Public Children Law

Andréa has a thriving public law practice and accepts instructions on behalf of Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents, Children’s Guardians, and Local Authorities. Andréa is regularly instructed in urgent EPOs and ICOs, familiarising herself with the case quickly and thoroughly. She also has demonstrable experience with complex public law trials, which include issues of parental neglect, mental health issues, substance misuse, child sexual abuse, domestic abuse, non-accidental injuries and infant death.

Andréa is able to cross-examine both lay and expert witnesses skilfully and is praised by both lay and professional clients for her creative and solutions-oriented approach to cases.

Andréa regularly appears in the High Court on DOLs and multi-jurisdictional matters.

Private Children Law

Andréa regularly acts for parents, grandparents and children (through their guardians) in protracted child arrangement proceedings. Andréa particularly enjoys witness handling and looks forward to representing clients in complex trials (fact-findings and final hearings) with allegations of physical or sexual abuse, coercive control, and parental alienation. 

Andréa also acts in international matters such as relocation applications and child abduction proceedings. 

Andréa also has experience drafting grounds for permission to appeal to the High Court.

Domestic Abuse

Andréa accepts instructions for Ex-Parte and on-notice Non-Molestation Order applications, as well as occupation orders. She acts for both Applicants and Respondents and is happy to work on Family Law Act matters which have concurrent Children Act proceedings.

Family Finance

Andréa accepts instructions on behalf of both Husbands and Wives under the Matrimonial Finance Act. She has experience in all stages of the Family Finance process: FDAs, FDRs and Final Hearings. She is happy to be instructed on finance matters with concurrent children’s proceedings.

Modern Families/Surrogacy

Andréa accepts instructions in modern family cases, which includes child arrangements, adoption, parental responsibility, surrogacy and assisted conception.

Recent Cases:

• An NHS Trust v WS (DoLs): Acted for the subject child, through their Guardian, in complex DOLS proceedings.
• KCC v G (Care/adoption): Acted for a vulnerable Mother with cognitive difficulties who did not speak English in a complex 6-day final hearing.
• BHCC v W (Care/adoption): represented the Applicant LA in a complex FH, which included issues of sexual abuse, neglect, and failure to protect. Achieved care and final orders with the Court making threshold findings against the parents.
• LBH v I (urgent ICO): Acted for a vulnerable Mother with EUPD, 2 days postpartum, sensitively took instructions whilst she was still in the hospital.
• LBN v T (Care/adoption): Acted for the applicant throughout the proceedings and obtained final care orders.
• A v L (Private children / 16.4 Guardian): Acted for the respondent Mother in a composite final hearing. The Court made serious findings against the Applicant Father, granted a ‘Lives With’ order in favour of the Mother, and made no order for contact in respect of the Father. A s91(14) barring order was made for 2 years.
• KCC v F: Acted for the Respondent Mother in a 4-day final hearing which involved allegations of neglect, domestic violence and substance misuse. Obtained a contact order allowing for yearly face-to-face post-adoption contact.