Amy successfully completed pupillage in 2016 and has since developed a thriving practice as a specialist family practitioner who practises in all areas of family law involving children. She has extensive experience in both public and private law Children Act proceedings.
Amy has appeared at all levels of the family court, including the Court of Appeal. Amy prides herself on her excellent client care skills, diligence and approachable and straightforward manner. Amy has a particular reputation for excellent written work in addition to her strong oral advocacy skills.
Before coming to the Bar, Amy worked as a paralegal in the family law team of a leading London solicitors firm and also volunteered for the Personal Support Unit, BLAC Family Law Clinic, and National Centre for Domestic Violence.
Family Law
Amy has significant expertise in public law Children Act proceedings in which she is regularly instructed to represent local authorities, parents, guardians and wider family members. She is experienced in acting in cases involving the most serious and complex issues, including non-accidental injury, sexual abuse and fabricated or induced illness.
Amy also has extensive experience of private law Children Act work, in which she regularly represents parents as well as children in more complex cases where a Guardian has been appointed. Her experience encompasses multi day fact-finding hearings and final hearings. Amy also represents parties in applications for non-molestation and occupation orders.
Recent Cases
- Re A and B (Adoption: Section 83 ACA 2002) [2024]– acting for the applicant adopter in an adoption order application before Mr Justice Cobb, which gave rise to questions about the correct interpretation of s83 Adoption and Children Act 2002 and the possibility of making an adoption order in circumstances where the Adoption with a Foreign Element Regulations 2005 have not been fully complied with.
- A, B And C (Adoption: Notification of Fathers And Relatives) [2020] EWCA Civ 41– acting for the local authority, Amy (led by Tahmina Rahman) successfully resisted an appeal brought by the mother against a decision that the local authority should notify her extended family members of the existence of her child and the ongoing care proceedings contrary to her wishes. The appeal was combined with two others and provided important guidance on the notification of fathers and wider family members of the existence of a child and their involvement in care proceedings in circumstances where the mother objects.
