About

Provided by St John's Chambers

Voted Regional Family Law Chambers of the Year at the Family Law Awards 2023, and shortlisted again in 2024 and 2025, St John’s Chambers is recognised as a leader in family law. Our Family & Divorce team is one of the foremost sets on the Western Circuit, with a national and international reputation for excellence. With two silks and twenty-nine juniors, including three Recorders (one a Deputy High Court Judge), a fee-paid Tribunal Judge and four Deputy District Judges, we offer unrivalled depth of expertise, advocacy and client service.

Ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK, our barristers are praised for insightful advice, solution-focused approaches and exceptional advocacy.

We are experts in high-value financial remedies, including international assets, businesses, trusts and pensions, and act in complex children cases ranging from non-accidental injury and trafficking to relocation and parental responsibility disputes. Our practice extends across Court of Protection, probate and Inheritance Act claims, ToLATA cases, education law and CMS appeals.

Leaders in ADR, we offer mediation, arbitration and private FDRs, saving clients time and cost while ensuring fair outcomes. Committed to access to justice, we remain dedicated to publicly funded work and community initiatives. Members are widely published, appear in national media, and work collaboratively with financial, medical and social care experts to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Family/Matrimonial - Western (Bar)

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

St John's Chambers has a lengthy roster of silks and juniors with invaluable expertise in a wide range of family and matrimonial matters. Its members are particularly skilled at handling cross-jurisdictional matters for high net worth individuals, especially those concerning the division of assets as part of divorce proceedings. The barristers are frequently called upon to assist with the most complex public children mandates encompassing sexual abuse, brain injury and trafficking matters, and also take on private work such as Children Act proceedings. One source comments: "I am genuinely very happy with the service provided by St Johns Chambers which is first class in all respects."

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
Abigail Bond
1
Band 1

Abigail Bond is head of the children law team and an expert in challenging cases concerning alleged sexual and physical abuse. She is well known for her authorship of a frequently used text on learning disabilities and is regularly instructed in cases concerning the care of children and Court of Protection matters.

Abigail is a stellar advocate, she's great on her feet and has a real eye for detail.

Abigail is an extremely able and fearless advocate who is well respected by her clients, colleagues and tribunal alike.

Abigail is a very hard-working, sensible and pragmatic individual.

Abigail is a responsive, calm and clear advocate.

1
Judi Evans
1
Band 1

Judi Evans heads the family team at the set and maintains a strong reputation for her work in the public sphere, particularly on non-accidental injury cases concerning abuse allegations. She has additional experience handling complex cases involving drug and alcohol abuse, as well as fabricated or induced illness.

Judi has a no nonsense, tenacious and fearless approach in court. She's a go-to individual for tricky and seemingly impossible cases.

1
Lucy Reed
1
Band 1

Lucy Reed KC specialises in children work and acts for clients on a wide variety of public and private cases. She regularly advises on matters involving challenging or vulnerable parties, such as parents with substance abuse or mental health issues, and children with disabilities and learning difficulties. She is also skilled at handling adoption and trafficking cases before the High Court.

Lucy is brilliant, she has great judgement and completely put the client at ease.

Lucy is a go-to individual for technical legal arguments.

Lucy is a wonderful lawyer, she's extremely well prepared and knowledgeable.

1
Susan Hunter
1
Band 1

Susan Hunter has expertise in children cases with complex aspects such as sexual, physical and emotional abuse, as well as handling adoption and trafficking matters.

Susan is excellent and her advocacy is first-class.

1
Zoë Saunders
1
Band 1

Zoë Saunders is a specialist in family law, often dealing with international leave to remove cases and divorce proceedings involving property in the UK and abroad. She has experience in financial disputes regarding inherited property, business partnerships, trusts and land matters, and insolvency issues.

Zoë is extremely clear in her advice to clients, unflappable and manages client's expectations perfectly.

Zoë is incredibly bright. She presents the case well for the client and gets her message across.

Zoë is consistently excellent, both in her managing of client expectations and support and in her ability to prepare and fight a case.

Zoë is a real technical lawyer and great for those tricky technical areas which don’t crop up every day; she is superb with complex financial information.

2
Jack Harris
2
Band 2

Jack Harris is highlighted for his strong work across a range of family matters. He practises predominantly in financial remedy work.

Jack is an excellent family barrister, who goes above and beyond to ensure the client understands the process and understands the possible outcomes.

Jack has a great client manner and he is very easy to work with from a solicitor's perspective. He is able to grasp complicated matters with ease and is a particularly strong and compelling advocate.

Jack is all over the detail; he is a sharp advocate and is truly a safe pair of hands.

Jack prepares his cases meticulously and is an excellent advocate.

Jack is a phenomenal barrister. His client manner is excellent, artfully balancing fierce advocacy before the court and quietly managing expectations behind the scenes.

2
Jody Atkinson
2
Band 2

Jody Atkinson practises across the whole spectrum of private family matters, often advising on ancillary relief disputes involving family trusts and overseas companies, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency issues. He is also active in matters relating to child support.

Jody has a good style, is very calm and collected and literally wrote chapters in the books regarding case information.

Jody is very technical and is just fantastic on anything involved with money and child maintenance.

Jody is meticulous in case preparation and has extensive legal knowledge.

2
Richard Norman
2
Band 2

Richard Norman acts on a broad range of family law matters, including those concerning financial remedies following relationship breakdowns and complex private children cases. He is particularly well versed in cases with an international element, involving foreign assets and trusts, as well as taxation issues.

