdown including issues concerning employed, self-employed and family businesses. She has handled a number of cases with a foreign element to them.

    • An excellent lawyer and advocate.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Just brilliant on all aspects of complex children cases where domestic abuse is an issue.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Sabuhi is an exceptionally persuasive and effective advocate, who possesses a unique ability to handle complex cases.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar
    • Sabuhi's attention to detail, meticulous preparation and ability to understand the layers and dynamics of a case mean she really truly brings over the fullness of the case in its entirety.

      Family: Children respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at The 36 Group (23)

London (Bar)

Members

Provided by The 36 Group

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