Public Children Law

Andréa has a busy public children law practice. She regularly appears in the Family and County Courts and has acted for Mothers, Fathers, Grandparents and Children’s Guardians in public law proceedings. 
 
Andréa is regularly instructed in urgent ICOs, EPOs, ISOs and other applications. She has experience with complex care/adoption cases, which include issues of parental neglect, substance abuse, child sexual abuse and non-accidental injuries.
 
Andréa has appeared in the High Court on DOLs and multi-jurisdictional cases.

Private Children Law

Andréa regularly acts for parents, grandparents, guardians and other family members in child arrangement proceedings, usually taking cases on from FHDRAs all the way through to Final hearings. Andréa particularly enjoys witness handling and looks forward to representing clients in complex trials (fact-findings or final hearings), particularly where there are allegations of serious physical or sexual abuse, coercive control, and parental alienation.

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 instructs 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.

Court of Protection

Andréa accepts instructions in a range of Court of Protection disputes, including welfare matters, deprivation of liberty (including s 21A challenges), and medical treatment cases. In COP proceedings, Andréa represents all parties, including P via their Official Solicitors, families and interested parties, and Local Authorities.

Family Law and Immigration Law Crossover

Andréa is able to advise on matters that engage Family and Immigration Law. Her previous Immigration experience is an asset in cases which involve non-British citizens or parties with precarious immigration situations.

Recent Cases:

• LB Southwark v T  – Public Children (out of hours EPO): represented the Respondent Mother whose children were at risk of immediate removal.
• A v O – Private Children (Fact-Finding Hearing): represented the Respondent Mother. Serious findings were made against the Applicant Father resulting in his withdrawal of the C100 application and a final lives-with order made in favour of M.
• LB Lewisham v A – Public children (Urgent ICO): acted for the Respondent Mother whose baby was 7 days old. Sensitively took instructions from the client whilst she was still in the hospital.
• N v N – Private Children (Fact-Finding Hearing): represented the Respondent Mother; all 8 findings of abuse (including marital rape) were found proved by the Court.
• A v E  – Private Children (Final Hearing): acted for the Respondent Mother against whom allegations of parental alienation were made. Achieved a final lives-with order in the Mother’s favour.
• K v K – Private Children (Fact-Finding Hearing): Acted for the Applicant Father who was accused of serious abuse against both the Mother and child. The Court did not make any of the 6 findings and contact was reinstated after a 2-year break.