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Provided by Helen Blackburn
Helen Blackburn is a Partner at The International Family Law Group LLP.
She specialises in family law concerning children and has a particular expertise in child abduction law and other children cases with an international dimension or involving the cross-border movement of children. She has extensive experience of cases involving arrangements for children, custody/residence, contact/access (domestic and international), adoption (domestic and inter country), the reciprocal enforcement of foreign orders, international relocation/leave to remove applications and jurisdiction disputes.
Helen is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).
Helen is accredited by Resolution as a Specialist Family lawyer with a particular specialism in Child Abduction and Private Children Law.
Helen has written for various legal journals and publications and is a frequent lecturer on family law. She has been interviewed by the BBC regarding child abduction issues.
Helen is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
Helen is a former Chair of CALA (Child Abduction Lawyers Association) from Autumn 2015-Spring 2018
The Child Abduction Lawyers Association (CALA)
Resolution (Accredited as a specialist family lawyer)
Reunite: International Child Abduction Centre
The Law Society
The International Family Law Practice' 2021 -2022 published by Family Law, LexisNexis (sixth edition) - chapters on : Child Abduction, International Adoption and Legal Aid
'The International Family Law Practice' 2016 - 2017 published by Family Law, LexisNexis (fifth edition) - chapters on : Child Abduction, International Adoption and Legal Aid
'The International Family Law Practice' 2015 - 2016 published by Family Law, LexisNexis (fourth edition) - chapters on : Child Abduction, International Adoption and Legal Aid
'The International Family Law Practice' 2013 - 2014 published by Family Law, LexisNexis (third edition) - chapters on : Child Abduction International Adoption and Legal Aid
'The International Family Law Practice' 2012 -2013 published by Family Law, LexisNexis (second edition) - chapters on : International Adoption and Legal Aid
'The Modern Family' Resolution's publication - author of the chapter entitled 'The Global Child'
Reported Decisions:
Father v Mother & Anor [2024] EWHC 3332
D v D & Ors [2024] EWHC 2687 (Fam)
KS v CS [2024] EWHC 2115 (Fam)
Re E, Z, D, V (Inherent jurisdiction: Refusal of Return Order) [2024] EWHC 988 (Fam)
X v X & Anor (Time Barred Adoption) [2024] EWHC 364 (Fam)
Re P (Inherent Jurisdiction Return: Return Order: Welfare Analysis) [2023] EWHC 225 (Fam)
Re M (Allegations of Domestic Abuse: Welfare Hearing) [2023] EWHC 2869 (Fam)
Re P (Inherent Jurisdiction Return: Allegations of Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Abuse: Fact Finding) [2022] EWHC 1722 (Fam)
Re M (Allegations of Domestic Abuse: Fact Finding) [2022] EWHC 2699 (Fam)
Re M: Private Law Children Proceedings: Case Management: Intimate Images [2022] EWHC 986 (Fam)
Da Silva v Pereira Jr (Abduction: Article 13B and child's objections) [2022] EWHC 1193 (Fam) (11 May 2022)
Re M (A child) [2021] EWHC 3225 (Fam) (1 December 2021)
NP v DP (Hague Convention; abducting parent refusing to return) [2021] EWHC 3626 (Fam) (17 November 2021)
Re A (Hague Convention: Wrongful Retention) [2021] EWHC 1204 (Fam) (11 May 2021)
AB v CD (Abduction; Undertakings) [2021] EWHC 665 (Fam) (16 March 2021)
JM v RM (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 315 (Fam) (22 February 2021)
B (A Child) (Abduction: Habitual Residence) [2020] EWCA Civ 1187 (10 September 2020)
M (Children : Habitual Residence : 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention) [2020] EWCA Civ 1105 (25 August 2020)
FX and MJX v CAFCASS Legal [2020] EWHC 1227 (Fam) (18 May 2020)
H (Children: Relocation), Re [2019] EWHC 2881 (Fam) (30 October 2019)
SR v MA (Temporary Leave To Remove From the Jurisdiction) [2019] EWHC 435 (Fam) (25 February 2019)
Re W (Children : Abduction: Implementation of Return Order) V [2019] EWHC 357 (Fam) (22 February 2019)
RVH v TF (Non Hague Convention: Refusal of Summary Return) [2018] EWHC 1680 (Fam) (14 June 2018)
W, Re [2018] EWCA Civ 664 (27 March 2018)
FE v YE [2017] EWHC 2165 (Fam) (25 August 2017)
RS (A Child), Re [2015] EWHC 2880 (Fam) (29 July 2015)
LS (A Child), Re [2015] EWHC 2824 (Fam) (08 June 2015)
LC (Children), Re [2014] UKSC 1 (15 January 2014)
G (A Child), Re [2014] EWCA Civ 680 (19 May 2014)
G (A Child), Re [2013] EWHC 4017 (Fam) (13 December 2013)
LC (Children) [2013] EWCA Civ 1058 (15 August 2013)
P v G [2010] EWHC 1311 (Fam) (30 April 2010)
W v W [2009] EWHC 3288 (Fam) (10 December 2009)
Provided by Chambers
Helen Blackburn is an expert in Hague Convention work. She frequently represents clients in international abduction cases and broader Children Act proceedings that concern other jurisdictions.
Provided by Chambers
Helen is formidable in how good and prepared her cases are. Her knowledge is second to none.
Helen is excellent across all boards - when she instructs counsel she will have already thought of all the answers to your queries and her instincts are spot-on.
Helen is extremely professional, helpful, understanding and gets things done in the best of ways.
Helen has proved so knowledgeable and gives me all the time that I need. She always advises me very well and I am very satisfied with her services.
Helen is formidable in how good and prepared her cases are. Her knowledge is second to none.
Helen is excellent across all boards - when she instructs counsel she will have already thought of all the answers to your queries and her instincts are spot-on.
Helen is extremely professional, helpful, understanding and gets things done in the best of ways.
Helen has proved so knowledgeable and gives me all the time that I need. She always advises me very well and I am very satisfied with her services.
