Our Children Private Law Team

Language Matters: A discussion on the importance of changing the language of family separation

A Family Law webinar, presented by Hannah Cox of 42BR and Helen Adam, mediator and chair of the Family Solutions Group, considering the role of practitioners in shaping the experience of families through our use of language.

Published: 20th Apr 2023

Case Summary: M (A Child: Leave To Oppose Adoption) [2023] EWCA Civ 404 (18 April 2023)

Amanda Jepson provides a brief case summary of the case, M (A Child: Leave To Oppose Adoption) [2023] EWCA Civ 404 (18 April 2023)

Published: 20th Apr 2023

Family Law Webinar: The Problem of Memory in Family Fact Finding

Damian Woodward-Carlton KC and Sharan Bhachu explore the problem of memory in family fact finding hearings.

Published: 19th Apr 2023

A practical guide to factitious illness in care proceedings by Sharan Bhachu

42BR member, Sharan Bhachu, has published a book on factitious illness. Available to purchase now.

Published: 18th Apr 2023

Case Summary: C D and E 2023 Adequacy of Reasons

Jennifer Youngs provides a case summary for the case of C, D and E (Care Proceedings: Adequacy of Reasons) [2023] EWCA Civ 334

Published: 11th Apr 2023

Family Law Webinar: Have Finding of Fact Hearings as we know them disappeared?

Tina Cook KC and Zoe McGrath present the second instalment of our Family Law Webinar series.

Published: 20th Mar 2023

H v E [2023] EWHC 381 (Fam)

Richard Little represented E, a respondent mother in H v E [2023] EWHC 381 (Fam)

Published: 17th Mar 2023

Family Law Webinar: Financial Remedies Update 2023

Siân Smith provides a financial remedies update for the first webinar in our Family Law Series 2023.

Published: 24th Feb 2023

Family Law Webinars - Spring/ Summer 2023

Our Family Group is delighted to present our Spring/Summer webinar programme, covering financial remedies, private and public law.

Published: 20th Feb 2023

Canterbury Charity Quiz Night

Join us Friday 3 March in Canterbury for a night of quizzing.

Published: 1st Feb 2023

Lancashire County Council v M & Ors [2022] EWHC 2900 (Fam)

Tina Cook KC acted for W, a 13 year old who suffers from multi-system problems arising from a rare gene mutation in Lancashire County Council v M & Ors [2022] EWHC 2900 (Fam)

Published: 7th Dec 2022

Financial Remedies Webinar Series

42BR's Family Group is pleased to present a webinar series, comprising of three sessions, in which they will explore different elements of financial remedies cases.

Published: 1st Dec 2022

42BR wins at Family Law Awards 2022

We won two awards at this years Family Law Awards

Published: 29th Nov 2022

Sharan Bhachu acts in LB of Z And M F X (by his Children's Guardian)

The Judgment, involving the LIFT service at the East London Family, is important and highlights why the expert assessment fell short of what is expected in family proceedings.

Published: 12th Oct 2022

42BR shortlisted for the Family Law Awards 2022

We are delighted to have been shortlisted in this years Family Law Awards

Published: 5th Sep 2022

Family Law Essay Competition

“Achieving transparency in Family justice: what further steps are appropriate or necessary?”

Published: 5th Sep 2022

'Handle with Care': intimate images in children law proceedings (admissibility and management) by Damian Woodward-Carlton QC

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC has written an article which has been published in LexisNexis Family Law.

Published: 15th Jul 2022

Gemma Farrington QC and Marcia Hyde appear in the Court of Appeal

Gemma Farrington QC and Marcia Hyde appeared on behalf of the father in the Court of Appeal

Published: 14th Jul 2022

Re D Judgment

Following on from the recent Supreme Court judgment in H-W [2022] UKSC 17 ...

Published: 30th Jun 2022

Supreme Court Judgment re H-W

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC, Sharan Bhachu and Katie Phillips appeared for the respondent Local Authority at Supreme Court level, in the matter of H-W.

