Private Law
Lee has developed a busy practice in private law children matters relating to Child Arrangements, Prohibited Steps and Specific Issues. He has extensive experience acting on behalf of parents, members of the family and the children’s guardian who have been appointed on behalf of the child. He is often instructed on multi-day fact-finding/final hearings where serious allegations of domestic abuse have been alleged. Lee’s cases often involve a rule 16.4 Guardian being appointed and have a quasi-public law element to them where social services are involved.

His experience covers initial hearings right up to an appeal. He has experience relating to sensitive issues and has acted (although not exhaustive) in cases involving the below:

• Domestic abuse
• Physical/sexual/emotional harm
• Substance misuse
• Shared care/live with/contact
• Relocation
• Parental alienation
• Prohibited Steps Order
• Specific Issue i.e. change of name/school location
• Fact finding
• Final hearings
• Appeals

Cases of note for Lee have included:

• AF v AM [2023] EWFC 153 - represented Father in a relocation case before a Circuit Judge. 

• Re G [2023] - Successfully represented Father at a 3-day final hearing re internal relocation. Cafcass recommended that the child be permitted to relocate with Mother several hours away from Father. Following the evidence, the court agreed with Father that the child’s welfare demanded that he remain in his current location and granted shared care.

• Re C [2023] Successfully represented Father at a 4 day fact-finding hearing involving serious allegations of domestic abuse, including honour based violence. All allegations against Father were dismissed. Immediate order for direct contact.

• Re X [2023] Successfully represented M at a final hearing concerning the contact arrangements for two children. The court ordered no direct contact between the Father and children due to concerns and also ordered a non-molestation order pursuant to s42 FLA 1996 due to Father’s behaviour.

• Re K [2022] Successfully opposed an appeal by Mother on behalf of Father before Mrs Justice Morgan. The Mother sought to appeal a Circuit Judge’s decision and that she should be permitted to relocate to Poland with the child. Appeal refused.

• Re X [2022] Represented M in a 5-day fact-finding hearing involving serious allegations of domestic abuse, including rape. The F was a serving police officer.

• 5-day fact-finding hearing involving allegations of sexual and physical violence
• Multi-day fact-finding hearing involving sexual, physical and honour-based violence
• 3-day final hearing acting for special guardians which resulted in the child residing with his clients
• Multi-day final hearing representing grandparents who ultimately obtained a “live with” order in their favour
• Successfully opposing an appeal by one parent to relocate to Poland with the child

Family Finance
Lee is regularly instructed for FDA, FDR and final hearings.

Lee’s cases have included ‘barder’ events, intervenors and arguments in respect of concluded agreements. His meticulous preparation in these cases ensures that his client’s cases are presented in an exemplary manner.

Noteable Cases

• Re X [2023]. Represented H at a 4-day final hearing to decide how the matrimonial assets should be split. Issues included multiple properties, businesses and allegations of conduct/add back.
• Re X [2023] Represented H at a 5-day preliminary issues hearing involving his family asserting an ownership over businesses and properties. The case involved over 10 witnesses.