Acts on behalf of all parties in care proceedings and specialises in non-accidental injury cases with complex forensic evidence. He has recently appeared before the President in a contested adoption application and handled a 12-day sexual abuse hearing.

“Is a very competent safe pair of hands who is always calm under pressure." Legal 500 2021

"He adopts a calm, clear approach to difficult matters and is able to build a strong relationship with the client." – Chambers and Partners 2021

Strengths: “He is very dogged in his endeavours to get to the bottom of matters during cross-examination and is very technically sound.” Chambers and Partners 2018

Jonathan is ranked by Chambers and Partners 2016 as a leading junior in the category of Family / Matrimonial, wherein it is said: “Jonathan Bennett is described as a ‘straight talking and astute’ child care practitioner. He is one of the leading names at the set.”

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Publications

Family Law Journal, May 2001 Number 6, Article on Legal Representation in Care Proceedings – a commentary on the decision of the Court of Appeal in Re B and T (Care Proceedings: Legal Representation) [2001] 1 FLR 485

Selected cases

M-F (Children) [2014] EWCA Civ 991 (15 July 2014)
R (A Child), Re Court of Appeal (Civil Division), 12 June 2013 [2013] EWCA Civ 899
A Local Authority v K Family Division, 11 October 2011 [2011] EWHC 2581 (Fam); [2012] 1 F.L.R. 765; [2012] Fam. Law 124
C (A Child) Court of Appeal Neutral Citation Number: [2012] EWCA Civ 535 – an appeal against a finding that the Mother was responsible for non-accidental injuries made by a judge effectively without notice to the parties at the disposal hearing, when a different judge had been unable to decide which of the parents was responsible for the causation of the injuries at a previous fact-finding hearing
A Local Authority v K And Others [2011] EWHC 2581 (Fam) [2012] 1 FLR 765 – case involving the death of a child where the President decided that no fact-finding hearing was necessary or appropriate
Re A (A Child) Court of Appeal Neutral Citation Number: [2007] EWCA Civ 1058 [2008] 1 FLR 1423 – a case involving non-accidental injury and whether a judge’s finding that both parents were responsible for causing injury independently to a child was sustainable, as well as a reminder to Counsel to seek any amplification of findings required at the fact-finding hearing
Re Brandon Webster (a child) sub nom Norfolk County Council v Nicola Webster & 5 ors (2006), [2006] EWHC 2733 (Fam), (2007) EMLR 7 : (2007) 1 FLR 1146 : (2007) HRLR 3, High Court – concerning the right to hold care proceedings with the media admitted, and to publicise the details of the case generally
Re Brandon Webster (A CHILD) sub nom Norfolk County Council v (1) Nicola Webster (2) Mark Webster (3) Brandon Webster (A Child by his Children’s Guardian ) (2006), [2006] EWHC 2898 (Fam), High Court – concerning the right to instruct further medical experts in complex care proceedings
In Re R (A Child) (Adoption: Contact) 15th September 2005 Times Law Reports, [2006] 1 FLR 373, Court of Appeal – the principles to be applied for leave to apply applications under s.10 Children Act 1989 as applied to adoption cases
SH and RH v Suffolk CC Neutral Citation Number: [2003] EWHC 429 (Fam) High Court Family Division – appeal from a FPC – the court (Sumner J) made useful comments about the type of case which Magistrates should hear, and over what length of hearing
Re B and T (Care Proceedings: Legal Representation) [2001] 1 FLR 485, Court of Appeal, – the right to legal representation under the Human Rights Act in care proceedings
Northamptonshire CC v Islington BC [1999] 2 FLR 881, 2000) 2 WLR 193 (care/ designation of local authority under Children Act 1989), Court of Appeal
Re G (Adoption: Illegal Placement) [1995] 1 FLR 403, Court of Appeal Re R (A Minor) (Contempt) [1994] 2 FLR 185, Court of Appeal Re SW (A Minor) (Care Proceedings) [1993] 2 FLR 609 Re W (A Minor) (Secure Accommodation Order) [1993] 1 FLR 692

Education

Huddersfield New College, Trinity Hall Cambridge (MA Hons)

Scholarships & Awards

Legal Services Commission Funding Review and Special Cases (including High Cost Cases) Committee Member

News & Events

News & events

Ranked in Chambers & Partners 2019

Chambers are thrilled to have 17 individual recommendations/rankings in the new Chambers & Partners 2019.

8th November 2018 Read more

Our strengthis in our groups

Areas of Expertise

Jonathan Bennett

Introduction

Accreditations