Lyndsey Sambrooks-Wright

Overview

Lyndsey is regularly instructed in all areas of family law, including public law, private law and international family law. In particular, Lyndsey’s practice largely encompasses complex public law matters dealing with matters such as non-accidental injury (including Suspected Inflicted Head Injury resulting in death of the child); drug misuse and ingestion of drugs by children; serious sexual abuse; and radicalisation. She is well-versed in challenging complex medical evidence.

The crossover between Lyndsey’s family law and Court of Protection practice means that she is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, including those with significant mental health issues or lacking capacity, and teenagers moving on from local authority care. She is frequently instructed in matters concerning deprivation of liberty.   

Lyndsey’s practice also encompasses international matters, including jurisdictional disputes and abduction. She has a special interest in cases involving transgender issues.

Notable Cases

Re T [2021] UKSC 35
Appeal concerning the use of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court to authorise a local authority to deprive a child of their liberty in a non-registered placement. The Supreme Court held that the use of the inherent jurisdiction to authorise deprivation of liberty in non-registered provision was permissible but expressing serious concern about its use to address a shortage of adequate resources.

Discharge of interim care orders: Re H-B-S [2020] EWCA Civ 1027
Represented respondent father in appeal relating to discharge of interim care orders during a part-heard fact-finding hearing. Guidance given by Court of Appeal on correct approach to discharge and delay.

Care proceedings dismissed against parents accused of fracturing baby's arm and leg. Re C [2018]
Represented the mother in a case whereby the parents were accused of causing a number of non-accidental fractures to a baby, an allegation supported by all the medical experts in the case.

At the end of a six-day fact-finding hearing, no findings were made against either parent, the care proceedings were dismissed and the children were returned home.

Contact put in place for mother of baby who had ingested Class A drugs. Re R-L [2017]
Represented mother in care case whereby young infant had suffered developmental delay due to ingestion of Class A drugs. Contact regime put in place for mother.

Children rehabilitated to parents following allegations of inappropriate physical chastisement. Re R, N and D [2017]
Represented Tamil mother in care case with allegations of inappropriate physical chastisement. Children rehabilitated to parents' care.

Acted in application for reintroduction of contact to transgender parent
Re E [2015]:
Represented parent in private law children case whereby one parent was undergoing gender reassignment. Issues relating to reintroduction of child to parent after long period of no contact.

Represented Local Authority in case of shaken baby syndrome. Re M [2013]
Acted as junior alone for Local Authority in case of shaken baby syndrome. After ten day fact-finding hearing, findings were made that the child had been shaken. Child subsequently rehabilitated to parents.

Represented Local Authority as led junior in case of alleged shaken baby syndrome. London Borough of Islington v Al Alas and Wray [2012] EWHC 865 (Fam):
Acted as led junior representing the Local Authority in alleged case of shaken baby syndrome, in which the child was instead determined to have died as a result of a complex medical condition.

Overview

Lyndsey has acted in cases involving jurisdictional disputes, relocation applications and child abduction matters.

Notable Cases

Jurisdiction deemed to lie in Spain, despite consent order accepting that jurisdiction remained in England and Wales. GW v MW [2015] EWFC 56:
Successfully argued that the matter should be heard in Spain, despite previous consent order accepting that jurisdiction remained in England and Wales.

Determined that matter should be heard in England and Wales despite children being habitually resident in Eire. T v T [2012] EWHC 2877 (Fam):
Successfully argued that England and Wales was the appropriate jurisdiction for a private family law dispute, where the children's habitual residence was deemed to lie in Eire and the issue of jurisdiction was contested.

Overview

Lyndsey began practicing criminal law in 2008 and defended clients for ten years in a range of cases including serious violence, sexual offences, drug offences and fraud. Lyndsey now focuses upon linked family and criminal law proceedings, including disclosure applications, reporting restrictions and Public Interest Immunity proceedings.

Notable Cases

Case considering interplay of MCA and MHA 2005: Re CW [2023]
Represented Official Solicitor in Court of Protection case considering services under s117 of MCA 1983, as well as interplay of MCA and MHA 2005, when attempting to house and treat P.

Re T [2021] UKSC 35
Appeal concerning the use of the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court to authorise a local authority to deprive a child of their liberty in a non-registered placement. The Supreme Court held that the use of the inherent jurisdiction to authorise deprivation of liberty in non-registered provision was permissible but expressing serious concern about its use to address a shortage of adequate resources.

Discharge of interim care orders: Re H-B-S [2020] EWCA Civ 1027
Represented respondent father in appeal relating to discharge of interim care orders during a part-heard fact-finding hearing. Guidance given by Court of Appeal on correct approach to discharge and delay.

Care proceedings dismissed against parents accused of fracturing baby's arm and leg: Re C [2018]
Represented the mother in a case whereby the parents were accused of causing a number of non-accidental fractures to a baby, an allegation supported by all the medical experts in the case. At the end of a six-day fact-finding hearing, no findings were made against either parent, the care proceedings were dismissed and the children were returned home.

Contact put in place for mother of baby who had ingested Class A drugs: Re R-L [2017]
Represented mother in care case whereby young infant had suffered developmental delay due to ingestion of Class A drugs. Contact regime put in place for mother.

Acted in application for reintroduction of contact to transgender parent: Re E [2015]
Represented parent in private law children case whereby one parent was undergoing gender reassignment. Issues relating to reintroduction of child to parent after long period of no contact.

Acted in international jurisdictional dispute: GW v MW [2015] EWFC 56
Successfully argued in Hague Convention matter that children were no longer habitually resident in England and Wales.

Represented Local Authority in case of ‘shaken baby syndrome’: Re M [2013]
Acted as sole junior for Local Authority in case of ‘shaken baby syndrome’. After ten day fact-finding hearing, findings were made that the child had been shaken. Child subsequently rehabilitated to parents.

Led junior in case of alleged ‘shaken baby syndrome’. London Borough of Islington v Al Alas and Wray [2012] EWHC 865 (Fam)
Acted as led junior representing the Local Authority in alleged case of ‘shaken baby syndrome’, in which the child was instead determined to have died as a result of a complex medical condition.

Successful application in international jurisdictional dispute. T v T [2012] EWHC 2877 (Fam)
Succeeded in establishing that England and Wales was the appropriate jurisdiction in Hague Convention matter despite there being written agreement indicating the contrary.