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 D [case concluded 2025 - at appeal stage presently] – representation of children in private law proceedings with fact finding element through rule 16.4 guardian. Judge made findings of harm but did not set out reasoning. Appeal pending. 

Re B [concluded 2025] – representation of the children in care proceedings concerning allegations of factitious and induced illness in respect of 3 adopted children. Findings of harm made. Children remained in the family with support. Led by Jeremy Hall. 

Re S [concluded 2025] – Representation of a mother in care proceedings with allegations of non-accidental burns and unlawful disclosure of papers to police. Children returned at end of case. Led by Penny Howe KC at fact-finding. 

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 B [concluded 2024] – Representation of a mother in care proceedings with allegations of grooming. Child returned home to parents. Led by Gemma Farrington KC at fact-finding.

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 (care proceedings; inherent jurisdiction: order for return to Austria) [2024] EWFC178

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