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Family Law

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

Chambers UK Bar Guide

"The family clerks are exceptionally experienced and helpful. They know the solicitors in the field and have a deft understanding of the expertise required for even the most complex cases."

Legal 500

"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

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For solicitors & organisations | For individuals
Top Ranked Chambers UK Bar 2019
The Legal 500 UK Top Tier Set 2019

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

We are regularly instructed in complex and serious cases, as well as cases in the lower courts where the outcome for clients is equally significant.

As the largest barristers’ chambers in London, we offer unrivalled inter-disciplinary expertise. We are routinely instructed in cases that crossover between family law and other areas of law including immigration, housing, welfare benefits, mental health, community care, Court of Protection and crime.

Our family law barristers have a reputation for tough and effective advocacy in court, and we are adept at representing vulnerable clients. We offer expert, practical legal advice across all areas of family law, from financial disputes to the welfare of children.

Children Law

Divorce and Family Finances

International Family Law

Domestic Abuse

USEFul family law website and legislation

Some of the primary legislation
Children and Families Act 2014
Children and Young Persons Act 2008
Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008
Children and Adoption Act 2006
Work and Families Act 2006
Childcare Act 2006
Civil Partnership Act 2004
Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Deceased Fathers) Act 2003
Adoption and Children Act 2002
Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001
Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000
Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000

Court Proforma Orders
CAP01 – Order – Directions at Gatekeeping Allocation
CAP02 – Lite Final
CAP02 – Order – First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment (FHDRA) Directions
CAP03 – Order Dispute Resolution Appointment
CAP04 – Final Order
Financial Proceedings Directions Order
Financial Remedy Omnibus (with Variation Settlement Order)
Standard Family Orders
Standard Financial and Enforcement Orders
CMO Final FR for PFD
SDO Final ER for PFD

Useful family law websites
Association of Lawyers for Children
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Child Rights Information Network
Children's rights law in the UK
Children's Legal Centre
Child Maintenance Options website
Divorce Aid
Family Law Bar Association and Family Law Bar Association Published Guidance Locator
Family Division of the High Court
Family Justice Council
Family Division Practice Directions
Family Law Bar Association and Family Law Bar Association Published Guidance Locator
Family Mediators Association
Fatherhood Institute
Hague Conference on Private International Law
Islamic Family Law
Resolution (previously Solicitors Family Law Association)
UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

 

The Team

Ian Peddie QC

Year of Call: 1971

Year of Silk: 1992

Amanda Weston QC

Year of Call: 1995

Year of Silk: 2018

Sarah Forster

Year of Call: 1976

Kathryn Cronin

Year of Call: 1980

Celia Graves

Year of Call: 1981

Ravinder Rahal

Year of Call: 1983

Amanda Meusz

Year of Call: 1986

Sorrel Dixon

Year of Call: 1987

Maggie Jones

Year of Call: 1990

View full team

Latest News

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

Family Law Update: Teenagers, secure accommodation and the relevance of consent

Written by Mai-Ling Savage of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

17 December 2018

Family Law Update: The recognition of foreign adoptions

Written by Kathryn Cronin of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

17 December 2018

Family Law Update: Order!

Written by Christopher McWatters of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

17 December 2018

Family Law Update: Civil restraint orders

Written by Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

17 December 2018

High Court hears failed asylum seeker's daughter 'at FGM risk'

Garden Court's James Holmes is instructed by Suffolk County Council.

1 November 2018

Placement of a child outside their natural family

Amina Ahmed explores the test used in deciding the correct balance for a child's growing up in his culture of origin or in proximity with his family in the UK.

31 October 2018

Appeal in care proceedings involving rival Special Guardianship Order contenders: a foster carer and extended family members in Ghana. Appeal allowed.

Rebekah Wilson instructed for the Appellant. Maggie Jones instructed for the Respondent Children's Guardian. 

30 October 2018

Statutory Charge: Care Costs and Human Rights Act Applications

The following guidance applies when making an HRA application: make a separate and standalone application, and keep costs of pursuing the HRA claim separate from the care case.

