Hannah Markham KC

Hannah is a formidable silk renowned for her role in leading and appellate cases, often those that tackle ground-breaking areas of law.

Since taking silk Hannah has balanced complex private law cases, international children law cases and appellate work with the most serious of public law (care) cases. She is also renowned for law defining cases in the area of ‘Modern Families’.

Private law cases involve those with the most serious of issues, domestic abuse, alienation and emotional abuse; physical abuse including sexual and those with international and complicated relocation (both internal and external) arguments.

Known for her work in cases involving serious allegations of sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional harm, she is also highly regarded in her work in medical cases: non accidental injury, shaken baby syndrome and cases involving mental health issues. She impresses with her good reasoning both in and outside court and is said to have the ‘ear’ of the court.

Hannah’s work also focuses on judicial review issues both within family law cases and as free-standing issues, notably her recent challenges against the Government in respect of transgender parental right issues, surrogacy cases and in respect of diplomatic immunity and the interplay with child protection. Her approach to clients is noted as being highly personable, warm, open minded and thorough; be they lay or professional clients. Her attention to detail and management of case papers is standout. Hannah is recognised as a skilled advocate in questioning vulnerable parties and children in both private and public law cases.

Called 1998 Lincoln’s; Silk 2016 Arbitrator and Mediator.

Hannah is due to be the Chair of the FLBA from January 2022 and remains the Chair of Women in Family Law, an association she brought together for all women who practice in Family law. She is also the Vice chair of the FLBA and Head of Family at 36 Group.

Hannah is also a part of the President’s Working Group reviewing changes in Public law, was part of the sub-committee reviewing guidance for Special Guardianship orders and currently reviewing the ambit and scope of supervision orders. She was also the Chair of a commission reviewing Child Poverty in Milton Keynes.

Hannah was awarded Chamber & Partners Family Silk of the year in 2020 and in the same year was also named as Lexis Nexis Family Silk of the year 2020.

• FLBA Chair 2022

• Women in Family law Chair

• Resolution

Testimonials

Hannah is an experienced and wise KC. She has impeccable instincts, gives sound advice and adds real value to a case. She is very urbane when dealing with difficult clients. Legal 500, 2025

She has vision, experience and clarity. Chambers UK, 2025

She is calm, collected and always prepared. Chambers UK, 2025

There is no one better than Hannah. Chambers UK, 2025

Her cross-examination is phenomenal and she gets astounding results. Chambers UK, 2025

If I have a tricky case which requires a silk and perhaps a miracle, Hannah is my first thought of counsel. Chambers UK, 2025

Her client care is exceptional, her preparation is forensic and she has case strategy in mind from the outset. Chambers UK, 2025

Hannah is the leading choice of KCs for many solicitors, Chambers UK, 2025

Notable cases

• Re C (A Child) [2025] EWHC 1648 (Fam) https://caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/fam/2025/1648?court=ewhc%2Ffam

• Re R [2022] EWFC 130

https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWFC/HCJ/2022/130.html

• London Borough of Barnet v AG & Ors [2021] EWHC 1253 (Fam) Challenging the interplay between diplomatic immunity and child protection.

• AB v CD [2021] EWHC 819 – a successful appeal to Roberts J from a decision addressing allegations of rape in private law proceedings.

• Re H-M [2021] EWCA Civ 748 – successful argument resisting a rehearing of facts found in a family hearing when a subsequent criminal case found one person guilty of all acts. See also Re T (children) [2020] EWCA Civ 1344

• XM v XF [2021] EWHC 1279 Roberts J, case involving use of this jurisdiction to determine welfare matters for British Children living in the UAE.

• F v M [2020] EWHC 2670, Francis J; relocation from UAE to England when children habitually resident in UAE; use of English jurisdiction.

• Number of private law cases involving high profile parents and their children, managing a range of issues from relocation, allegations of domestic abuse and mental health issues.

• Number of private law cases successfully arguing coercive controlling and violent behaviour in fact finding hearings.

• In public law cases; a range of cases from serious harm to children (head injuries/ extensive injuries), to complex wide-ranging sexual abuse matters.