Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family: Matrimonial Finance - Midlands (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

St Ives Chambers is a well-established and highly regarded family set. Its expansive bench offers expertise across the full range of matrimonial finance and children cases. Its barristers act for parents, children and local authorities in both public and private children matters, from complex adoption and placement matters involving asylum seekers, to sensitive issues concerning sexual abuse and non-accidental injuries. Members handle an array of matrimonial finance matters, including prenuptial agreements in addition to financial remedy cases featuring complex asset structures, pensions and maintenance orders. One source notes that it is a "fantastic set of highly skilled and approachable barristers."

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Andrew Day
1
Andrew Day
1
Band 1

Andrew Day maintains a strong reputation for financial and property disputes. He has notable experience of handling cases involving onshore and offshore trust assets, dissipation of assets, businesses and pensions, and cases arising from criminal confiscation proceedings and tax penalty exposure. In addition to serving as an advocate, he is a qualified arbitrator.

Andrew's advocacy is exceptional; he's experienced beyond his years and his written work is fantastic as well.

Andrew I think is an exceptional lawyer. He is very technically able and has a brilliant eye for detail.

A first-class money barrister. Fantastic prep and written work.

Elizabeth Isaacs
1
Elizabeth Isaacs
1
Band 1

Elizabeth Isaacs KC is an impressive silk with an excellent reputation in complex care proceedings, which is reinforced by her former career in child protection social work. She is regularly instructed in cases involving death, fabricated illness or serious injury, and also handles the more intricate aspects of private law such as surrogacy and same-sex parenting issues.

She is thorough in her presentation, has extensive knowledge and is a tenacious advocate for her client.

She is a powerhouse of a silk. She is a tactical opponent and she gets the absolute best results she can for each and every client.

She is excellent. A fearless advocate, forensically unrivalled and very successful in her written and oral advocacy.

Justine Lattimer
1
Justine Lattimer
1
Band 1

Justine Lattimer is an expert in public law children matters, including serious injury, abuse and grooming cases. Her caseload includes matters with complex medical evidence and vulnerable clients. She is held in high regard by instructing solicitors for her ability to communicate well with clients.

Justine is an exceptional advocate. She has a particular strength in representing vulnerable clients and her cross-examinations of vulnerable witnesses is the best I have seen.

Justine Lattimer is a strong advocate. She makes complex cases look easy.

Justine is an exceptionally strong advocate, she prepares for cases well and has excellent client care skills.

1
Mark Cooper-Hall
1
Band 1

Mark Cooper-Hall provides local authorities, guardians, parents and interveners with high-quality representation in family matters. He focuses on public law and has dealt with the full raft of charges, from non-accidental injury through to murder and sexual abuse. He is able to assist vulnerable clients, including children and those in high-risk groups.

Mark has a calm, charming and persuasive style of advocacy that is very effective and adored by the judiciary.

Mark Cooper-Hall is the all round barrister. A fantastic advocate who is always well prepared. His written submissions and attention to detail are of the highest standard.

Mark is a strong advocate, he has a keen eye for detail and ensures that no stone is left unturned in his cross-examination.

Matthew Fiddy
1
Matthew Fiddy
1
Band 1

Matthew Fiddy acts in a range of public and private law matters where he represents both children and parents. He is increasingly recognised for his handling of cases involving physical abuse, care and placement orders, and international child abductions.

Matthew is very thorough and prepared. He's a steady pair of hands.

Matthew has a lovely way with clients, both lay and professional. He has an excellent knowledge of the law.

Matthew is a strong advocate, he is always exceptionally well prepared and represents his client extremely well. Matthew has an approachable demeanour and good client care skills.

1
Matthew Maynard
1
Band 1

Matthew Maynard represents parents, local authorities and children in complicated care proceedings which often concern severe non-accidental injuries, fabricated illness and child death. He is noted for his private law practice, which has a particular slant towards surrogacy matters and international movement of children.

Matthew Maynard is approachable, methodical and always prepared. He is the gold standard.

He is technically very able and has a presence in court that gives clients confidence.

Matthew is one of the top operators in the Midlands with an exceptional knowledge of the law and he's formidable in court.

Nicholas Starks
1
Nicholas Starks
1
Band 1

Nicholas Starks is an excellent advocate who largely focuses on multifaceted financial provision cases arising from divorce as well as under TOLATA, Schedule 1 applications and the Civil Partnership Act. He is regularly instructed in disputes of a high-value and complex nature concerning farms, businesses and other kinds of assets. He shows further expertise in nuptial settlements.

In my opinion, he's the best barrister dealing with financial matters that you can instruct in Birmingham. He is hugely helpful to instructing solicitors.

Nicholas Starks is an excellent advocate, with a fantastic manner and consistently achieves excellent results. Nick is detail-driven and manages complex cases with ease and style.

1
Timothy Bowe
1
Band 1

Timothy Bowe KC is adept at handling cases of complexity involving forensic medical evidence and analysis as well as working on cases regarding child abuse and international surrogacy, and also represents the local authority.

He has a very calm and approachable court manner, and he is very good at analysing scientific and medical data.

Timothy Bowe's a charming but persuasive advocate. He is respected by The Bar and the judiciary for his encyclopaedic legal knowledge.

