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Charlotte McDonald​​​​ - 42BR Barristers

Charlotte McDonald​​​​

Call 2021
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

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Charlotte McDonald​​​​

Call 2021
Telephone 020 7831 0222 | Email [email protected]

Profile Privacy Notice vCard

Charlotte joined 42BR in October 2024 following completion of her pupillage at a specialist family set, becoming a full tenant in January 2025. She accepts instructions in child law (both private and public), and finance matters. She is often instructed on matters involving serious domestic abuse, including multi-day fact-finding and final hearings.

Before pupillage, Charlotte was the Senior Personal Assistant to the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane. During this year, she managed the diary of the President whilst travelling with him, attending committees and working groups and gaining valuable exposure to the work of the Family Division of the High Court.

Prior to this, Charlotte was a family paralegal in high net worth finance and private child cases at two top London firms. This gave a valuable foundation prior to practice, including in cases in the High Court.

During the Bar Course, Charlotte completed an LLM in Clinical Legal Education, specialising in Domestic Abuse. She has since published articles focusing on financial abuse and has thrice presented at the International Symposium on Economic Crime on the wider impact of economic abuse. After completing her LLM, she worked as a Research Officer for the National Commission on Forced Marriage, headed by Baroness Butler-Sloss, assisting in the production of their report.

Charlotte is the producer and host of “Disability’s Not A Bar”, a podcast aimed at encouraging those with disabilities to pursue a career at the Bar by interviewing aspiring barristers, barristers and judges with disabilities on their education and careers. This podcast has been featured in the Times and in the Secret Barrister’s book.

Outside of law, Charlotte is a keen artist, as well as enjoying musical theatre. She was President of the Inner Temple Drama Society and participated in five productions, including writing an original play and performing in their sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Family Law

Charlotte practices in all areas of family law. She works frequently with victims and people accused of perpetrating domestic abuse and with refuges. She is often kept on as counsel throughout cases and has been praised for her rapport with vulnerable clients.

Charlotte accepts both private and legally aided instructions. During pupillage, she undertook pro-bono cases privately and with Advocate, completing the “Pupillage Pledge” with final private law hearings. This built skills early into practice, including witness examination.

Private Child - During pupillage, Charlotte undertook many private child cases, including multiple-day fact-finding hearings and final hearings involving serious allegations of domestic abuse between parents. Notable cases have included a two-day Fact-Find where she secured five findings of physical domestic abuse.

Financial – Charlotte accepts instructions in financial matters, including First Appointments, FDRs and Final Hearings. She has represented clients in parallel financial and private child proceedings.

Family Law Act – Due to her prior work with domestic violence organisations, Charlotte frequently accepts instructions involving protective orders, including to final hearing.

Public Law – Charlotte is eager to build a practice in Public Law work and is accepting instructions. 

Notable Cases

  • Re M & ors [2024] – represented a mother at a 2-day fact-finding resulting in all live allegations being found (all five main allegations and a total of 13/14 of the sub-allegations).
  • TO v GA [2024] EWFC 405 (B) – represented the husband at a 2-day final finance hearing with minimal finances, resulting in a short 2-year Mesher Order and receipt of a large lump sum from the FMH.
  • Re S & Ors [2024] – represented the mother in a 2-day fact-finding, successfully settled as a final hearing by consent.
  • Re H [2024] – (during pupillage) represented a mother at a 2-day fact-finding resulting in all physical allegations being found. Following this, a final lives-with order was made and no contact with father.
  • Counsel is frequently re-instructed on matters, covering cases throughout proceedings.

Areas of Expertise

Related News

Awards & Recognition











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