Damian Woodward-Carlton KC

Family

Damian is a family practitioner, appearing in the Family Court (High Court, County Court and Appellate Courts) in London and the South East. He regularly appears in complex cases involving a range of public law matters.

Damian has expertise in cases with medical, expert and scientific evidence; cases involving allegations of factitious and induced illness; the perpetration of non-accidental injuries; cases raising allegations of radicalisation to extremist thought and terrorism, and sexual abuse.

His clients include those with learning disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse problems, and vulnerable witnesses along with a range of professional witnesses including local authorities and guardians.

Damian has written and lectured on radicalisation cases in the family courts and on the changing face of adoption policy and practice and participated in research into the ethics of social work practice in relation to adoption.

Damian frequently deals with complex High Court matters, including disclosure to the police and security services following a radicalisation case, fact-finding in relation to allegations of supporting terrorism and family members traveling to Syria, the impact of diplomatic immunity in public law family proceedings, fact-finding regarding alleged serious non-accidental injury and a cases of alleged factitious illness. Recent cases have also included the 'guidance case' on the handling and management of intimate images in family cases. Damian recently led the local authority team in the Supreme Court, addressing the fundamental principle of proportionality in family proceedings and the role of the appellate courts in the review of proportionality decisions.