Published: 15th Jun 2022

Companion Animals and Domestic Abuse – Controlling and Coercive Behaviours

Family Webinar discussing how the family pet can be used to control and coerce and thereby provide evidence of domestic abuse.

Published: 19th May 2022

Re C [2022] EWCA Civ 584

Published: 10th May 2022

Re: M (A Child : Private Law Children Proceedings: Case Management: Intimate Images) [2022] EWHC 986 (Fam) (29 April 2022)

Published: 5th May 2022

A Local Authority v AG [2020] EWFC 18 & [2020] EWHC 1346 & Barnet London Borough Council v AG and other [2021] EWHC 1253 (Fam)

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC, Jennifer Youngs and Katherine Archer are published in the March 2022 edition of Family Law Journal

Published: 19th Apr 2022

Family Law Seminar - Using intermediaries in care proceedings to ensure the effective participation of vulnerable clients.

Join us for a free, in-person seminar with Gemma Farrington, Alison Pryor & Diane Robson.

Published: 23rd Mar 2022

CUBAS DYNAMIC - The Next Generation of Parenting Assessments 

Find out more about CUBAS parenting assessments that are taking the family courts by storm.

Published: 7th Mar 2022

Webinar - Finding of Fact Hearings in the Remote Era and Beyond

Tina Cook QC & Charmaine Clubb will be providing free virtual training in the form of a Family Law Webinar.

Published: 17th Feb 2022

Caroline Landes appointed as District Judge

42 Bedford Row is delighted that the Queen has appointed Caroline Landes to be a District Judge

Published: 23rd Dec 2021

Re M (Fact Finding, False Allegations, Section 91(14)) [2021] EWHC 3077 (Fam)

Gemma Taylor QC and Jeremy Hall represented the father and children respectively in the recently reported High Court decision

Published: 30th Nov 2021

Gemma Farrington - Recent Case

This case concerned a toddler who sadly passed away from natural causes but as is usual underwent a skeletal survey following his death.

Published: 13th Sep 2021

Salford CC v W and Ors [2021] EWHC 1689

Published: 5th Jul 2021

Webinar: Financial Remedies Case Update

Jeremy presents a round-up of recent decisions and changes.

Published: 9th Jun 2021

Re A, B and C [2021] EWCA Civ 451 – Case note

The Court of Appeal has found that a trial judge had misapplied Lucas in finding that a juvenile’s consciousness of guilt that he had sexually abused another child was the only reasonable explanation for his lies at trial.

Published: 12th Apr 2021

Ruth Webber and Mark Chaloner acted in this 'sad and unusual case' of two overweight children being taken into foster care

Published: 11th Mar 2021

Applying Criminal Law and Procedure to Police Evidence in Care Proceedings – The ABE Interview by Gemma Farrington and Alison Pryor

Gemma Farrington and Alison Pryor have written an article which has been published by Lexis Nexis Family Law.

Published: 1st Mar 2021

Gemma Taylor QC leading Philip McCormack and representing the child by her children’s guardian

Published: 23rd Jun 2020

Tina Cook QC appeared as a Respondent to this appeal against a decision of Mr Justice Williams

Published: 23rd Jun 2020

Tina Cook QC and Philip McCormack acted for the Respondent Child (by their Children’s Guardian) in the Court of Appeal in this significant child care case:

Published: 3rd Jun 2020

Care Proceedings and Diplomatic Immunity: Should a Local Authority be able to pursue a Declaration of Incompatibility?

Published: 1st Jun 2020

Kate Claxton acted for the respondent Mother in wardship proceedings

Published: 21st May 2020

The 42 Bedford Row Family Law Group is delighted to invite you to join us in a series of short online video discussions, covering a wide range of topics.

Published: 11th May 2020

Judicial Appointments at 42 Bedford Row

Published: 6th Feb 2020

42 Bedford Row Barristers featured in Counsel Magazine's November 2019 Issue

Published: 5th Nov 2019

Gemma Taylor gave talk on Post Adoption Contact

Published: 18th Oct 2019

Congratulations to Katie Phillips and Mary Robertson on being appointed as Family Recorders on the South Eastern Circuit

Published: 9th Sep 2019

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC - 'A miscellany of mistakes'

Damian Woodward- Carlton QC has contributed to the Counsel Magazine in an article discussing pupillage mistakes.

