Barrister Profile

Public Law Children: Care Proceedings and Adoption

Sarah accepts instructions from all parties to care proceedings and regularly represents Local Authorities and Respondents in public law matters, in addition to Applicants seeking to discharge care orders under the Children Act. Sarah has acted in cases involving allegations of sexual or physical harm to children, domestic abuse, substance misuse and neglect, and cases requiring the instruction of experts.

Sarah accepts instructions at all stages of public law proceedings including contested final hearings or fact-finding hearings which involve collaboration with the police through ongoing criminal investigations, or other third-party services. Sarah is experienced at dealing with contested interim placement hearings, and applications for Interim Care/Supervision Orders, Emergency Protection Orders, Secure Accommodation Orders, Care, Supervision, and Placement Orders, and Special Guardianship Orders.

In addition to acting for applicants or respondents to care proceedings, Sarah has also acted for intervenors or extended family members in applying for special guardianship or further assessment within proceedings, and has assisted both Local Authorities and parents in applications to discharge Care Orders.

Sarah also accepts instructions on behalf of children to care proceedings through their Guardians and has experience in representing the Guardian on appeal and re-hearing from the decision of a District Judge, in a case involving significant findings of fact made against a parent.

Sarah undertakes Local Authority work both in care proceedings and also in relation to applications for deprivations of liberty in relation to children, inviting the High Court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction. Sarah has delivered seminars to local firms of solicitors both on this topic and on other aspects of care proceedings generally.

Prior to joining chambers, Sarah had a wealth of experience in this area of law, having regularly represented clients at pre-proceedings (PLO) meetings with Children’s Services across Hampshire, Surrey and Wiltshire.

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

Sarah regularly represents parents, extended family members, and children, in private family law matters in applications for Child Arrangements Orders (Live With and Spend Time With), Prohibited Steps Orders and Specific Issue Orders, in addition to applications for permission to apply for an order or for orders under s.91(14) Children Act 1989.

On a number of occasions, Sarah has assisted parties in coming to agreements on the terms of final orders and on others has successfully obtained orders for clients at a contested final hearing.

Sarah has dealt with a variety of disputes involving complicated factual matters that have required separate finding of fact hearings, matters in which PD12J has applied, allegations of parental alienation, and those which have required the involvement of the Local Authority and/or Children’s Guardians. Sarah also has experience in dealing with proceedings in which children are represented themselves or are assessed as Gillick competent to provide their own instructions directly to solicitors.

Domestic violence & injunctions

Sarah has a volume of experience in acting for both Applicants and Respondents in matters under the Family Law Act, successfully obtaining Occupation and Non-Molestation Orders for vulnerable applicants. Sarah offers advice to clients facing these proceedings and has on many occasions managed to successfully negotiate with parties to resolve proceedings at return or final hearings. Prior to joining chambers, Sarah volunteered with the National Centre for Domestic Violence, preparing witness statements for use in ex-parte applications. Sarah can therefore also assist with the drafting of applications. Sarah accepts instructions for representation, advice and drafting at any stage of Family Law Act proceedings, and at both with or without notice hearings.

Sarah acts for both Claimants and Defendants in Small Claims and Fast Track trials, primarily dealing with road traffic accidents and claims for damages and personal injury arising from the same. Sarah continues of accept instructions in this area of law.