Family law – Private law

Members of the team have been involved in cases across the whole spectrum of possible applications and have acquired a high level of competence.

Many of these cases prove to be particularly difficult and intractable, for instance when the parent with care is absolutely opposed to contact to the absent parent or in cases where there are allegations of abuse of the child and the police and social services have 'closed the case'.

Our expert family team is able to provide:

  • Advice, written and in person
  • Representation and advocacy in court
  • Mediation
  • Collaborative law
  • Arbitration

Our team includes a large number of direct access barristers who are trained and experienced in Public Direct Access relating to children cases.

This covers all areas relating to the care and upbringing of children arising as the result of the end of a relationship through divorce or separation:

  • Residence and contact applications
  • Disputes over education, medical procedures and changes of name
  • ‘Leave to Remove’ and international relocation
  • International private law
  • Domestic violence and emotional abuse
  • High profile cases involving well-known individuals
  • Related Family Law Act injunctions, including non-molestation orders and occupation orders)
  • Fact-finding hearings
  • Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989
  • The Child Support Act 1991

Family law – Private law

barristers

Rhys Jones
Rhys Jones - Head of Chambers
Call to the bar: 1998 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Conducts cases in both English and Welsh
Matthew Rees KC
Matthew Rees KC
Call to the bar: 1996 Gray's Inn. | Silk: 2024
Practice areas
  • Family law
Alison Donovan
Alison Donovan
Call to the bar: 1987 | Middle Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
Joanna Wood
Joanna Wood
Call to the bar: 1989 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
Dominic Boothroyd
Dominic Boothroyd
Call to the bar: 1991 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
Sharon James
Sharon James
Call to the bar: 1995 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Conducts cases in both English and Welsh
Susan Jenkins
Susan Jenkins
Call to the bar: 1998 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
Cennydd Richards
Cennydd Richards
Call to the bar: 1999 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Conducts cases in both English and Welsh
Glenda Owen
Glenda Owen
Call to the bar: 2002 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Conducts cases in both English and Welsh
Lucy Leader
Lucy Leader
Call to the bar: 2002 | Lincoln’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
Clare Templeman
Clare Templeman
Call to the bar: 2004 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
Simon Stephenson
Simon Stephenson
Call to the bar: 2005 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
Iain Alba
Call to the bar: 2006 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
Kate Smith
Kate Smith
Call to the bar: 2008 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Catrin Jenkins
Catrin Jenkins
Call to the bar: 2010 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
Conducts cases in both English and Welsh
Patrick Llewelyn
Patrick Llewelyn
Call to the bar: 2009 | Inner Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Criminal law
  • Civil law
Sara Lewis
Sara Lewis
Call to the bar: 2013 | Lincoln’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Criminal law
  • Civil law
Luke Lambourne
Call to the bar: 2007 | Lincoln’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Criminal law
  • Civil law
Natasha Davies
Natasha Davies
Call to the bar: 2018 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Criminal law
Joanna Wilkins
Joanna Wilkins
Call to the bar: 2019 | Middle Temple
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
James McCarthy
James McCarthy
Call to the bar: 2019 | Gray's Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
Kira Evans
Kira Evans
Call to the bar: 2019 | Gray’s Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Civil law
Freddie Lewendon
Freddie Lewendon
Call to the bar: 2019 | Gray's Inn
Practice areas
  • Family law
  • Criminal law
  • Civil law

Door tennants

Susan Campbell QC
Call to bar: 1986 | Silk: 2009
Jeremy Weston QC
Call to bar: 1991 | Silk: 2011