Kevin Skinner

Practice Areas

Kevin has expertise in international custody disputes, child abduction (Hague, Wardship, and Inherent Jurisdiction), children (private law), and complex care proceedings. He is assisting in developing Goodman Ray’s growing practice for alternative families, advising on co-parenting arrangements and surrogacy. Kevin advises with respect to legal issues arising from the creation and implementation of surrogacy arrangements and The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. He became a partner in June 2015.

Kevin has a particular interest in Children Act applications including child arrangement disputes, internal relocation, and leave to remove from the jurisdiction. When instructed in care proceedings, Kevin’s primary focus is on cases involving non-accidental injury, cases with concurrent criminal proceedings and with international elements. He has been awarded the Law Society Family Law (Advanced) Accreditation, specialising in Child Abduction and Children Law.

He is a regular speaker and lecturer within the United Kingdom, having recently given talks to the ALC (Association of Children Lawyers), NSPCC, NIA project, and IMECE. He is on the Amnesty International speakers (on issues around the death penalty and stopping violence against women); he is also a regular contributor to Jordan’s Family Law and is frequently asked to comment on cases by LexisNexis.

Professional Memberships

Kevin is a member of Resolution, the Human Rights Lawyers Association, the Association of Children Lawyers, Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Amnesty International, the Lesbian and Gay Lawyer Association, and the Child Abduction Lawyer Association

Publications

What issues do local authorities face when trying to find appropriate placements? LexisNexis, 14 January 2014

The Hague Convention and the article 13 defence, LexisNexis, 3 June 2013

Without notice applications and litigants in persons, LexisNexis, 9 December 2013

Enforcement by way of committal proceedings, LexisNexis, 30 July 2013

Court examines the rights of biological, but not legal, parents, LexisNexis, 11 February 2013

Court of Appeal halts adoption proceedings in Vitamin D deficiency case, LexisNexis, 5 October 2012

Adoption, public policy and integrity; Re PW: – Jordan Family Law, May 2012, volume 42, page 577

Confidentiality in Children Cases after Doncaster MBC V Haigh – Jordan Family Law, December 2011, volume 41, page 1348

Family Law: Court Considers Request to Disclose Details of Proceedings, LexisNexis, 4 October 2011

The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007: Two Years On – Jordan Family Law, January 2011, volume 41, Page 76

Work Highlights

Re K & S (Article 13(b) [2023] EWHC 1883 (Fam)

Re: AA v BB & Ors (Hague Convention: Rights of Custody) [2022] EWHC 2322 (Fam)

AD v BD (financial remedies appeal) [2021] EWFC B48 (21 July 2021)

Re: M (Children) (Abduction: Joinder of Children) [2021] EWHC 635 (Fam) (22 January 2021)