Family Law >

Children Law

“Reputable chambers with a strong children and finance offering, and a particular dedication to public law issues.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide

“The set's ethos of aiding vulnerable individuals is reflected within their work with members regularly handling matters concerning serious emotional and sexual abuse against children.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide

“The set's private children practice is similarly sophisticated. Clients are particularly well served thanks to Garden Court Chambers' multi-disciplinary nature, with the set housing specialists in immigration and Court of Protection work.”

Chambers UK Bar Guide

To contact the Family Clerks, please email familyclerksmailbox@gclaw.co.uk or phone

+44 (0)20 7993 7600

Share This Page

Email This Page

For solicitors & organisations | For individuals

Our children law barristers are recognised for their outstanding level of expertise. Garden Court Chambers is ranked as a leading set of chambers for children law in the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide. 

We are deeply committed to social justice and human rights, which lies at the heart of all children law cases. 

As the largest chambers in London, we offer an unrivalled breadth of inter-disciplinary expertise. We are routinely instructed in cases that crossover between family law and other areas of law.

We have easy access to the knowledge of highly ranked colleagues specialising in immigration, housing, welfare benefits, mental health, community care, Court of Protection and crime. Consequently, we can provide a comprehensive umbrella service for the most complex cases, as well as cases in the lower courts, where the outcome for clients is equally significant.

public children law

Garden Court is best known for public law children work. We act for children, parents and local authorities. Our work covers care proceedings, adoption proceedings, secure accommodation, and the welfare of children following the end of a relationship, where the local authority is involved. 

Our barristers have acted in highly sensitive cases involving radicalisation, inter familial sexual abuse, non-accidental injury to infants, Female Genital Mutilation and highly sensitive cases where parents have been wrongly accused of harming their child. We also take instructions via Cafcass, the Official Solicitor or NYAS. Members of our team are experienced in representing vulnerable parties and work hard to ensure that their voices are heard.

 

private children law

We provide specialist advice and representation in the most complex disputes regarding child custody and child arrangements, acting for parents, children, grandparents and other family members. 

Our barristers are often instructed in complicated fact finding hearings and have particular expertise where there have been allegations of abuse. Our team combines strategic intelligence with empathy in our work with vulnerable parties and those who have mental health difficulties. We have significant experience in cases involving child abduction, radicalisation, trans rights, forced marriage, surrogacy, Female Genital Mutilation and international family law. 

 

Recent notable cases and news

Judge issues 'barring order' to protect children at risk of abduction from father

James Holmes of the Garden Court Family Team represented the Mother of the children, instructed by Cris McCurley of Ben Hoare Bell.

23 February 2024

Malek Wan Daud acts for children where Judge highlights vital role of intermediaries in cases with vulnerable parents

Malek Wan Daud of the Garden Court Family Law Team acted for the children, ‘O’ and ‘Y’, instructed by Zak Routledge of THP Solicitors.

2 February 2024

Anna Hefford joins Garden Court Chambers as new tenant

We are delighted to announce that Anna Hefford has joined Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant.

1 December 2023

Garden Court secures top tier rankings in the Legal 500 UK 2024

Garden Court Chambers is proud to be recognised as a Top Tier set again in the Legal 500 UK 2024 rankings.

4 October 2023

'Profiteering in the UK children's home market' published in Counsel Magazine

The article is co-authored by Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team for the August issue of Counsel Magazine.

10 August 2023

'Care proceedings: jurisdiction and placing children in the EU, post Brexit' published in Family Law Journal

The article is written by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team for the June Issue of Family Law.

15 June 2023

Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson shortlisted at Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023

We are delighted to announce that Kathryn Cronin and Danielle Manson of Garden Court Chambers have both been shortlisted for the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2023 (LALYs).

19 May 2023

Can the court still direct the use of Scott Schedules or limit allegations a party wishes to make?

Blog post by Luke McLean of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

3 April 2023

Minimum marriage age rises to 18 in England and Wales

Naomi Wiseman of Garden Court Chambers supported campaigning groups IKWRO - Women’s Rights Organisation and Girls Not Brides UK pro-bono.

27 February 2023

Care Proceedings: Jurisdiction and Placing Children in the EU, post Brexit

Blog post by Hannah Rought-Brooks of the Garden Court Family Law Team.