Richard's advice is never wide of the mark, he always keeps the client calm, is very easy-going off the case, but argues well when he is on.

Richard is a pleasure to work with. Always thoroughly prepared; he is excellent at looking after clients.

2
Ryan Morgan
2
Band 2

Former solicitor Ryan Morgan handles public and private children law work. He represents local authorities, parents and children with complex proceedings, including cases involving non-accidental injury, fabricated illness, sexual assaults and child death.

Ryan is very well prepared with good attention to detail. He gives clear and robust advice to clients.

Ryan is incredibly thorough in his preparation and drafting skills.

Ryan is an outstanding trial advocate, a top pick for complex cases.

Ryan is an extremely competent advocate, who is personable, helpful and always goes the extra mile.

3
Caroline Elford
3
Band 3

Caroline Elford is an experienced advocate with a strong children law practice. She frequently acts in matters concerning serious physical abuse, non-accidental injury cases and care proceedings.

Caroline is reliable and very knowledgeable.

3
Jacqueline Humphreys
3
Band 3

Jacqueline Humphreys is particularly recognised for her handling of financial matters. She is noted for her specialism in Schedule 1 applications, as well as complex matrimonial finance matters involving trusts and other shared assets.

Jacqueline is always exceptionally well prepared and has the ability to think outside the box to find creative solutions.

Jacqueline has an excellent eye for detail and thinks outside of the box. She stands ready to robustly argue the case in court while remaining unafraid to provide unpopular advice to the client.

The standard of Jacqueline's work is exceptional, both her written work and advocacy.

3
Julia Belyavin
3
Band 3

Julia Belyavin is experienced in public and private children law. Her children law work is often focused on complex cases of physical, mental or sexual abuse, and sees her appear before the High Court.

Julia has an excellent style and is always on top of the detail.

Julia is an extremely experienced advocate who is able to provide no-nonsense advice in a calm, empathetic and professional manner.

3
Sophie Smith-Holland
3
Band 3

Sophie Smith-Holland is recognised for her talent in financial remedy matters. She has noted expertise with forgery considerations and asset tracing.

Sophie is a pleasure to work with and can be relied upon with confidence.

Sophie tackled a difficult opponent intelligently; she keeps her head cool under pressure and provides focused advice.

Sophie is an exceptional advocate, she works collaboratively with solicitors and is a real joy to work with.

Sophie is an excellent advocate who provides firm, but fair advice in an empathetic manner.

Sophie takes a proactive approach to each case and prepares with impressive thoroughness.

3
Zahid Hussain
3
Band 3

Zahid Hussain is a family law specialist who represents children, guardians and parents in children law matters. His experience includes cases of non-accidental injury, sexual and physical abuse, and care proceedings.

Zahid devours information and translates this well for the judges and clients, he has an exemplary eye for detail.

Zahid is a very impressive advocate, backing up his ability with thorough preparation and knowledge of his cases.

Zahid has a great analytic mind and is fantastic at considering all the evidence in the case.

U
Dominik Morton
U
Up and Coming

Dominick Morton is well regarded for his varied children law practice. He has considerable experience working with the local authorities.

Dominick is very much a rising star in all areas of family law; he offers robust and comprehensive legal advice and is a thorough advocate.

Dominick was well organised and has an exceptional ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

Dominick is extremely personable and helpful with clients, he always goes the extra mile.

Dominick's ability to cut through to the heart of a case is impressive, he does work beyond his year of call.

Dominick's drafting is always meticulous, thorough and precise and his advocacy is clear, concise and persuasive.

U
Georgina Swinglehurst
U
Up and Coming

Georgina Swinglehurst is a recognised family law practitioner. She has represented clients in an impressive range of matrimonial finance proceedings, across a variety of asset classes.

Georgina is always incredibly well prepared and organised, and she has a keen eye for detail.

Georgina really fights her client's corner, is very well prepared and knows the case inside and out.

Georgina is spell binding on her feet, with a wonderfully calm demeanour and experience well beyond her call.

Georgina's attention to detail is meticulous, immediately putting her clients at ease.

Georgina is highly impressive and offers a service well above her year of call.

U
Vivien Croly
U
Up and Coming

Vivien Croly is a well respected up and coming barrister in the financial remedy space. She regularly advises clients on high-net-worth divorce proceedings, both in the courts and in FDRs.

Vivien is very proactive and works well with the solicitor in matters.

She approaches cases with compassion and unwavering dedication. Vivien delivers when it comes to results.

Vivien is a calming presence for vulnerable clients and is a tenacious advocate.

Vivien is wise beyond her year of call; she produces exceptionally high-standard work.

Vivien is a brilliant advocate who fights hard for her clients.

Ranked Barristers at
St John's Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

Western (Bar)

Family: Children

1
Lucy Reed KC
1
Band 1

Juniors

Western (Bar)

Family: Children

1
Abigail Bond
1
Band 1
1
Judi Evans
1
Band 1
1
Susan Hunter
1
Band 1
2
Ryan Morgan
2
Band 2
3
Caroline Elford
3
Band 3
3
Julia Belyavin
3
Band 3
3
Zahid Hussain
3
Band 3
U
Dominik Morton
U
Up and Coming
Family: Matrimonial Finance

1
Zoë Saunders
1
Band 1
2
Jack Harris
2
Band 2
2
Jody Atkinson
2
Band 2
2
Richard Norman
2
Band 2
3
Jacqueline Humphreys
3
Band 3
3
Sophie Smith-Holland
3
Band 3
U
Georgina Swinglehurst
U
Up and Coming
U
Vivien Croly
U
Up and Coming