2023
Represented the mother in a fact-finding hearing in the High Court. The father abandoned his allegations of parental alienation during cross-examination. The judgment also contains detailed findings on the parties’ conduct and behaviour.
Appeared for the wife in an appeal against refusal to set aside a financial remedies order based on lack of capacity and the absence of participation directions. The judgment reviews the distinction between setting aside and appealing, and the effect of mental illness on capacity. Read more in Financial Remedies Journal.
Represented the mother in a High Court appeal involving allegations of sexual coercion and submission within marriage. The case raised broader issues about how family courts assess sexual abuse in a religious marriage. Although the appeal was dismissed, the appellate court criticised aspects of the trial judge’s language.
Re Z (Disclosure to Social Work England: Costs) [2023] EWHC 982 (Fam), Re Z (Disclosure to Social Work England: Findings of Domestic Abuse) [2023] EWHC 447 (Fam) and A (Domestic abuse: incorrect principles applied) [2021] EWFC B30
​Successfully appealed a flawed fact-finding decision, with the case remitted for retrial where findings of domestic abuse were secured. Also acted in a successful appeal permitting disclosure of those findings to Social Work England, as the father was a social worker. The judgment provided guidance on disclosure to regulators. Subsequently secured a costs order against the regulator, whose conduct was found to be unreasonable. Read more in the Guardian, Local Government Lawyer, the Justice Gap and the Independent.
A v B & Anor [2023] EWCA Civ 360 (07 March 2023), A & Anor v B & Ors [2022] EWHC 3089 (Fam) and B v A [2022] EWFC 177 (Fam)
​​Acted for the mother in B v A at fact-finding involving allegations of rape and non-fatal strangulation, and pursued an appeal following concerning judicial comments about the mother’s ‘intelligence.’ Read more in the Daily Mail, the Independent and London Evening Standard. Also represented two respondent mothers in linked High Court appeals on the definition of rape and consent, where oneappeal succeeded. In the related Court of Appeal case, the appeal was dismissed but the judgment remains an important authority on rape, consent and sexual history evidence.
Instructed by Rights of Women on behalf of Latin American Women’s Aid, Women’s Aid and Refuge in a guidance case before the President on the safe service of documents for women in refuges. The judgment provided early guidance on protecting addresses and included one of the first definitions of intersectionality in this context. Read in the Law Society Gazette.
Represented the mother in a successful appeal setting aside a child arrangements order made by consent. Findings of rape and domestic abuse had already been made, yet there were no participation directions at the later hearing and she was encouraged to negotiate directly with the proven perpetrator. The order was set aside.
​Successfully appealed a fact-finding decision where abuse allegations were not proved, due to failures to comply with duties to protect vulnerable parties and implement participation measures. The judgment provides clear guidance in this area.