UK Bar London (Bar) Family: Children

An immensely respected set recognised for its immeasurable expertise in private and public children law, as well as its complementary skill in matrimonial finance work. Its venerated silks and juniors regularly appear before the highest courts in the country, handling a broad range of matters including those relating to international child abduction, historical child sex abuse, radicalisation, non-accidental injury, and many more. The set's extensive client base consists of individuals from all walks of life, including household names, businessmen, and some of society's most vulnerable individuals. When it comes to matrimonial finance, the barristers here handle complex, acrimonious, high-value disputes, often involving multiple jurisdictions, offshore accounts and trusts. In recent times, the set has been heavily involved in cases at the forefront of the law relating to fertility, female genital mutilation and transgender rights. The set has been involved in a huge raft of reported cases in recent times. These include an important Supreme Court case concerning the scope of the High Court’s jurisdiction to protect British children abroad, and another matter concerning a parent’s right to consent to the administration of puberty blockers to their transgender child. In the last quarter of 2021, the set relocated from the Inner Temple to commercial offices in St Paul’s.

Recognised specialist set for private and public children's law and matrimonial finance proceedings. Barristers here are sought out by those seeking representation across the full spectrum of children law cases. Their areas of expertise extend to inquiries into historic sexual abuse, care proceedings involving FGM, radicalisation, abuse, child death and severe mental health problems, among others. Members are further experienced in private children's work, and frequently deal with the most complex cases concerning relocation, abduction, leave to remove, allegations of domestic abuse, and wardship proceedings. The set is regularly instructed in high-value divorce proceedings, and has an ultra high net worth clientele which includes members of foreign royal families. Cases with a strong international focus are expertly dealt with members recently being involved in the huge and highly complex Al Maktoum case. Other matters of note recently include In the Matter of T (a child), a Supreme Court case concerning vulnerable children in secure children’s homes and the exercise of the inherent jurisdiction to authorise a child’s placement. Solicitors say: "The set has a particularly strong offering of quality barristers handling unusual and complex children issues, including those with an international element."

1 King's Bench Walk is a popular choice for high-profile children and matrimonial finance matters. Individuals here have practices that encompass both domestic and cross-border disputes, and expertise in the handling of child abduction, adoption and surrogacy cases. The barristers are sought after by high net worth, often international, clients as well as a host of professionals to handle complex proceedings. The set's money practice, in particular, receives unanimous praise, with practitioners taking on the full gamut of high-value financial disputes before the highest courts in the country. Specific prowess exists in cases involving prenuptial disputes, Schedule 1, offshore trusts, TOLATA, and many other issues. Solicitors say: "This is a sophisticated set that you can instruct with confidence because there are no weak links. Chambers makes the whole litigation process run smoothly and its members produce probably the best written work at the Bar." The set has recently been involved in Potanina v Potanin, a casedescribed as potentially the highest-value divorce case in English legal history.

A highly regarded family set whose members are equipped to tackle the full gamut of finance and children proceedings. Barristers here are particularly renowned for their public children work, and frequently handle highly sensitive medical cases that involve allegations of abuse, neglect, non-accidental injury and child death. They have further experience in matrimonial finance litigation, with expertise in TOLATA, Schedule 1 applications, assets valuation and cohabitation disputes. Counsel are also instructed in a variety of private children cases, especially those concerning adoption and child abduction. Recently, the set has had involvement in a number of leading matters including the Supreme Court case of G v G, the leading case on the interface between refugee law and child abduction law.

Members at Harcourt Chambers offer a full family law service, but are especially adroit in assisting a range of clients with all manner of children law proceedings. They garner particular praise for their expertise in international abduction, and routinely handle cross-border relocation cases. They are known for their expert representation of local authorities, parents, and guardians in complex public law cases, a number of which relate to abuse, non-accidental injury and child death. While such cases from a large part of the set's work, a number of individuals are on hand to also undertake divorce and financial remedy proceedings. Solicitors note that "the set contains recognised leading individuals from international relocation cases to financial pension specialists." Recent matters handled include Re A and B, a cutting-edge case where a successful application was made on behalf of two teenage children to rescind an order made requiring them to return to the UK from Spain.

A set with demonstrable strength at silk and junior level which assists clients in both children and divorce proceedings. Members here are sought after by high net worth clients for their extensive experience of handling financial cases involving complex business structures, assets, trusts, Schedule 1, TOLATA and tax issues. Many of these are multi-jurisdictional and international in nature. The barristers also have significant expertise in private and public children law work, and are equipped to represent their clients in all manner of care, relocation, and child abduction proceedings. Their diverse clientele consists of people from all levels of society. Important cases handled of late include Villiers v Villiers, a ground-breaking case on the EU Maintenance Regulation, and Azarmi v Desfouli, a Court of Appeal case setting out the circumstances where costs can be considered as marital debt. This last case is the leading authority on the treatment of outstanding legal costs in a ‘needs’ case.

A renowned set of barristers who handle a wide range of public and private family proceedings. Members appear in both matrimonial finance and children cases for clients who include high net worth individuals, celebrities, politicians, and members of the general public. Matters of the greatest complexity are handled including those complicated by the presence of trusts, assets, pensions and tax issues. Individuals here also appear in highly sensitive children proceedings, many of which include serious allegations of abuse, FGM, parental alienation and drug use. The set is further noted for having specialist expertise in disputes involving unmarried couples. Commentators note that "the set has come on very well in recent times, building up high-calibre work." "All the members here are genuinely very nice, easy to get on with and not standoffish at all."

A well-renowned children set commended by peers and clients alike. Barristers here are frequently instructed in the representation of vulnerable clients in care proceedings. The cases it handles are complex and most notably within the context of non-accidental injury and sexual abuse. Members have further expertise in private children cases. Some of the many areas it covers include matters concerning child abduction, forced marriage, radicalisation and asylum applications. Users of the set say: "If you instruct a member of this set you can be confident that they will have the full measure of their papers and will present their client's case fully and effectively."

A respected set with substantial strength in both children and matrimonial finance proceedings. Barristers here frequently appear in cases with multi-jurisdictional elements, and regularly handle matters of great complexity involving issues such as trusts, offshore accounts, and allegations of abuse. Both public and private law work is undertaken for a wide range of clients, some of whom are high net worth. Commentators say that the chambers comprises "a team of very strong barristers who are well equipped to handle complex cases."

Garden Court Chambers is home to a stable of highly able barristers who assist their clients with both children and matrimonial finance matters. Members prove particularly strong on public children law cases, often appearing in care proceedings involving accusations of abuse, domestic violence, child death, non-accidental injury, FGM and factitious illness. They also represent clients in private law children and financial remedy matters, including cases relating to TOLATA, Schedule 1 and parental alienation, some of which are international in nature. Solicitors state that "the set has committed barristers who adopt a positive but realistic approach to their cases."

A set with substantial strength in public and private children law matters, and the further capability to handle financial proceedings. The 35-plus family barristers here are well versed in highly sensitive matters involving non-accidental injury, child death, sexual abuse, FGM, fictitious illness and child trafficking. They are also equipped to handle TOLATA, Schedule 1 and parental alienation cases. Clients include highly vulnerable individuals, as well as parents, guardians and local authorities. Commentators say: "The barristers here have good experience in the field and you can rely on them to handle complex legal matters."