18 September 2018

The London Infant and Family Team & The New Orleans Intervention Model

In England two local authorities – Croydon and Tower Hamlets –  have been trialling the New Orleans Intervention Model, a relationship focused intervention for families involved in care proceedings. King's College London are currently undertaking a random

18 September 2018

Beware drafters of threshold documents

Lessons can be learnt from two recent cases regarding the phrasing of a) threshold documents and b) the court’s findings in relation to threshold. 

18 September 2018

Garden Court Chambers welcome Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright and Monifa Walters-Thompson to the Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright and Monifa Walters-Thompson have joined the Family Law Team at Garden Court Chambers.

10 August 2018

Court of Appeal allows first successful appeal against Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order

Sarah Forster appeared on behalf of the mother and James Holmes, who was also instructed at first instance, appeared on behalf the local authority led by Hannah Markham QC.

1 August 2018

What is confidentiality and does it matter anymore?

Sections 97(2) and (6) of the Children Act 1989 make it a criminal offence for anyone to publish material likely to identify a child involved in proceedings under the Act. The prohibition only lasts until the end of the proceedings - Clayton v Clayton [20

15 May 2018

Is it time for a protocol on international kinship assessments?

With Brexit looming and a rise in the number of care applications, the issue of international assessments has a sharper focus. It is time for a protocol on international kinship assessments which will significantly aid in a more robust case management.

15 May 2018

Family cases and Deprivation of Liberty

There have been two important recent cases which have considered issues of deprivation of liberty and young people subject to care proceedings.

15 May 2018

Equality law update: Re M

Rebekah Wilson of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team has published the below article for Jordans Family Law.

11 April 2018

Malek Wan Daud joins Council of Europe delegation to Portugal to evaluate implementation of Istanbul Convention on Combating Violence Against Women

Malek Wan Daud is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

28 March 2018

Garden Court Chambers welcome Nisha Bambhra and Katherine Duncan to the Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Nisha Bambhra and Katherine Duncan have joined the Family Law Team.

20 October 2017

Garden Court Family Law Team and Mai-Ling Savage nominated for Bar Pro Bono Awards 2017

We are delighted to announce that the Family Team and Mai-Ling Savage, as an individual, have been nominated for the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2017.

13 October 2017

ECPAT report finds no national process for identifying and recording missing child victims of trafficking

Shu Shin Luh of Garden Court Chambers contributed to the report.

21 August 2017

Proof magazine #3: ‘Life in the Justice Gap: Why legal aid matters’ launch supported by Garden Court Chambers

Garden Court Chambers is proud to sponsor Proof magazine. The third issue of Proof was co-produced by the Justice Gap and the Justice Alliance.

20 July 2017

Family Rights Group launches inquiry report on section 20 voluntary arrangements for children coming into the care system

Garden Court Chambers were delighted to host the launch of this report.

11 July 2017

Garden Court Chambers extends condolences and solidarity to all those affected by Grenfell Tower tragedy

Garden Court Chambers is horrified by the fire at Grenfell Towers. We extend our condolences and our solidarity to all those bereaved, injured or rendered homeless.

16 June 2017

Malek Wan Daud joins Council of Europe delegation to Denmark to evaluate implementation of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

The Istanbul Convention is also known as the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

10 May 2017

Garden Court welcomes Katharine Marks to its Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Katharine Marks joined the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

31 March 2017

Garden Court welcomes James Holmes to its Family Team

We are delighted to announce that James Holmes has joined the Garden Court Chambers Family Team.

28 March 2017

"It's 2017 - the courts and practitioners need to work hard to ensure that women don't feel as though they’re left behind"

Family barrister Rebekah Wilson is our Women's Rights Trailblazer of the day.

7 March 2017

Anya Lewis and Emma Fenn secure acquittal in “Shaken Baby Syndrome” case

The defendant was represented by Anya Lewis and Emma Fenn of Garden Court Chambers.

13 February 2017

Leslie Thomas QC, Judy Khan QC and Marc Willers QC elected as Joint Heads of Chambers

Garden Court is delighted to announce that Leslie Thomas QC, Judy Khan QC and Marc Willers QC have been elected as Joint Heads of Chambers.

31 January 2017

Garden Court welcomes Ann Osborne to its Family Team

We are delighted to announce that Ann Osborne has joined Garden Court Chambers.

27 January 2017

All related news

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