Vanessa joined the bar in 2017 after a successful practice as a solicitor in two firms in East Kent since 2010. Vanessa’s experience in children law was recognised by the Law Society in accrediting her as a Child panel member in June 2013. 

In public law, Vanessa has experience in representing clients with cases involving: -

• Domestic abuse, both for perpetrator and victim
• Non accidental injuries including fractures, brain injury, bruising, sexual injuries and burns
• Sexual abuse cases including intergenerational sexual abuse
• Neglect
• FII
• Substance abuse including the cross examination of forensic test results
• Emotional abuse
• Intractable contact disputes where alienation is alleged
• Neurodiversity and additional learning needs
• Physical disability in both children and adults.

Vanessa undertakes work for local authorities, parents, children, family members and intervenors. 

Vanessa has a particular interest in assisting vulnerable clients, either as a result of domestic violence, their own childhood abuse or neurodivergence.

Vanessa also has extensive experience in representing parents in private law disputes pertaining to: - 

• alienating behaviours
• protracted disputes
• domestic abuse
• enforcement of orders including committal
• refusal of children to have contact
• cases where a 16.4 guardian is appointed
• fact finding hearings 

Recent Cases:

Re B [concluded 2024] – Representation of a mother in care proceedings. The allegation was that the mother’s step-father who was now her partner and father to the child had groomed and sexually abused her when she was underage. A fact-finding hearing was held and some findings were made but the Judge wanted the sexual risk to the child to be assessed. With some work, this was assessed as low and the child returned to the care of the parents. Led by Gemma Farrington KC at fact-finding.

Re S [ongoing 2024] – Representation of a mother in care proceedings. One of the children had marks which were alleged to be cigarette burns. Issues pertaining to unlawful disclosure to the police arose within the proceedings, necessitating injunctions. At the fact-finding hearing, the Judge concluded the marks were burns but the local authority had not proven to the requisite standard that those burns were inflicted. The case continues at welfare stage. Led by Penny Howe KC at fact-finding. 

Re C [2023] representation of a father in care proceedings. The issue argued as a matter of law was the relevance of a fact-finding hearing on historical sexual allegations when the care plan for the child was settled. Led by Junior counsel. 

Re W [ongoing 2024] – representing the father in a fact-finding hearing in private law proceedings. There had been long standing proceedings as the mother had unilaterally ceased contact. The mother persistently ignored court orders and a number of applications for enforcement were made. The mother alleged serious domestic abuse. At the fact- finding hearing, the Judge found the mother’s allegations to be untrue and that she had misled professionals. She had withdrawn a number of allegations in cross-examination. The Judge found her to have poor litigation conduct and ordered her to do an unpaid work requirement. The case continues at welfare stage. 

Re F [2023] – representing the local authority at an interim hearing in the High Court on a complex matter. Legal issue pertained to the use of s38(6) to assess the situation where the children had migrated home under care orders and mother would not allow access for a child and family assessment. Leading a second junior. 

L v G [concluded 2023] – Representing the appellant mother at an appeal in the High Court. The Judge had set out his decision in full in the Judgment but attached the father’s version of the order and would not respond to clarification in this respect. Permission to appeal, permission to appeal out of time and the substantial appeal were granted. The appeal Judge made plain the order which purported to contain the Judgment and the Judgment were at odds with each other and remitted for re-hearing. 

Reported cases: - 

A & Ors [2024] - Acting for the children with Gemma Farrington KC in a case where children had been brought to England from Austria where they had settled asylum status on a small boat channel crossing. The children were returned to Austria where they had family and legal status. Case considered the interplay of the Hague Convention and the inherent jurisdiction. 

KCC v D & Ors (5) (Re-hearing) [2015] EWFC 96