Published: 3rd Sep 2019

Caroline Landes

Chambers is delighted to welcome Caroline Landes as a new member of our Family Law team.

Published: 27th Aug 2019

P (A CHILD) [2019] EWCA Civ 1346 (30 July 2019)

Jane Hayford instructed for the Respondent mother. Appeal by intervenor against findings of fact made in care proceedings. Appeal allowed.

Published: 31st Jul 2019

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC - 'Radicalisation and the Family Court' [2019] FamLaw 752

Damian Woodward- Carlton QC has contributed to the Family Law Journal July edition, discussing Radicalisation and the Family Court.

Published: 23rd Jul 2019

W-P (Children): [2019] EWCA Civ 1120 (3rd July 2019)

Monica Ford was instructed on the appeal. Monica was instructed for the Respondent Children through their Guardian.

Published: 9th Jul 2019

Transgender Children - How the Court deals with them, the advance of Law and Social Science

6.00pm, Tuesday 2nd July

Published: 19th Jun 2019

Accidental injury: Pauline Troy acted for West Sussex County Council

Published: 10th Jun 2019

Pro Bono Ambassador and Advocate panel member, Siân Smith, talks to weareadvocate.org.uk about her pro bono career in family law

Volunteers' Week

Published: 6th Jun 2019

O (A Child: International Placement), Re [2019] EWFC B20 (02 April 2019)

Philip McCormack instructed for the Third Respondent acting by his Guardian.

Published: 20th May 2019

Lancashire County Council v TP & Ors (Permission to Withdraw Care Proceedings) [2019]

Tina Cook QC and Gemma Taylor QC were instructed in the recently reported decision of Lancashire County Council v TP & Ors (Permission to Withdraw Care Proceedings) [2019] EWFC 30 (09 May 2019)

Published: 13th May 2019

Denied Child Abuse - Signs of Safety and Family Led Safety plans

6.00pm - Thursday 23rd May

Published: 2nd May 2019

CHICKS Charity Night

Thanks to the generosity of everyone, we raised an outstanding £1,309.65 which will go some way to help children in desperate need for a respite break.

Published: 27th Mar 2019

Sian Smith was instructed by the local authority Medway Council to act on their behalf in a Court of Protection case involving a 91 year old woman suffering from dementia.

Published: 19th Mar 2019

Re Q (Child: Interim Care Order: Jurisdiction)

Damian Woodward-Carlton QC acted for the mother in Re Q (Child: Interim Care Order: Jurisdiction)

Published: 14th Mar 2019

Tina Cook QC has been shortlisted for "Silk of the Year" in Family and Children by the Legal 500 UK Awards.

Legal 500 UK Awards

Published: 6th Dec 2018

CQ, DQ & EQ (Children), Re [2018] EWHC 3979 (Fam) (17 November 2018)

Philip McCormack instructed on behalf of the children’s guardian

Published: 17th Nov 2018

Z v Kent County Council [2018] EWFC B65 (18 October 2018)

Read Z v Kent County Council (Revocation of placement order – Failure to assess Mother’s capacity and Grandparents) [2018] EWFC B65 (18 October 2018).

Published: 7th Nov 2018

Ranked in The Legal 500: Leading Set

Chambers are thrilled to have 13 individual recommendations/rankings in the new Legal 500 guide.

Published: 30th Oct 2018

T (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 2136

Read re T [2018] EWCA Civ 1236 on deprivation of children’s liberty & the inherent jurisdiction.

Published: 16th Oct 2018

Successful dismissal in the Court of Appeal in Re B (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 2127

Tina Cook QC for the respondent father has successfully sought the dismissal of an appeal in the above case.

Published: 15th Oct 2018

Mary Robertson appointed to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

42 Bedford Row are delighted to announce Mary Robertson has been appointed as one of the Counsel to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse as part of the team undertaking the inquiry into Residential Schools.

