William practises principally in children's family law, both public and private. He is regularly entrusted with cases of a complexity and sensitivity normally reserved for more senior counsel. He also practises in mental health law and education law.
William's practice reflects his deeply held views about the welfare and best interests of society's most vulnerable individuals. Care proceedings, the Court of Protection, mental health and special educational needs are all areas encompassed within his expertise.
His constructive, compassionate approach applies whether he is representing children, patients, parents and family members, or local authorities. William believes that fearless advocacy is not undermined by a compassionate approach but is in fact greatly strengthened by it. The very positive feedback he receives from both lay and professional clients supports this view.
FAMILY LAW: CHILDREN'S LAW
Overview
William practises principally in children's family law, both public and private. Having come to the Bar as a mature person, William is regularly entrusted with cases of a complexity and sensitivity normally reserved for more senior counsel, including long fact-finding hearings and cases with a significant cultural, religious or international element. He was recently led in a case of fabricated illness acting for a parent, and he conducts appeals in both private and public law children's proceedings.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
Re: L 2012
Represented a mother of three boys, between the ages of eight and 14, in care proceedings in the Principal Registry where the father was said to be violent and the family had experienced racist abuse and harassment in another borough; the mother achieved the return of all the children to her care, including the eldest from secure accommodation, and the proceedings finished with no order.
Re: N 2012/13
Represented a local authority in long-running case centred on domestic violence in the Family Proceedings Court; on advice, the local authority did not seek to contest removal of the child, despite repeated threats, and a negotiated solution involving a temporary kinship carer and eventual return to the mother was achieved.
Re: R 2012/13
Representing a father in private law proceedings in the High Court in which allegations against him of serious violence and sexual abuse were found a) to be unproved, and b) to have been deliberately fabricated by the mother, resulting in a shared residence order.
Re: P 2012
Successfully represented a local authority in the High Court on an application for a reporting restriction in a high-profile case.
Re: A 2012
Second junior counsel, led by Jenny Boswell, for a mother accused of factitious illness syndrome relating to a child with very complex health needs; at the 11 day fact-finding, for which he had less than a week to prepare, William cross-examined a key witness of fact and the treating paediatrician.
Re: C: 2012/13
Represented a father pro bono, including in the High Court, who, though not the biological father of the child, sought a shared residence order and to prevent the child's removal from the jurisdiction.
Re: S : 2013
Representing a local authority in the Principal Registry in a case involving physical abuse of children aged nine and 12; the children were Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) interviewed and chose to give live oral evidence via video-link resulting in findings against the parents and care orders.
Contact William
Pro Bono Work
William is committed to legal aid and the representation of individuals who cannot afford legal services. He is public access qualified, and regularly acts pro bono.
William is happy to consider giving pro bono advice on defamation to charities and campaigning organisations prior to publication.