14 Gray's Inn Square Family Law

News Archive

Chambers is proud to welcome its 40th member: Jonathan Wilkinson
07.02.12 | Chambers is very pleased to announce that Jonathan Wilkinson has joined us from Garden Court Chambers.

Jonathan is a specialist family practitioner. He has an established practice in children law with particular emphasis on public law (care) proceedings. He represents parents, children and local authorities at all levels of court.

14 Gray's Inn Square warmly welcomes Jonathan as its 40th member. Chambers is always willing to consider new applications, whether from individuals or groups.

Eleanor Calnan joins Chambers
07.02.12 | Chambers welcomes Eleanor Calnan as a new tenant following successful completion of her 3rd six pupillage with us.

The Government publishes its Response to the Family Justice Review
06.02.12 | The Government has published a report which outlines its response to the Family Justice Review and sets out how its recommendations will be taken forward.

In response to the Government's report, the Bar Council and the Family Law Bar Association have urged the Government to take a considered and practical approach to reforming family law and not to rush to legislate.

Phillip Blatchly elected to the Bar Council
30.01.12 | Chambers is pleased to announce that Phillip Blatchly has been elected to serve a 3 year term on the Bar Council from January 2012.

SJ and Another v JJ and Another [2011] EWHC 3450 (Fam)
23.01.12 | Proceedings relating to a child (A) retained in Poland by his mother. Father applied under Brussels II Revised seeking orders (a) making A a ward of court; (b) requiring that A be returned to this jurisdiction; and (c) in the alternative seeking contact. Held that the English court retained jurisdiction. Interim contact order made.

Breaking news
22.12.11 | Michael Glaser, representing His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, has successfully argued that an Islamic ceremony is not capable of recognition as an English Marriage in a case which has significant cultural as well as legal importance.

Martin Ward joins Chambers
22.11.11 | Chambers welcomes Martin Ward who has joined us this week.

Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2012
30.10.11 | 14 Gray's Inn Square is proud to feature in the latest edition of the UK Bar Guide with the following write-up:

This family set houses a number of strong juniors who are credited by those that use them with "a willingness to go a step further than what's expected of them." Along the same vein, its clerking team is applauded for pulling out all the stops if there is ever a problem with the solicitor's counsel of choice. The set is particularly strong on children matters, but also receives instructions in ancillary relief cases. It is known for the amenability of its barristers, with one solicitor commenting: "All the individuals here are friendly, courteous and ready to make time for you."

Chambers also congratulates Michael Glaser, Joanna Hall, Sarah Pope and Patricia Roberts who have been individually ranked. Click on this article to read their full entries.

Appealing joint lives orders: what not to do
10.10.11 | Byron James considers joint lives orders in the light of the Court of Appeal's judgment in N v N

The Legal Aid Bill: What is the future for Family Justice?
19.09.11 | A national meeting called by the Bar Council and the Family Law Bar Association (FLBA) took place on Saturday 17th September 2011.

The meeting, attended by the Attorney General, the Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC MP took place in London and was linked by video conference to venues around the country. It focused on the Government's proposals, contained within the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, to cut large areas of family law from the scope of legal aid.

Speakers at the meeting included Stephen Cobb QC, Chairman of the FLBA, Peter Lodder QC, Chairman of the Bar Council and Nichola Higgins, Chair of the Young Barristers Committee of the Bar Council.

Andrew Bainham awarded for exceptional service to the International Society of Family Law
05.09.11 | Andrew Bainham has been given an Exceptional Service Award by the International Society of Family Law (ISFL). At the ISFL World Conference in Lyon in July 2011, the Executive Council named Andrew a recipient of an award for exceptional service to the ISFL, due to a decade of superb service as Editor of the International Survey of Family Law.

New third six pupil: Eleanor Calnan
16.08.11 | Chambers welcomes Eleanor Calnan as a third six pupil who has joined us this week.

Byron James awarded "Outstanding Newcomer in the field of Children Law Hershman Award 2011"
28.07.11 | Chambers is proud to announce that Byron James was presented with the award "Outstanding Newcomer in the field of Children Law Hershman Award 2011" by the President of the Family Division, Lord Justice Wall, on behalf of the Association of Lawyers for Children at the Hershman Levy Memorial Lecture on 27th July 2011.

