Rachel Chapman

(2017) Barrister

View my expertise Download my profile Get in touch

Rachel joined Chambers in October 2019 following successful completion of her pupillage with No18.

Rachel has a busy practice in Family law, with a particular interest in Children work. Rachel is known for her pragmatic approach to matters whilst always striving to reach the best outcome for her clients. She is able to manage parties’ expectations, whilst being alive to the stress of the situation. Client care is something that matters to Rachel and is something which she takes great pride in during all of her cases, both towards her professional clients and lay clients.

Qualifications

University of Southampton, 2016, 2:1 LLB Law
Bar Professional Training Course, 2017, Outstanding
Completed the FLBA Vulnerable Witness Training; September 2022

Membership

Middle Temple (The Luboshez Scholar, 2016)
Western Circuit
Family Law Bar Association

Rachel has experience in dealing with vulnerable parties, both by representing them and also cross-examining them. Rachel has undertaken the vulnerable witness training and so has the skills and knowledge to ensure a sensitive approach is taken no matter who she represents.

Rachel’s confident yet sensible attitude leads her to being regularly instructed by local solicitors.

More about Rachel Chapman

Legal Expertise

For more information or to get in touch with Rachel please contact the clerks room who will be happy to assist you.

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, as well as those who do not have full party status such as intervenors or family members. Rachel has considerable 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 is also confident in dealing with vulnerable parties. Rachel has extensive experience in representing young parents, parents with learning needs, or parents who require the Official Solicitor. Rachel often appreciates the need for sensitivity and is able to deal with that whilst addressing the issues. Rachel has previously been praised for her manner when dealing with vulnerable clients.

Rachel has experience of dealing with matters involving allegations of non-accidental injury. Rachel has experience of dealing with such matters alone, as well as being led by Silk, both as a 1^st Junior and as a 2^nd Junior.

Rachel also has experience of proceedings being heard in the High Court.

Further, Rachel regularly represents children through their Guardians within care proceedings, having received repeated instructions. She also represents children who are competent enough to be separately represented when it is necessary to separate from the Guardian.

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.

Aside from Care proceedings, Rachel also has experience in DOLs applications and Secure Accommodation applications.

More about Public Law Children: Care Proceedings and Adoption

Private Law Children: Residence and Contact

More about Private Law Children: Residence and Contact

Private Law Children: Contact and Residence Disputes Under the Children Act 1989

Rachel regularly represents children through their Guardians under 16.4 of the Family Procedure Rules. She has considerable experience of all stages of proceedings, from the Guardian’s first appointment through to Fact-Find and final hearing. Rachel is regularly instructed to remain on matters for continuity.

Rachel also has experiences in Appeals, having represented children through their Guardian in the High Court on appeal.

Rachel does also represent parents, either applicants or 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 also able to deal with urgent applications and has successfully obtained prohibited steps orders on an urgent basis.

More about Private Law Children: Contact and Residence Disputes Under the Children Act 1989

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.

More about Domestic Violence & Injunctions

Professional Info

Qualifications

University of Southampton, 2016, 2:1 LLB Law
Bar Professional Training Course, 2017, Outstanding
Completed the FLBA Vulnerable Witness Training; September 2022

Membership

Middle Temple (The Luboshez Scholar, 2016)
Western Circuit
Family Law Bar Association

Awards

The Luboshez Scholarship, Middle Temple (2016/2017)
Western Circuit Advocacy Prize (2017)

Personal Info

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys watching football in all leagues. She has a passion for cooking and regularly tries out new recipes.

Rachel is also a large fan of cruising, having cruised to many destinations all over the world.

Rachel is also an avid reader and enjoys regular exercise.

Cases of note

Cases of Note

Rachel Chapman, a barrister at No.18 Chambers, specialises in family law, with a focus on public and private children matters, including care proceedings and contact disputes. Her casework often involves complex issues such as parental learning disabilities and genetic conditions, requiring sensitive handling and detailed legal analysis. Recognised by The Legal 500 as a "down-to-earth advocate" who communicates effectively with both professional clients and vulnerable parents, she is praised for her extensive legal knowledge and practical approach. Her work frequently addresses nuanced questions of child welfare and parental capacity.

A Local Authority v H & Ors [2025] EWFC 316

High Court case involving fatal injuries to a child and a complex matrix of medical and lay evidence.

A Local Authority v H & Ors [2025] EWFC 316 (31 July 2025)

More about this case

V v V & Anor [2025] EWHC 945

More about this case

News articles

News

Re K and Re S (Legal Aid: Experts’ Fees)

‘Where a Family Court has authorised the instruction of an expert witness in public law proceedings, and has directed that the expert’s fees are to be covered by equal contributions...

