News

No.18 Chambers Announces Prestigious Gray’s Inn Scholarship Award for Holly McGahey

Holly McGahey (2023)

No.18 Chambers has announced that pupil barrister Holly McGahey has been awarded the highly coveted Gray’s Inn Ann Goddard Scholarship, a distinction recognising exceptional promise at the Bar. The Ann Goddard Scholarship, one of Gray’s Inn’s most competitive awards, is granted to individuals who demonstrate outstanding advocacy skills, intellectual ability and...

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Re X (A Child) 17.6.25 - Mr Justice Harrison - Meaning of father in s2 CA 1989 - Removal of PR

Gary Fawcett (1975)

Following on from my last article connected to PR, (Re S, 13.6.25. DJ Knifton, Liverpool) I noticed this little related step sibling ! Parties: X the child F, X’s biological father,  M, the mother, and  H, mother's former husband. The court was also assisted by Mr Niven-Phillips of Cafcass Legal who prepared a skeleton argument, having...

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EHRC Extends Enforcement Action Against McDonald’s: What Organisations Should Take From the Latest Developments

Helen Moizer (2018)

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has extended its legal agreement with McDonald’s after further serious allegations of workplace sexual harassment came to light. Announced on 7 November 2025, the strengthened action plan is designed to ensure the company takes more effective steps to prevent harassment and protect its workforce. This move reflects...

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Re C (Children: Premature Determination) [2025] EWCA Civ 1481

Rachel Chapman (2017)

When does a judicial indication go too far? This was effectively the premise of this recent case heard by the Court of Appeal. The Local Authority first made an application for public law orders in June 2023 in respect of 4 children. In December 2024, proceedings concluded in respect of the...

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Re S 13.6.25. DJ Knifton, Liverpool. Case between Father & Mother & Maternal Grandmother PR - distinction between PR and contact test - review of cases pre and post Children Act 1989

Gary Fawcett (1975)

This case caught my eye, because the District Judge rehearses the law on PR.  Whilst we are all familiar with the tripartite test, there is just a little more to it than that !  The case doesn’t really create new judicial law, but is a good reminder of the current...

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Tribunal Updates: No Return of Fees, Pension Loss Guidance Review & New London Venue Announced

Helen Moizer (2018)

Government Confirms Employment Tribunal Fees Will Not Be Reintroduced The Labour government has confirmed that employment tribunal fees will not be reintroduced, ending speculation that arose following recent comments from the Ministry of Justice. David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor, issued a clear statement via social media platform X (formerly...

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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Father & Mother [2025] EWFC 315 (B) 1.9.25. HHJ Simmonds - Extended Civil Restraint Order

Gary Fawcett (1975)

When I read about a Civil Restraint Order my mind conjures up pictures of the Civil Guardia in Spain slapping the cuffs on someone, but as we know, that is not the case. In this Bournemouth case the parents represented themselves. On 23rd of July 2025 DJ Veal made a public...

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ER v NT (Need for fact-finding hearing) [2025] EWHC 2146 (Fam)

Rebecca Caws (2023)

This case concerns an appeal by a Mother (“M”) against a case management decision not to direct a fact-finding hearing. The proceedings concerned the Father’s (“F”) application for a child arrangements order to spend time with the parties’ daughter, CT born in 2023. The case management decision took place following the...

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No.18 Chambers welcomes Holly McGahey (2023) and Callan Withers (2025) as they commence pupillage

Holly McGahey (2023), Callan Withers (2025)

Holly McGahey (2023) Holly joined Chambers as a pupil after successful completion of the MLaw Exempting (Bar Course) at Northumbria University. Holly achieved a First Class Honours degree, along with a Distinction in all Bar Course modules. She was Called to the Bar in October 2023 by Gray’s Inn.  Prior to joining...

