Forum Shah

Practice Areas

Forum specialises in private and public children law, with particular expertise in international child abduction and relocation. She receives instructions directly from the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). She acts for both Applicants and Respondents in cases concerning the 1980 Hague Convention, as well as the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court/wardship and non Hague Convention countries.

Forum also acts for parents and other family members in care proceedings (her expertise in international children law means she is often chosen by parents residing abroad who are seeking their child to be placed with them), in living and contact arrangements, applications to relocate abroad and cases involving allegations of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic abuse and parental alienation.

Career

Qualified (2014); joined Dawson Cornwell as an Associate (2020), promoted to Senior Associate (2021) and promoted to Partner (2024); Resolution Accredited Specialist in Child Abduction and Domestic Abuse; elected member of the Executive Committee of the Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA); on the committee of the Association of Lawyers for Children.

Professional Memberships

Member of Resolution; Young Legal Aid Lawyers; The Family Law Panel; AIJA (The International Association of Young Lawyers)

Personal

She is s a skilled advocate who often undertakes her own advocacy.