Barrister Profile

Public Law Children: Care Proceedings and Adoption

Rachel regularly deals with Care proceedings and is able to accept instructions on a variety of matters from any party. Rachel has experience at all stages of proceedings, from EPO to final hearing and has experience in representing parties in multi-day final hearings and Fact-Finding hearings.

Rachel has represented both Mothers and Fathers during care proceedings and has also represented parents in the High Court. Rachel has represented parents facing allegations of non-accidental injury and has experience in being led by Silk. She is also able to deal with vulnerable parties or those with learning disabilities, appreciating the need for sensitivity.

Rachel is also capable of representing other parties, such as grandparents.

Further, Rachel represents Children through their Guardians within care proceedings, having had experience of doing so.

Rachel can also represent Local Authorities and has the ability to draft thorough case summaries and thresholds if necessary. She is confident in grasping the key issues in a case in a timely manner.

Rachel has the ability to accept instructions from any party at short notice for urgent hearings such as EPO’s and ICO’s.

Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989

Rachel regularly represents applicants and respondents in applications made under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. These include Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders. She is able to accept instructions at all stages of dispute, from first hearings to contested final hearings, having represented some of her clients at every stage of their proceedings. Her confident and feisty attitude has left her clients requesting that Rachel represent them again.

Rachel is able to deal with vulnerable parties and regularly deals with those who have been subject to domestic abuse or are facing allegations of domestic abuse. She is able to manage parties’ expectations, whilst being alive to the stress of their situation. Rachel can also sensitively handle allegations during Fact-Finding hearings whilst fiercely putting her case.

Rachel is also able to deal with urgent applications and has successfully obtained prohibited steps orders on an urgent basis.

As well as representing parents, Rachel also has experience in representing children through their Guardians under 16.4 of the Family Procedure Rules. Rachel has experience of representing Guardians at a variety of stages in proceedings.

Rachel also has experience in declarations of parentage applications, having represented an applicant who wished for a declaration of parentage in relation to a deceased respondent.

Domestic violence & injunctions

Rachel has a wealth of experience in dealing with applicants and respondents in Family Law Act proceedings, resulting in non-molestation orders and occupation orders. Rachel has succeeded in obtaining both non-molestation orders and occupation orders on an ‘ex-parte’ (without notice) basis. She is able to recognise and balance the effect of such orders with other concerns parties may have such as children of the family or further living arrangements.

Rachel can accept instructions at short notice and is able to handle cases at all stages, from first hearing to final hearings. She also has experience in dealing with vulnerable clients, including those with learning difficulties.

Rachel’s experience in Family Law Act proceedings has often led her to representing her clients in these proceedings and then subsequent Children Act proceedings, allowing for continuity of counsel, which Rachel recognises is important to many.