Published: 27th Sep 2018

Public Children Law Conference

Tina Cook QC will be speaking at the Public Children Law Conference on Tuesday 2nd October 2018 at The Caledonian Club. Tina Cook QC will be speaking on Fact finding hearings.

Published: 26th Sep 2018

Gemma Taylor QC provides a helpful summary of the decision in Lancashire CC v A,B and Z [2018] EWHC 1819 (Fam)

In this case she acted for the mother. Knowles J provides detailed recommendations about the management of police disclosure in care proceedings.

Published: 9th Aug 2018

Lancashire County Council and A,B,Z [2018] EWHC 1819

Gemma Taylor QC acted for the mother.

Published: 1st Aug 2018

Gemma Taylor QC, Francis Cassidy and Robert Cameron instructed in West Sussex Council & Anor v F & Ors [2018] EWHC 1702

Gemma Taylor QC for the children’s guardian, Francis Cassidy for the 3rd Respondent and Robert Cameron for the Applicant.

Published: 1st Aug 2018

Siân Gough instructed in Y (A Child) (S.38(6) Assessment) [2018] EWCA Civ 992

Appeal concerning the powers of the court to make an order for assessment of a child under section 38(6) of the Children Act 1989.

Published: 14th May 2018

Bloomsbury Family Law Conference

Sharan Bhachu and Sian Gough are joining a panel discussion on children law at the Bloomsbury Professional Family Law Conference on the 16th May, at Gray’s Inn.

Published: 18th Apr 2018

George Butler and Gemma Taylor instructed in X and Y (Children) [2018] EWHC 451 (Fam)

A case where the local authority applied to remove Father as a party to proceedings and from local authority decision making about the welfare of his children.

Published: 19th Mar 2018

Gemma Taylor has contributed to a new resource for independent advocates working with parents with learning disabilities

As part of her ongoing training of professionals who work with parents with learning disabilities, Gemma Taylor has contributed to a new resource for independent advocates working with parents with learning disabilities.

Published: 18th Jan 2018

Gemma Taylor

42 Bedford Row is delighted to announce that Gemma Taylor has been appointed Queen’s Counsel in the 2017 competition.

Published: 20th Dec 2017

Jeremy Rosenblatt – Family Law update

Jermey Rosenblatt has contributed to the December edition of the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division. Topics include: Poland: a Supreme Court and Gay lawyers.

Published: 20th Dec 2017

Priority need and the meaning of ‘dependent children’

19 and 21-year old son and daughter of a homeless applicant are not ‘dependent children’ for the purposes of assessing ‘priority need’ Introduction Stefan Liberadzki recently appeared for a local authority in a homelessness appeal under s.204 of the Housing Act 1996. Here he discusses the Court’s decision that the appellant’s children could not count

Published: 5th Jul 2017

Heading AD & AM (Fact-Finding: Re-Hearing) [2016] EWHC 2912 (Fam)

Tina Cook QC, Damian Woodward-Carlton and Fareha Choudhury appeared in this re-hearing of a fact finding. A mother found to have inflicted near-fatal injuries to the spine and skull of her infant son, successfully applied to re-hear the findings of fact. Newly-obtained medical evidence of the child’s spinal osteopenia led the Court to replace its

Published: 12th Jan 2017

Children’s objections in Hague Convention cases: clarity from the Court of Appeal

A new and concerning attitude of the High Court to urgent ex parte applications in Hague cases when the first process is commenced: solicitors and advocates must take notice. Read the articles written for the International Bar Association here and here

Published: 12th Oct 2016

Archer v Titchener: Did Judge Loomis get it right?