New members
28.07.11 | Chambers is very pleased to announce that Joan Connell, Jean-Paul Sinclair, Rhys Jones and Rachael James will be joining Chambers on 1st August 2011.

Andrew Bainham contributes to "Landmark Cases in Family Law"
18.07.11 | Andrew Bainham has contributed a chapter to the recently published book "Landmark Cases in Family Law" (Hart 2011, edited by Stephen Gilmore, Jonathan Herring and Rebecca Probert).

The book analyses 13 of the most influential cases on the development of English family law. Andrew's chapter entitled 'Welfare, Truth and Justice: the Children of Extra-Marital Liaisons' looks at the impact of decisions of the Court of Appeal and House of Lords in S v S: W v Official Solicitor [1972] A.C.24

Now published: "The Children Act 1989: Local Authority Support for Children and Families" by Sally Gore
14.07.11 | Sally Gore's book "The Children Act 1989: Local Authority Support for Children and Families" has been published.

New Court of Appeal decision regarding applications for leave to remove: K (Children) [2011] EWCA Civ 793
11.07.11 | Application by father for permission to appeal against order granting mother leave to remove children to Canada in circumstances where the parents shared the care of the children. Permission to appeal granted and appeal allowed. The court confirmed that in the circumstances of the case the approach in Payne v Payne was not appropriate.

Philip Blatchly joins Chambers
07.07.11 | Philip Blatchly will be joining Chambers from September 2011.

Geoffrey Carr, Senior Clerk, features in Counsel Magazine
06.07.11 | This month's edition of Counsel Magazine includes a profile of our Senior Clerk Geoffrey Carr. The interview covers issues including cuts to public funding, access to justice, ProcureCo and how the Family Bar can achieve future success.

Coming soon: N v N
01.07.11 | Michael Glaser leading Byron James will be appearing at the Court of Appeal in N v N, a husband's appeal against a decision to extend the term of maintenance payments to a wife who has failed to seek employment after the couple's separation in 1998, in a case likely to continue to attract media attention.

Coming soon: "The Children Act 1989: Local Authority Support for Children and Families" by Sally Gore
18.05.11 | Sally Gore's book "The Children Act 1989: Local Authority Support for Children and Families" is due to be published in June and is available to pre-order now.

W (Children) [2011] EWCA Civ 345
18.04.11 | Successful appeal by mother against refusal of permission to relocate out of the jurisdiction.

The President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, made clear his view that undue prominence had been accorded to his own words in the case of Re D [2010] EWCA Civ 50, in which he had appeared to support criticism of Payne v Payne [2001] EWCA Civ 166. He resiled from this and confirmed that Payne v Payne should continue to be followed.

Lecture on the Family Procedure Rules 2010
30.03.11 | Members of Chambers are presenting a lecture to Local Authorities about the introduction of the new Family Procedure Rules 2010 and the likely impact on public law practice. Based on the success of these lectures, Chambers is happy to provide the same for other organisations: please contact the clerks for further information.

R (O) v East Riding of Yorkshire Council [2011] EWCA Civ 196
29.03.11 | Sally Gore led by Stephen Bellamy QC appeared at the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Respondent in an appeal of a judicial review decision that accommodation being provided to the subject child with autism and ADHD by the local authority was, by virtue of a Statement of Special Educational Needs under the Education Act 1996 and not the Children Act 1989.

In medias res: the final order has just been drawn; the wife has died; what is one to do?
28.03.11 | Byron James considers Barder events in the light of Richardson v Richardson.

Countdown to the Family Procedure Rules 2010
15.03.11 | The Family Procedure Rules 2010 for England and Wales will come into force on 6th April 2011. The Rules provide a single set of rules of court for family proceedings in the High Court, county courts and magistrates' courts. The Rules are supplemented by Practice Directions and forms, creating a comprehensive code of family procedure.

Fostering regulations, guidance and national minimum standards
14.03.11 | Following extensive public consultation the Department for Education has revised and modernised the regulatory framework for fostering which includes the fostering services regulations and related statutory guidance and national minimum standards.

Re T (A child - murdered parent) Case No: MK10PO0693
14.03.11 | Application for contact by a father who had murdered the child’s mother. Application refused, and s.91(14) order made.

