Star Individuals
Provided by Jo Delahunty KC
Private Children Law
Public Children Law
- Overview
Jo deals with both public and private law children’s cases, with the common thread being complexity and sensitivity. She is accredited under the Bar Council/ FLBA Vulnerable Witness programme to cross examine the vulnerable adult or child. Jo is registered to accept direct access cases and as of 2026 will be an accredited arbitrator. Jo is ranked as a “Star Individual Silk’ by C&P and Band1 / Leading Silk by Legal 500
- Public Children Law:
Jo is frequently instructed in cases involving extreme child abuse cases involving death or serious injury, shaken baby cases, alleged NAI injuries mimicking abuse (including those linked to extreme prematurity, medication, vitamin D deficiency/rickets, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, genetic disorder ), factitious or induced illness, adult on child /child-on-child rape, baby rape, internet paedophilia, ritualised abuse, and FGM. She acts for all parties but has a particular interest acting for vulnerable individuals whether that be cognitive/mental health or neurologically impairment and adult or child
- Private Children Law:
Jo is sought out to act for high-net-worth parents facing or making allegations of abuse, whether against an ex-partner or involving a child involving DA,CCB and Alienation/Reluctance, Resistance , Refusal and /or DARVO.
- Accreditations
Jo is Gresham Emeritus Professor of Law, and her publicly available internet library of streamed lectures attract UK and international audiences numbering in the tens of thousands. She is a Recorder (Family: Private & Public) and Bencher of Middle Temple. In 2025, Jo was appointed a Reader for the Queen Elizabeth II Prize for Education. Jo was awarded ‘Family Silk of 2025’ by Lexis Nexis. Jo was made a Freeman of the City of London for her contribution to the law and was named by Middle Temple as one of their 100 Women of Distinction of the past 100 years
- Professional speaking, publications and outreach
Jo was voted’ The Lawyer you most Aspire to Be 2025 ” by Lawyers Life and named as one of 3 finalists for the “Outstanding Contribution to D&I Award 2025 “ by Chambers and Partners. Jos profile at the Bar and beyond warrants an individual profile in Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Delahunty)
Jo is a member of the charity Speakers for Schools, visiting academies to speak to students aged 14+ about pursuing careers beyond those they see around them. She shares her experiences as a child from a single-parent, working-class background who attended a state school and was the first in her family to take A levels and go to university.
As an Ambassador and supporter of Bridging the Bar, Jo continues to mentor individuals and lecture to each year’s intake. She created and self funds the annual Prof JDKC BTB Essay Prize. As a Patron of the Association of Women Barristers and Bencher of Middle Temple , she mentors aspiring pupils as well as colleagues applying for silk and judicial appointment.
A vocal champion of legal aid, Jo regularly lectures for the FLBA on expert and non-accidental injury (NAI) medical/scientific issues and speaks nationally on the controversial SiHIs (NAHI/experts) pilot and the issue of DA/CCB/ Alienation. Since 2021 Jo has developed and continues to deliver bespoke training to the judiciary, barristers, Resolution and social work professionals (such as NAGALRO and JAFCASS)
She writes invited articles for Family Law and other publications, including Counsel, The Times, NAGALRO, and Local Government Lawyer.
Jo also speaks regularly on the international and national corporate circuit on matters within and beyond the law.
Jo has also taken the lead on the often-hidden issue of disability and speaks openly about her neurodiversity (ADHD) as a platform for inclusion and change across all levels of the Bar, from students to silks. She was profiled as a “Champion for Change” in Counsel magazine.
She is listed in the Pro Bono Celebrant’s Recognition List and was awarded the Panth Seva Medal by the Legal Association of Sikhs in 2024 for her contribution to the community.
Jo has two books due for publication in 2026:
· We Set the Bar (Bristol Press) – a personal account of the challenges faced in the profession. In effect a ‘love letter’ to the legal aid Bar
· Domestic Abuse in the Family Courts: A Procedural and Practical Guide (Bloomsbury). A legal and practical tool kit aimed at acquiring skills and developing good practice at all levels of advocacy.
· FLBA
· ALC
· Resolution
· Association of Women Judges
· Association Women Barristers
· United Kingdom Association of Part-time judges
Provided by Chambers
Jo Delahunty KC is a highly sought-after specialist children silk entrusted with the most significant and demanding national cases. She regularly handles matters concerning the most serious injuries and fatalities resulting from sexual assault, radicalisation and abuse. She is particularly experienced in cases involving non-accidental injury to children.
Provided by Chambers
She strives to deliver a client-focused outcome and stops at nothing to ensure this happens. Jo is empathetic, tenacious and someone with an incredibly analytical mind.
She is highly intelligent, always meticulously prepared and someone who works well with solicitors.
Watching Jo on her feet cross-examining witnesses is akin to watching gold being spun. She is a master of dynamics in the courtroom.
She strives to deliver a client-focused outcome and stops at nothing to ensure this happens. Jo is empathetic, tenacious and someone with an incredibly analytical mind.
She is highly intelligent, always meticulously prepared and someone who works well with solicitors.
Watching Jo on her feet cross-examining witnesses is akin to watching gold being spun. She is a master of dynamics in the courtroom.