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AN EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR NO.18 CHAMBERS IN THE ANNUAL LEGAL 500 RANKINGS

Tracey Hennessey (2001), Nigel Cholerton (2007), Barnaby Large (2007), Laura Baines (2007), Claire Hook (2010), Francis Payne (2014), Amelia King (2016), Rachel Chapman (2017), Sara Chalk (2018), John Franklin (2016), Ian Wheaton (2002), Sarah Hirech (2012), Mark Windebank (LLB (Hons)), Dan Fantham, Breandan OCaoimh

No.18 Chambers are delighted to announce we have again received increased recognition for the Tenth year running in the annual Legal 500 rankings strengthening our TIER 2 status in Family & TIER 3 status in Employment. We would like to thank all those who have and continue to support us. The Legal...

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Rotherham MBC v M, F & C [2025] EWFC 298 (B) HHJ Afzal CBE - Revocation of Placement Order - Role of IRO - Papers to OS, is one child entitled to compensation

Gary Fawcett (1975)

 Two things caused me to write this article concerning the case law report: It contained no case law and It is not a situation I see very often. 25th September 2020.  C and his brother AR were made the subject of care and placement orders.  No joint placement found, and AR was put...

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Consultation on Revised Family Public Law and Private Law Allocation and Gatekeeping

A message from Mr Justice Keehan: In February 2024, the President of the Family Division’s Family Executive Team, chaired by me, established the Family Magistrates Working Group to consider the allocation of work to magistrates. This group includes judges, magistrates and legal advisers. Following a review of the existing Allocation...

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Flexible and Hybrid Working in the UK: One Year on from the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023

Helen Moizer (2018)

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for human resources. CIPD has released a new report, alongside a series of case studies, assessing the state of flexible and hybrid working in the UK more than a year after the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023...

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Employers and flexible working: what are the current challenges?

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has recently published the results of a YouGov poll of 1,015 senior business decision makers, which was conducted from 24 March to 2 April 2025. The research follows the introduction of the day-one right to request flexible working, and further changes are anticipated under...

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Practice Direction 36zi – Pilot Scheme: Notification to The Police When Certain Orders Are Made Under Part 4 of The Family Law Act 1996

Helen Moizer (2018)

(PLEASE NOTE THIS PD COMES INTO FORCE 14 JULY 2025 ) This Practice Direction supplements FPR Part 36, rule 36.2 (Transitional Arrangements and Pilot Schemes). Scope and interpretation 1.1 This Practice Direction is made under rule 36.2 FPR and sets up a Pilot Scheme to allow for His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS)...

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Barnaby Large Published in Lexis Nexis On Common Issues Arising In The Merits Assessment Stage Of An Application For Public Funding Of Private Law Children Litigation.

Barnaby Large (2007)

Barnaby first considers eligibility – what is required to qualify for public funding, what categories of litigation fall within scope and what applications are excluded? The Article then considers application of the Civil Legal Aid (Merits Criteria) Regulations 2013 – both the Prospects of Success and Reasonable Privately Paying Individual Tests,...

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Deprivation Of Liberty Orders - A Reminder Of Key Points

Sara Chalk (2018)

Over recent months I have noticed an increase in Deprivation of Liberty cases coming before the local Court and sadly these involve many young adults being in a mental health crisis. It has become apparent that there are real difficulties in the management of cases such as these with shortages...

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Financial Remedies Court: Update on ES2, part of the Efficiency Statement

MR JUSTICE PEEL & HIS HONOUR JUDGE HESS have made this announcement with the authority of the President (of the Family Division). Following its introduction as part of the Efficiency Statement in April 2022, the ES2 has become an established, and indispensable part of the financial remedies process. It has been...

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London Borough of Barnet v DM, LT & TT (referred to as T, the child) 2025 EWFC 168

Gary Fawcett (1975)

MacDonald J considers the welfare test - To adopt or not to adopt - that is the question.  With the added bonus of reference to many cases on welfare and adoption - a lawyers playground, one might respectfully say.  As a preamble, such is the excellent legal content that I...

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MNV v CNV : financial remedy, low value case, add back considered interestingly by DDJ Bradshaw. (Judgement handed down, 19.6.25)

Judgements get longer, a short sound bite note cannot replicate everything.  This note is a guide to law, almost a nutshell type of reference.  The facts may almost be irrelevant, but I will give a short resumé. H applicant, W respondent.  H 54, W 45. They met in 2007 and cohabited...

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