Barrister Profile
Expertise
Family: Care & Children
Public Law / Care and Adoption Proceedings
During pupillage, Helen gained experience observing counsel acting for Local Authorities, Guardians and parents. She has seen multi-day fact finding and final hearings and had exposure to emergency protection orders, interim care orders and represented a client in a discharge of care order application.
Private Law Children: Contact and Residence disputes under the Children Act 1989
Helen regularly represents applicants and respondents in applications made under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989. Helen has experience in applications for Child Arrangements Orders, Prohibited Steps Orders, Specific Issue Orders and Special Guardianship Orders.
Helen has represented clients from initial hearings through to contested final hearings. This includes matters involving domestic abuse, vulnerable parties, allegations of parental alienation, and those which have required the involvement of the Local Authority and/or Children’s Guardians.
Domestic violence & injunctions
Helen frequently represents both applicants and respondents who are involved in Family Law Act 1996 proceedings. She has extensive experience in applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders, including where those applications are linked to Children Act 1989 proceedings.
Family: Finance
During Helen’s pupillage, she had significant exposure to matrimonial and financial work with her supervisor. Helen now regularly appears for applicants and respondents at First Appointments, Financial Dispute Resolution hearings and Final Hearings concerning financial provision, including interim and final applications.
Employment & Discrimination
Helen has gained extensive employment law experience when previously working for the Free Representation Unit. This involved advising and representing clients in tribunals on issues such as: unfair dismissal, unlawful deduction of wages, breach of contract, holiday pay, discrimination, and National Minimum Wage issues.
During pupillage at No18 Chambers and now tenancy, Helen has a growing employment law practice and accepts instructions in all aspects of tribunal work.
In July 2023, Helen appeared in the Employment Appeal Tribunal pro bono and was successful in having the appeal dismissed: The Sports PR Company Ltd v Ms Valentina Londono Cardona [2023] EAT 110.
Chancery and Commercial
Helen is building her experience in cohabitation and TOLATA claims, as well as Inheritance Act matters.
Property
Helen represents clients at possession hearings and injunction applications. Helen was recently successful in obtaining an urgent injunction to prevent nuisance or annoyance.