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 practices in all areas of Family Law, with a particular focus on child law (private and public). She is often instructed on matters with vulnerable clients and with aspects of domestic abuse including multi-day fact-findings and final hearings. Charlotte is frequently kept on as counsel throughout proceedings and is often praised for her client care and management.

Charlotte is shortlisted for the Young Barrister of the Year at the Lexus Nexus Family Law Awards 2026 and was a finalist at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2026. She is a “Rising Star” in the Legal 500 2026. She is featured in Professor Jo Delahunty’s book “We Set The Bar”.

Charlotte was invited to speak twice at the Women’s Parliament in Cambridge on the impact of cuts to Legal Aid on female barristers and court users. She has recently co-authored several articles on the impact of family court proceedings on victims of domestic abuse and proposed reform, and on her experience with probationary tenancy.

Charlotte joined 42BR in October 2024 following completion of her pupillage at a specialist family set, becoming a full tenant in January 2025. Before pupillage, Charlotte was the Senior Personal Assistant to the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane. Prior to this, Charlotte was a family paralegal in high net worth finance and private child cases at two top London firms.  

Charlotte completed an LLM in Clinical Legal Education, specialising in Domestic Abuse. She has since published articles focusing on financial abuse and has presented at four International Symposium on Economic Crime on the wider impact of economic abuse and asset recovery. 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. 

Private Child - Charlotte undertakes many private child cases, including multiple-day fact-finding hearings and final hearings involving serious allegations of domestic abuse between parents.

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 accepts instructions in Public Law work and frequently represents Local Authorities and parents.

Notable Cases

  • Re A & B (Children) [2026] EWFC 57 (B) – reported case representing the mother in a complex 5-day private fact-finding hearing
  • Three-day fact-finding with significant findings of control and harm to mother [2026]
  • Three-day fact finding on harm to mother and children (awaiting judgment) [2026]
  • 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) [2024]
  • TO v GA [2024] EWFC 405 (B) – reported case - 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.
  • 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 [2024]
  • Counsel is frequently re-instructed on matters, covering cases throughout proceedings.

Publications

Podcasts and Webinars

Areas of Expertise

Related News

Family Law Awards 2026

Family Law Awards 2026

We are delighted to share we have been shortlisted for 3 awards at this years Family Law Awards.


Published: 26th Aug 2026

Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026

Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026

We are delighted to share that Rachel Chan and Charlotte McDonald have been shortlisted across three different award categories at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards 2026.


Published: 13th Feb 2026

Public Law Update - October 2025

Public Law Update - October 2025

Amanda Jepson and Charlotte McDonald continue our latest family law webinar series with a public law update.


Published: 20th Oct 2025

More news

Awards & Recognition











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