Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family: Children - London (Bar)

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Members at Harcourt Chambers offer a full family law service, but are especially adroit in assisting a range of clients with all manner of children law proceedings. They garner particular praise for their expertise in international abduction, and routinely handle cross-border relocation cases. They are known for their expert representation of local authorities, parents and guardians in complex public law cases, a number of which relate to abuse, non-accidental injury and child death. While such cases form a large part of the set's work, a number of individuals are on-hand to also undertake divorce and financial remedy proceedings. Solicitors say: "Harcourt Chambers has highly experienced counsel for cross-border, international and High Court work."

Strengths

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Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Nick Goodwin
Star Individuals

Nick Goodwin KC is a barrister with a caseload that includes public law children cases, in which he appears on behalf of parents, guardians and local authorities. His practice covers international leave to remove and serial sexual abuse matters, and he has experience with cases involving unusual religious aspects. He has further experience handling divorce proceedings and sits regularly as a deputy High Court judge.

Nick Goodwin is clearly outstanding. He's one of the best all round silks at the Children Bar and a brilliant trial advocate. There are not enough superlatives for him.

Nick Goodwin is one of the best. Incredibly good in court and with clients, he's a real standout.

Edward Bennett
1
Edward Bennett
1
Band 1

Edward Bennett is a well-reputed junior with experience beyond his call of international children law cases, including those concerning jurisdictional disputes and abductions. His practice has taken him to the High Court and Court of Appeal. Sources are quick to highlight his impressive intellect and expertise.

He is a walking library of knowledge, who has excellent contacts worldwide, but is very humble with it.

Edward always delivers the best results for clients and is widely renowned as an expert in the field of international child abduction.

Edward is very technical but remains approachable and accessible.

Edward is a joy to instruct. He is meticulous in his preparation and his presentation of the case in court is formidable.

Edward is a leading junior in the field of complex international children work. He has superb technical knowledge and combines this with a practical, solution-focused approach for clients.

1
Edward Devereux
1
Band 1

Edward Devereux KC is a leading expert in the international movement of children, particularly through abduction. He has been involved in landmark cases that have shaped the country's laws and appeared in the most complex cases in the Court of Appeal and the ECJ. Devereux has particular expertise in child abduction matters which attract significant media attention.

A true leader in the field of children law. His advocacy is to the point, commanding and eloquent, and always underpinned by deep legal insight.

Edward inspires enormous confidence in clients. He is without a doubt the go-to barrister for complex international children cases.

1
John Vater KC
1
Band 1

John Vater KC is a public law specialist known for his expertise in medical cases containing extensive expert evidence. Vater is particularly proficient in cases involving non-accidental injury to young children.

A brilliant silk. Seeing him dissect an expert witness in cross-examination is very impressive and few can do it as he can. He can change outcomes with his advocacy.

A brilliant and brave barrister who is the master of cross-examination.

Mehvish Chaudhry
1
Mehvish Chaudhry
1
Band 1

Mehvish Chaudhry is a junior family barrister renowned for her expertise in international child movement, who regularly appears in the High Court. She possesses a wealth of knowledge of child abduction and leave to remove cases with jurisdictional complications.

Mehvish has a great reputation in children matters and is able to get to grip with the issues quickly.

Mehvish is strong on her feet and offers excellent client care. She excels in international cross-border cases.

Mehvish is unafraid in court; she is a very powerful advocate and really does fight her corner well.

Mehvish is a fantastic advocate, particularly when it comes to complex international children cases. She has an approachable and easy manner when dealing with clients and instructing solicitors alike.

Mehvish's written work is fantastic and she is a skilled advocate. She is also incredibly supportive, both towards clients and solicitors.

Fiona Hay
2
Fiona Hay
2
Band 2

Fiona Hay is an experienced matrimonial finance practitioner who is particularly noted for her work in cases concerning pension complications. Her practice also boasts a strong international element, particularly as regards Part III proceedings. She has been a Recorder on the Midlands Circuit since 2009.

Fiona inspires confidence and has a sensitive manner about her when dealing with clients. She's very supportive of her instructing solicitor and always makes herself available to offer guidance.

Fiona is brilliant and a pleasure to work with. Calm and highly skilled both in and out of court, she is fantastic with clients and at dealing with complex financial matters.

As brilliant an advocate as she is a private FDR judge. She has a fantastic sense of humour which really puts clients at ease.

2
Jonathan Sampson
2
Band 2

Called to the Bar in 1997, Jonathan Sampson KC has extensive family law experience under his belt. Sampson handles a wide range of cases including both public and private law children matters. His public law practice sees him handling matters relating to child death and serious abuse.

Jonathan is the most erudite advocate and has an exceptional knowledge of the law. His written documents are brilliant.

Jonathan Sampson is an excellent barrister who has a particular talent for making the most complex of cases seem straightforward.

Jason Green
3
Jason Green
3
Band 3

Jason Green regularly appears in high-profile complex cases, appearing at all levels of tribunal up to the Court of Appeal. He has particular expertise in acting in international summary returns and stranded spouse claims. He is also a qualified children arbitrator.

He is always a pleasure to work with. He displays a calm confidence that clients appreciate.

His attention to detail on the case was excellent and he was able to give the client firm but very sensible advice in what was a difficult situation.

Jason is charming and has a kind manner with clients. He is able to grasp the most complex of cases quickly and efficiently, and is able to work towards the most favourable outcomes for clients.

Jason approaches cases with careful strategy and foresight. His ability to pre-empt issues makes him a trusted choice for complex children work.

