Department profile
Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Family/Children Law

UK Guide 2026 : London (Firms)


Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Payne Hicks Beach Family includes some of the most highly regarded practitioners in children law and has been involved in some of the most high profile and cutting-edge cases in the children law field. 

We are highly experienced in advising parents and acting on their behalf in relation to all legal matters concerning children, from applications for child arrangement orders to dealing with internal and international relocation applications and are accustomed to liaising with practitioners in other jurisdictions. We are experienced in dealing with child abduction and in public law cases where social services have become involved. We also have a well established modern families division focusing on surrogacy, adoption and Court of Protection work.  

We understand that disputes concerning children are delicate and emotional that require sensitive handling. Our priority in most cases will be to seek a resolution without recourse to the courts but we are equally well versed in pursuing cases vigorously through the courts when needed. We recognise that every family is unique and that a bespoke solution to meet particular circumstances is essential. We endeavour to conduct matters relating to children with the minimum amount of acrimony, recognising at all times that after proceedings the familial relationships will remain.

We put our client's best interests at the heart of everything we do and this is never more important than in the highly emotive arena of children law.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Children Law - London (Firms)

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For

The family team at Payne Hicks Beach advise clients on private children matters in addition to handling high-value financial disputes. The team garners recognition in particular for its cross-border work, including Hague Convention proceedings, as well as its focus on highly contentious Children Act cases.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Payne Hicks Beach team has real depth of talent.

    Family/Children Law respondentUK
  • The firm has wonderful client care, accessibility and patience with clients who are in highly emotional states. It is excellent for individual expertise and specialist knowledge across the board.

    Family/Children Law respondentUK
  • The whole team there is excellent. They have the talent and resources.

    Family/Children Law respondentUK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 2Fiona Shackleton
    Band 2Fiona Shackleton

    Fiona Shackleton

    Fiona Shackleton is a dominant figure in family law and brings her decades of experience and expertise to Children Act proceedings.

    • Fiona Shackleton is extraordinary good at what she does. She is a very tactical, clever solicitor who gets excellent results and is a very formidable presence.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK
    • Fiona excels in bringing a team together. She is able to see the future and to assemble the right people for the job.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK
    • Fiona has a stellar reputation for a very good reason. She is very good with the clients, has an excellent way of thinking outside the box and is also a fantastic pragmatist and realist.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK
  • Band 2Harriet Errington
    Band 2Harriet Errington

    Harriet Errington

    Harriet Errington advises on a wide range of children law matters, including international relocation and abduction cases. She also has specialist knowledge in surrogacy law.

    • Harriet is an extremely committed solicitor with great client care skills.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK
    • She's just excellent, I can't speak highly enough of her. She has just got a really calm, sensible way of dealing with cases and clients.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK
    • Clients really go for Harriet, she's very warm, reassuring and very thorough.

      Family/Children Law respondentUK

Ranked Individuals at Payne Hicks Beach LLP (2)

London (Firms)

Members

Provided by Payne Hicks Beach LLP

  • Nick Manners

    Head of Department

  • Ben Parry-Smith

  • Evelyn Collins

  • Matthew Booth

  • Simon Beccle

  • Katie Parkes

  • Camellia Buckmaster

  • Victoria Hingston

  • Charlotte Skea-Strachan

  • Laura Hallahan

  • Luke Scarratt

  • Orlaith Devereaux

  • Aoife Devereaux

  • Isabella Savill

  • Rachel Tiffen

  • Kelly Gerrard

  • Marina Fitzalan Howard

  • Kate O'Callaghan

  • Beatrice Caldwell

  • Oliver Stacey

  • Amelia Alston

  • Isabella Beck

  • Alex O'Dwyer Curran

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