A Local Authority v D & Ors [2024] EWFC 61

The substantial facts of this case are not really known within the judgment of this case and, are not really relevant. These were proceedings that concerned 4 children, aged between...

Mother v Father & Anor [2024] EWHC 272 (Fam) (05 February 2024)

It’s not often that an article on a judgment is longer than the judgment itself, but this may be one of those times! This case concerned a child, F, who was...

DS v AC [2023] EWFC 46 - A reminder of non-molestation orders

It is rather unusual to see a non-molestation order application appear before the High Court, as highlighted by Mrs Justice Lieven herself. Mrs Justice Lieven highlights ‘there is nothing unusual...

News – Just in case you missed it

Backlash over £593 divorce fee With the dawn of 'No-Fault Divorce', some are questioning the £593 fee currently payable in order to issue a divorce petition, given the process...

Notice from the Financial Remedies Court: Electronic Bundles

MR JUSTICE MOSTYN MR JUSTICE PEEL HIS HONOUR JUDGE HESS FRC ADVISORY NOTICE The use of electronic bundles in the Financial Remedies Court in the last two years has moved from...

Re K (Inability to Instruct a Guardian) [2022] EWFC B4

This was a very short, but very important judgment handed down by HHJ Wildblood QC on 25 January 2022. Of particular interest is the fact that ‘the three legal representatives...

Nottinghamshire County Council v J (The Mother) [2021] EWHC 1651 (Fam) (08 June 2021)

M (Children: Applications By Email) [2020] EWCA Civ 806 This was a case management appeal following a case management decision made via email. Such appeal was allowed by the Court of...

M (Children: Applications By Email) [2020] EWCA Civ 806

This was a case management appeal following a case management decision made via email. Such appeal was allowed by the Court of Appeal. In terms of background, the Local Authority had...

Re B (Supervision Order) [2021] EWFC B8

This case relates to ‘B’, who, at the time of the final hearing, was almost 10 months old. The Local Authority issued proceedings at B’s birth, and he was removed...

Another unregulated placement: A Borough Council and E (Unavailability of a Regulated Placement) [2021] EWHC 183

This case involved E, who is nearly 16 years old. E lived with both parents and her siblings. The family were known to the Local Authority since 2017 due to...

WS v KL [2020] EWHC 2548- Another look on International Relocation

This was an appeal by the Father against an order made in April 2020 which allowed the Mother to relocate to Hong Kong with the parties’ two children. As a short...

Coronavirus: Separated Families and Contact with Children in Care FAQs

Coronavirus has continued to raise several questions in the context of Family Law. In particular, with children in separated families and also children in care. On 1 July 2020 the...

Revised Standard Orders in respect of Financial Remedies Cases

This week, Mr Justice Mostyn, in agreement with the President of the Family Division, has amended, revised and re-issued standard order numbers 1.1, 1.2 (Orders in relation to Financial Directions),...

Contact during the Coronavirus pandemic: A reluctance from the Courts?

Coronavirus continues to affect all areas of our lives. In particular, there appears to be increasing issues in relation to the exercise of parental responsibility when it comes to child...

Flexible Operating Hours: The future of the courts or a recipe for disaster?

Last month saw the start of the flexible operating hours (“FOH”) at Manchester Civil Justice Centre and the County Court at Brentford. This is a six month pilot scheme which...

No.18 Chambers Welcomes New Tenant – Rachel Chapman (2017)

No.18 Chambers is delighted to announce that Rachel Chapman (2017) has accepted an invitation to join Chambers following successful completion of her pupillage in October. Rachel will be joining our...

Reviews

Rachel was extremely professional and I was very impressed by her skills in Court. I would have no hesitation in recommending her to future clients.

George Orton Lyon Davidson Solicitors | Bristol, England

Rachel is able to get to grips quickly with complex cases. She is incredibly approachable and her advocacy is clear and firm.

Legal 500

Rachel is a down-to-earth advocate who can communicate well with professional clients and vulnerable parents. Her knowledge of the law is extensive, and she is always practical and sensible in her approach

Legal 500

Seminars

Seminars & Events

Family Law (Public & Private Law Children)

Wednesday 8th of November 2023

Advocacy Training Seminar and Afternoon tea - 8th November 2023 - 2.5 hrs CPD Our Family Law Practitioners Training Seminar will provide valuable training to all support staff, paralegals/trainees and those...

Public Law Seminar 2023

Thursday 26th of January 2023

Our Public Law Seminar is aimed at those currently practicing all aspects of PublicLaw / Care and Adoption Proceedings and those who are otherwise interested. We areplanning on an informative...