Timothy is exceptional in court with a phenomenal knowledge of the law and is great with the clients.

Tracy Lakin
1
Tracy Lakin
1
Band 1

Tracy Lakin is a Children Act specialist representing local authorities, guardians, parents and children in public and private childcare proceedings. She has significant experience in cases that involve aspects such as serious injury, sexual abuse and accidental injury.

Tracy excels in her ability to manage complex cases, her preparation and knowledge of the cases has been excellent.

Tracy is unbelievable when it comes to any complex case, especially involving inflicted injuries. Her medical knowledge on these cases is simply unreal.

Tracy Lakin is a strong advocate. Her cross-examinations are powerful and impactful.

Charmian Jackson
2
Charmian Jackson
2
Band 2

Charmian Jackson is a talented advocate whose practice includes both public and private family law. Among other matters, she has noted experience of financial remedies cases that involve individuals with disabilities, debt and state benefits considerations. Her practice also extends to charges of abuse and parental alienation.

Charmian is absolutely wonderful. She is able to pick up complex matters with ease. She is a calm advocate, who is wonderful with clients and gives straightforward advice.

Charmian Jackson is extremely approachable and excellent with clients.

2
Tom Harrill
2
Band 2

Tom Harrill is a well-respected junior barrister with a strong practice in all manner of cases relating to children. He is instructed in both private and public law proceedings, including complex injury cases, challenging disputes involving parental rights and matters with cross-border elements.

Tom is an extremely persuasive and articulate advocate.

Tom Harrill is an all-round class act. He has integrity, intelligence, and the ability to put clients at ease and explain the most complex issues in a simple way.

Tom Harrill is calm under pressure and has a quiet air of confidence. Tom is always well prepared and provides the highest standard of representation.

Ben Chapman
3
Ben Chapman
3
Band 3

Benjamin Chapman is a Civil and Family Barrister with a broad practice encompassing private children law and matrimonial finance. He assists clients with mandates involving relationship breakdowns, domestic abuse and parental alienation.

His manner is absolutely impeccable and he's nice to deal with.

3
Gregory Rogers
3
Band 3

Gregory Rogers focuses on care work, including cases involving severe non-accidental injury and sexual abuse. He provides additional experience in matters regarding child injury, where complex medical evidence is often necessitated.

Greg is one of my go-to counsel for anything, be it complex or straightforward. He is well prepared, personable and straightforward. There is no safer pair of hands.

3
Moira Ashton-Walsh
3
Band 3

Moira Ashton-Walsh is an expert in private law Children Act matters. She regularly acts in cases involving challenging issues such as alienation and relocation, and in complex and long-running contact matters.

3
Nina Bache
3
Band 3

Nina Bache is a child law specialist and experienced advocate who receives instructions in public and private law cases that regularly involve severe abuse and call for complex medical evidence. She has a particular interest in representing children, although she also works with parents, guardians and local authorities and is known for taking on cases that concern particularly vulnerable parties.

Nina is excellent in her communication and client skills. She is patient and calm.

She is a strong advocate and has an ability to cross-examine in a non-confrontational way in order to ensure that the proceedings were not disrupted. She has excellent client care skills.

Nina is extremely good in court and well liked by the clients. She is ever reliable and a class act.

3
Samuel Coe
3
Band 3

Samuel Coe has a growing practice in family law. He is well versed in handling complex children matters including non-accidental injuries and physical and sexual abuse cases.

Samuel is very user-friendly.

Samuel Coe is of a very high calibre.

3
Tom Lawal
3
Band 3

Tom Lawal is a well-respected practitioner. He has considerable experience of representing clients in complex, highly sensitive private children law matters.

Tom is an excellent barrister. He is calm, rational and extremely likeable. This makes his approach measured and persuasive.

Tom is sheer class but one of the most likeable characters you will meet which, when combined with his skill and advocacy, is a fearsome combination.

Tom is warm and friendly in his manner, but a committed and technical lawyer.

Ranked Barristers at
St Ives Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

Midlands (Bar)

Family: Children

Elizabeth Isaacs KC
1
Elizabeth Isaacs KC
1
Band 1
1
Timothy Bowe KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

Midlands (Bar)

Family: Children

Justine Lattimer
1
Justine Lattimer
1
Band 1
1
Mark Cooper-Hall
1
Band 1
Matthew Fiddy
1
Matthew Fiddy
1
Band 1
1
Matthew Maynard
1
Band 1
Tracy Lakin
1
Tracy Lakin
1
Band 1
Charmian Jackson
2
Charmian Jackson
2
Band 2
2
Tom Harrill
2
Band 2
3
Gregory Rogers
3
Band 3
3
Moira Ashton-Walsh
3
Band 3
3
Nina Bache
3
Band 3
3
Samuel Coe
3
Band 3
3
Tom Lawal
3
Band 3
Family: Matrimonial Finance

Andrew Day
1
Andrew Day
1
Band 1
Nicholas Starks
1
Nicholas Starks
1
Band 1
Charmian Jackson
2
Charmian Jackson
2
Band 2
Ben Chapman
3
Ben Chapman
3
Band 3