23 December 2022

Amanda Meusz wins Family Law Case of the Year at Family Law Awards 2022

Amanda acted for the children's guardian in the Supreme Court case of H-W (Children) (No 2) [2022].

29 November 2022

Davina Krishnan returns from maternity leave

Davina is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team and is available to accept instructions from 7 November.

24 October 2022

Jennifer Twite joins Garden Court Chambers as a new tenant

23 September 2022

Amanda Meusz shortlisted for Family Law Case of the Year at Family Law Awards 2022

6 September 2022

Natasha Shotunde receives Honorary Doctor of Laws from Anglia Ruskin University

21 July 2022

Rebekah Wilson speaks to File On 4 - Children’s Homes: Profits Before Care?

Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team spoke to BBC Radio 4's File On 4 for their episode: 'Children’s Homes: Profits Before Care?'.

29 June 2022

'Emergency Remedies in the Family Courts' loose-leaf available now

Co-authored by members of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team, Amanda Weston QC, Lorna Cservenka, Mai-Ling Savage and Anne Osborne.

11 March 2022

Child unlawfully deprived of their liberty during lockdown

Rebekah Wilson, of the Garden Court Chambers Famly Team, appeared for the Respondent father, instructed by Saleha Bibi of Sternberg Reed.

21 February 2022

Naomi Wiseman recognised in The Sunday Times Alternative Honours List for pro bono work to end child marriage and ban hymenoplasty

The Sunday Times stated: "Wiseman scored a victory in July, when the government committed to ban virginity testing and child marriages. Both laws have since been voted in by MPs."

26 December 2021

Natasha Shotunde wins BSN Rising Star at UK Diversity Legal Awards 2021

We are delighted to announce Natasha Shotunde in the BSN Rising Star, in the Chambers category, at the UK Diversity Legal Awards 2021.

2 December 2021

Gráinne Mellon highly commended at Bar Pro Bono Awards 2021 in the 'Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year' category

We are delighted to announce Gráinne Mellon of Garden Court Chambers was highly commended in the 'Junior Pro Bono Barrister of the Year' category at the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2021

3 November 2021

Gráinne Mellon shortlisted for International Bar Association's Pro Bono Award 2021

We are delighted to announce Gráinne Mellon of Garden Court Chambers has been shortlisted for the International Bar Association's Pro Bono Award 2021 for her incredible work helping vulnerable EU children and families apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

28 October 2021

Garden Court secures number one rankings in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2022

21 October 2021

Lorna Cservenka joins Garden Court Family Team as new tenant

Garden Court Chambers is delighted to welcome Lorna Cservenka to the Garden Court Chambers Family Team. Lorna is an outstanding family advocate. Called to the Bar in 2021, Lorna was a solicitor for 23 years before joining the Bar.

9 August 2021

Stephen Lue, Tessa Buchanan and Audrey Cherryl Mogan shortlisted at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2021

We are delighted to announce that Stephen Lue, Tessa Buchanan and Audrey Cheryl Mogan of Garden Court Chambers have been shortlisted at the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Awards 2021.

18 May 2021

Garden Court Chambers mourns the death of Ian Peddie QC

4 March 2021

Naomi Wiseman quoted in The Guardian - New Bill could close child marriage loophole in England & Wales

Naomi Wiseman of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team is providing legal advice on the Bill.

5 October 2020

The Local Authority v Mothers and Others 2020 EWHC 1216

Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Family Team appeared in the case of The Local Authority v Mother & Ors, led by Andrew Bagchi QC, acting for an intervener whose younger brother had been strangled at the age of 13.

27 May 2020

Law Society Gazette - McFarlane warns of remote hearing ‘overload’ after wrong care order

Stephen Lue of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team represented the grandmother in this case.

13 May 2020

Garden Court Chambers ranked in Band 1 in Chambers UK Bar Guide 2020

We are delighted to have once again been ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners in the Chambers UK Bar Guide 2020.

17 October 2019

Family Law Update: Uncertain perpetrator cases – the correct approach

Written by William Tautz of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

12 July 2019

Natural family in Ghana, securing Article 8 rights

Rebekah Wilson acted for the Appellant, Monifa Walters-Thompson acted pro bono for the fourth respondents and Maggie Jones acted for the Respondent Children’s Guardian.

10 January 2019

Sort by:

We are top ranked by independent legal directories and consistently win awards.

+ View more awards