Family Procedure Rules 2010
28.02.11 | Chambers will be providing a lecture in advance of the new Family Procedure Rules due to come into force on 6th April 2011.

Judges' Council responds to legal aid proposals
28.02.11 | A sub-committee of the Judges' Council has responded to the Government's consultation paper on proposals for the reform of legal aid.

Traversa v Freddi [2011] EWCA Civ 81
24.02.11 | Husband’s appeal against refusal of leave to pursue an application under the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 after Italian divorce. Appeal successful.

Children on Family Justice
24.02.11 | Ofsted has published a report of children’s views for the Family Justice Review Panel, 2010, by the Children’s Rights Director for England.

Doctor Andrew Bainham Join Chambers
02.08.10 | Doctor Andrew Bainham of Cambrige University will be joining Chambers from August 2010

EU Law Conference, Slovenia
24.11.09 | On 20th November 2009, Richard Alomo addressed delegates at the 7th EU Law conference in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia on the Council Regulation (EC) No 4/2009 of 18 December 2008 on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations.

B (Children) 2008 EWCA Civ 282
29.01.09 | Case concerning standard of proof in family proceedings to go to the House of Lords.

NG v KR (Pre-nuptial contract) [2008] EWHC 1532 (Fam)
30.11.08 | The Family Division considered the impact of a pre-nuptial agreement on the husband's application for financial relief, after an eight-year marriage producing two children.

20 Year Anniversary
01.05.08 | Chambers celebrates this May twenty glorious years in its current premises and wishes to thank all those who have helped make the years at 14 Gray's Inn Square such a success.

Family Justice Reform Project in Sierra Leone: Update
01.05.08 | Lotta Teale, a door tenant at 14 Gray's Inn Square, is currently working with the Sierra Leone Court Monitoring Programme, a local NGO, on reform of family law. She is based in the capital city, Freetown, on a scholarship from the Family Law Bar Association. Initially assigned a monitor and an intern, she has subsequently been involved with both training and mentoring.
Click above for a fuller description of some of the work that she has been undertaking including lobbying for the enactment of family law bills.

Other News
25.03.08 | New guidance on intercountry adoption, and on safeguarding the welfare of children who may have been trafficked.

Care Proceedings Reforms
25.03.08 | New guidance documents.

First Sitting of Addiction Court
25.03.08 | Launch of the UK's first specialist Family Drug and Alcohol Court.

Sally Gore Joins Chambers
29.01.08 | Chambers is delighted to announce that Sally Gore has been taken on as a tenant at 14 Gray's Inn Square following successful completion of pupillage. Sally will practice in all areas of family law and has an outstanding academic and research background in mental health law and criminology.

Child Rights in Central Asia: Update from Tajikistan
12.11.07 | At the beginning of 2007, the FLBA decided to sponsor Anna Spencer to undertake 6 months' work in Tajikistan, Central Asia to help the work of the Children's Legal Centre UK by working for a local Tajik NGO the Child Rights Centre.

Poonam Bhari Joins Chambers
08.10.07 | Poonam Bhari Joins 14 Grays Inn Square - Enhancing the Family Team

The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child reports on the UK
09.03.07 | In its most recent report the UN committee makes recommendations to the UK in respect of its duties to uphold the rights of the child.

A Systematic Review of Childhood Fractures By the Welsh Child Protection Systematic Review Group
09.03.07 | In October, the British Medical Journal published a review by the Welsh Child Protection Systematic Review Group into childhood fractures and their correlation with abuse (BMJ October 2008 Vol. 337 p.859).

Enforcement of children act 1989 contact orders: disclosure of information to officers of the national probation service
09.03.07 | This Practice Direction is issued by the Lord Chief Justice with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor and comes into force on the 8th December 2008.

Mental Capacity Act 2005 in force from April
09.03.07 | The DCA has announced that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 will come into force from 1st April 2007 though much of the Act will not be implemented until October this year.

New Directions regarding allocations of cases to judiciary allow district judges and recorders to hear placement proceedings
09.03.07 | The Family Proceedings (Allocation to Judiciary) (Amendment) Directions 2007 come into force on 2nd April 2007.

Dickson vs UK
18.04.06 | Prison couple denied fertility treatment