Ruth Cabeza
3
Ruth Cabeza
3
Band 3

Ruth Cabeza is a highly regarded children law barrister sought out for her expertise in international children law cases including those relating to adoption, surrogacy and abduction. Other matters handled include those with multi-jurisdictional elements. She is proficient in cases involving vulnerable clients.

She's well respected by the bench and calmly effective at navigating your clients through complex adoption cases.

A counsel that everyone wants to have on their side. She doesn't leave any stone unturned.

Ruth is exceptional on complex surrogacy and private adoption matters, specifically those with an international element.

She has a truly unique ability to breakdown the most complex legislation and concepts into digestible chunks for the clients. She is a go-to barrister for international work.

She can own a courtroom and her written work is also of a very high standard.

4
Daniel Sheridan
4
Band 4

Daniel Sheridan is highly experienced at handling children law cases involving complex medical evidence. He is regularly sought out to appear in matters relating to care proceedings and non-accidental injuries. Sheridan has appeared at various levels of court including the Court of Appeal.

Mr Sheridan is meticulous and does not shy away from getting stuck into a case to find the tiniest detail. His advocacy skills are extremely sophisticated.

He was an excellent, skilled advocate who navigated uncharted waters and assisted all parties to ensure progress could be made.

Dan is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is able to build a good rapport with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Emily Rayner
4
Emily Rayner
4
Band 4

Emily Rayner is a very experienced family law practitioner. She is very well versed in matters involving allegations of abuse, deprivation of liberty and child abduction. Rayner has impressive in-depth knowledge of cases with multijurisdictional elements.

A clever, calm and effective advocate. She is brilliant with clients and other professionals.

Emily Rayner is sharp-minded, but effortlessly erudite. Emily breezes through advice and advocacy with precision and has a great demeanour in front of clients.

Emily is a delight to instruct. She's brilliant with clients, highly responsive and someone whose written work is excellent.

Martha Gray
4
Martha Gray
4
Band 4

Martha Gray is frequently engaged to act in complex children law cases involving jurisdictional issues. She has appeared at various levels of court including the High Court. Gray is experienced in a wide range of matters including abduction and adoption proceedings, Hague Convention cases and complex fact-finding hearings.

She is a very safe pair of hands and is developing into a fantastic tactician.

Martha is great with vulnerable clients and combines this with excellent technical knowledge and strong oral advocacy.

Martha is very good with clients and has a good eye for detail and preparation.

4
Matthew Stott
4
Band 4

Matthew Stott is a children law-focused specialist who is regularly sought out to appear on behalf of local authorities, parents and guardians in complex care proceedings. He is also experienced in matters related to allegations of serious abuse and abduction, among numerous other issues.

Matthew is an excellent advocate whose depth of knowledge is remarkable. He is a fierce litigator who always has his client's best interests to the fore.

A strong personality in court, who is tactically very aware and astute.

An efficient and persuasive advocate, who never takes poor points. He has exceptional judgement which is greatly admired by his colleagues at the Bar and by the judiciary.

Sian Cox
4
Sian Cox
4
Band 4

Sian Cox is a very well-respected children law practitioner. She has in-depth knowledge of cases involving non-accidental injury and fabricated or induced illness fact-finding issues, as well as complex placement orders.

Sian did an amazing job distilling thousands of pages down into concise and helpful advice.

Sian has been so amazingly supportive and helpful. She is on top of the case, very solution-focused, responsive and reliable.

She is incredibly thorough and pre-empts what needs to be done.

Natasha Miller
U
Natasha Miller
U
Up and Coming

Natasha Miller is an up and coming barrister adept at handling both public and private law children cases. She is very much at home in all levels of the family courts and assists clients in matters regarding allegations of abuse and parental alienation, among others. She is also well regarded for her work in financial remedy proceedings.

She is able to grasp complex issues quickly, and convey them with compassion and persuasiveness. In court, she cross-examines incisively.

Her written material is faultless and always very persuasive.

Natasha consistently performs at a level well beyond her call. Her advocacy, case analysis and client-handling skills are all of a calibre more commonly seen in much more senior practitioners.

Natasha has a compassionate and caring manner with clients.

Ferociously intelligent and knowledgeable. Her excellent drafting and advocacy make her a force to be reckoned with.

Rob George
Rob George
New Silks

Rob George KC is a legal academic and barrister who is recognised for his particular expertise in international family law issues, such as child abduction and relocation, as well as jurisdiction disputes. His work in children's cases has taken him to the Supreme Court.

He has a ferocious intellect and is very persuasive.

Rob George is a fount of knowledge.

Rob George is an excellent advocate for complex cases. He is responsive and down to earth; he has great experience and knowledge as he has an academic background.

Rob is a very calm and thoughtful advocate, who has a warm manner with clients. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the law relating to international relocation.

Ranked Barristers at
Harcourt Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Family: Children

Nick Goodwin KC
Star Individuals
1
Edward Devereux KC
1
Band 1
1
John Vater KC
1
Band 1
2
Jonathan Sampson KC
2
Band 2
Rob George KC
Rob George KC
New Silks

Juniors

London (Bar)

Family: Children

Edward Bennett
1
Edward Bennett
1
Band 1
Mehvish Chaudhry
1
Mehvish Chaudhry
1
Band 1
Jason Green
3
Jason Green
3
Band 3
Ruth Cabeza
3
Ruth Cabeza
3
Band 3
4
Daniel Sheridan
4
Band 4
Emily Rayner
4
Emily Rayner
4
Band 4
Martha Gray
4
Martha Gray
4
Band 4
4
Matthew Stott
4
Band 4
Sian Cox
4
Sian Cox
4
Band 4
Natasha Miller
U
Natasha Miller
U
Up and Coming
Family: Matrimonial Finance

Fiona Hay
2
Fiona Hay
2
Band 2