Rebekah's practice and career have been driven by her commitment to equal access to justice and her expertise in equality and human rights. She is passionate about her role for her clients and works tirelessly to ensure their case is presented with rigour regardless of factual or legal complexities.
Rebekah has practised at the bar since 1998 with a specialised practice in Children Act cases, public and private. She has also worked overseas and in the UK for organisations that share her core values of equal access to justice and securing human rights for everyone.
Rebekah has appeared in many significant complex cases, including a recent Court of Appeal case, in which she successfully represented the appellant.
FAMILY LAW: CHILDREN'S LAW
Overview
A highly experienced and dedicated child and family law practitioner, Rebekah acts in factually and legally complex cases for all parties in public law and private law proceedings (securing residence orders, contact orders and orders involving removal from the jurisdiction).
Rebekah has substantial experience as a public law practitioner acting for all parties. She has acted in factually and legally complex cases involving allegations of 'radicalisation', factitious and induced illnesses, human rights and discrimination and non accidental injuries to a child/children. Rebekah is the chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children equality and diversity committee and a passionate advocate for the rights of children.
Notable Cases
X, T, A, E and S (Children), Re [2020] EWCA Civ 1680 (11 December 2020)
Rebekah Wilson appeared for the appellant in this complex case which has now been before the Court of Appeal for the second time in the course of fact finding proceedings. Rebekah appealed a number of the Judges findings in a case concerning non accidental injury. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal in full and set aside those findings.
H-B-S (Children: Discharge of Interim Care Order) [2020] EWCA Civ 1027 (03 August 2020)
Rebekah Wilson represented the respondent mother in this appeal. The decision under appeal was the discharge of interim care orders during a part-heard fact-finding hearing. Injuries were caused to a child T, who was not a child of the Mother’s, but the Mother was in the pool of perpetrators for causing the injury. The Court was of the view that in the instant case, the Judge was not in a position to assess the risk of returning the children home and did not attempt to do so in the short ex-tempore judgement. While the Judge carefully considered the detailed arguments put by the Mother, the Court of Appeal found that the Judge could not properly carry out a balancing exercise without a court determination on the cause of T’s injuries.
London Borough of Southwark v A Family [2020] EWHC 3117 (Fam) (18 May 2020)
Rebekah acted for the father in an unprecedented 3rd fact finding hearing.
A Local Authority v R & Ors (Rev 1) [2020] EWFC B56 (13 May 2020)
Rebekah acted for a mother in care proceedings where the LA had failed to sufficiently consider the impact of Covid-19 on parents of a severely disabled child who had also contracted Covid.
The Local Authority v Mother and others [2020] EWHC 1216 (Fam)
Rebekah acted as a junior for a young intervener involving the death of a 13 year old in a complex fact finding before Mrs Justice Lieven.
A (No. 2) (Children: Findings Of Fact) [2019] EWCA Civ 1947
Rebekah was lead by Andrew Bagchi QC acting for the father in a successful appeal in the case which led to the unprecedented third fact finding in the family division.
LB Barking & Dagenham v A (Therapeutic Residential Placement) [2019] EWHC 2017 (Fam) (25 July 2019)
Rebekah acted for the child’s guardian in this troubling case involving the deprivation of liberty of a child.
A (A Child) [2018] EWCA Civ 2240 (16 October 2018)
Rebekah was led by Mark Twomey QC in this groundbreaking and successful appeal from HHJ Karp involving the natural family and identity rights of a young child ultimately placed with family in Ghana.
A, Re [2018] EWHC 3625 (Fam) (10 December 2018)
Rebekah was led by Mark Twomey QC in this groundbreaking case involving the Article 8, family and identity rights of a child, who was placed with natural family in Ghana as opposed to his foster carer in London.
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CROSS-BORDER FAMILY CASES
Overview
With her experience of working in other jurisdictions Rebekah is uniquely placed to advise in cases involving international family law. She has frequently advised on cases involving abduction and removal from the jurisdiction. She dedicates her broad expertise and experience to ensuring excellent representation for her clients.
Notable Cases
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Employment and Discrimination Law
Rebekah retains a practice in employment law focusing on discrimination and regulatory work. She has significant experience of acting for claimants seeking to protect their rights against large companies and public bodies. Rebekah has extensive experience in discrimination law. She wrote The Gurkhas: The Forgotten Veterans (2005) on discrimination faced by the Gurkhas.
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Court of Protection
Called to the bar in 1998, Rebekah first acted in Court of Protection proceedings at Tooks chambers of Michael Mansfield QC.
She has experience in acting for all parties in Court of Protection proceedings. An expert and trainer in vulnerable witnesses, Rebekah is particularly able in cases involving young persons.
Rebekah is particularly expert in cases involving issues engaging the Equality Act 2010.
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Pro Bono Work
Rebekah and the Garden Court Chambers Family Team have established a pro bono assistance scheme providing free legal advice to Southall Black Sisters in family law.
Rebekah is a reviewer for the Bar Pro Bono Unit.