After the almost unbearable tension of the criminal hearing to determine whether or not Helen would be found guilty of stabbing Rob, last week saw the family court hearing to determine the living and contact arrangements for Henry and Jack. Four members of the chambers’ family team, who are all addicted to the Archers, have

Published: 19th Sep 2016

Francesca Conn secured Human Rights Acts damages of £15,000 for a child and £6,000 for the parent following care proceedings

Francesca Conn secured Human Rights Acts damages of £15,000 for a child and £6,000 for the parent following care proceedings. The local authority was found to have treated her client, the disabled parent, in a hostile and judgmental manner and to have failed to have due regard to its Equality Act 2010 obligations towards him,

Published: 9th Sep 2016

Parents with learning disabilities in care proceedings seminar 10th March 2016

Seminar on parents with learning disabilities given on 10th March. Gemma Taylor (barrister 42 Bedford Row) outlined the duties of Local Authorities to parents with learning disabilities and the recent case law. Rachel Butt (Senior Advocate, Impetus) explained how parents actually experience court proceedings and what steps could be taken to improve outcomes. Please find

Published: 14th Mar 2016

Siân Gough acted for the younger children in the case of Hampshire County Council v A, B, C, D & E [2015] EWFC B186

The 22 day final hearing took place over a period of 19 months. The local authority were found to have extensively breached the family's human rights by the unlawful removal of the children from the parents' care, failure to fairly involve the parents in the decision-making process, the deliberate failure to disclose material evidence, failure to promote family life and the failure to undertake a fair assessment.

Published: 2nd Dec 2015

Paedophile Ring successful convictions

A Paedophile case in which Tina Cook QC appeared both in the Court of Appeal and later in the High Court on a jurisdiction matter has culminated in successful prosecutions of the Mother in the Norwich Crown Court.

Published: 29th Jul 2015

Cumbria County Council v Q [2015] EWFC 59

Zimran Samuel acted in care proceedings arising from alleged non accidental injuries to an infant with with a bone disorder.

Published: 20th Jul 2015

Country First Initiative at Central London Family Court

Launch of the New Child Contact Centre on the 4th floor of the Central Family Court London WC1

Published: 20th Jul 2015

Is Time Running Out for Section 20 of The Children Act?

Julie Stather examines the recent use of section 20 and considers its future in the light of the impending 26 week limit for care proceedings.

Published: 21st Oct 2014

Family Law Awards

Chambers is delighted to announce that Zimran Samuel has been awarded Family Junior Barrister of the Year by Jordan Publishing. Congratulations are also extended to Frank Feehan QC who was a short-listed nominee in the category of Family Silk of the Year both by Jordan Publishing and Chambers and Partners.

Published: 21st Oct 2014

Family Law Awards 2014 shortlist announced

Chambers is delighted to announce that Frank Feehan QC has been shortlisted for Family Law QC of the Year 2014 and Zimran Samuel has been shortlisted for Family Law Junior Barrister of the Year 2014.

Published: 28th Jul 2014

M-F (Children) [2014] EWCA Civ 991 (15 July 2014)

4 members of 42 Bedford Row appear in a significant Court of Appeal case in which the President gives an unequivocal message: in a case not completed at 67 - 26 weeks is not a straight-jacket.

Published: 18th Jul 2014

Re P (Children- Relocation) EWCA 2014 (6th June 2014)

The Court of Appeal has allowed the appeal of a Mother seeking to relocate with her two children to Germany. The Mother's application had been dismissed by the lower court after it found that the Mother was motivated to stop contact.

Published: 18th Jun 2014

Jeremy Hall appeared on behalf of the children in Re J and S (Children) [2014] EWFC 4

Applications by Slovak parents (i) for leave, pursuant to s.47(5), Adoption and Children Act 2002, to oppose the making of adoption orders in respect of two of their children, and (ii) for the transfer of the proceedings to the Slovak Republic, under Article 15, Brussels II R.

Published: 7th May 2014

Children and Families Act 2014: an Update for Public Children Lawyers

There have been several major changes in public children law with the coming into force of the Children and Families Act 2014. Jennifer Kotilaine provides an authoritative commentary on these changes.

Published: 28th Apr 2014

Deaf parents – Court of Appeal Guidelines

Frank Feehan QC and Francesca Conn successfully appealed against full care order and placement orders on behalf of a profoundly deaf parent. The Court of Appeal judgment provides guidelines for cases involving a deaf parent.

Published: 22nd Apr 2014