Family law
Sharon has extensive experience and expertise in complex public and private law cases and has successfully undertaken many cases which involve severe non accidental injuries (including baby shaking leading to death), historical injuries and deaths, emotional abuse, chronic neglect, sexual abuse, mental health issues, conflicting medical opinion, post mortem evidence and cases which involve drug and alcohol abuse. Sharon has experience of care proceedings involving concurrent criminal proceedings in respect of infanticide, grievous bodily harm, child cruelty and neglect.
Sharon has expertise in international and national relocation cases and cases involving religious and cultural dimensions where interpreters are required and beliefs and values need to be sensitively addressed. Sharon has experience of Press Injunctions in the High court in respect of the imposition of reporting restrictions.
Sharon has vast experience in acrimonious and complex contact and residence disputes.
Sharon has appeared in all levels of court in the UK including the High Court and Court of Appeal. She has considerable experience in representing parents, interveners, guardians, competent children, prospective adopters, special guardians and vulnerable clients presenting with learning difficulties or personality or psychiatric disorders. She also receives instructions from the Official Solicitor on behalf of clients with cognitive and/or psychiatric difficulties.
Sharon has a busy and successful matrimonial finance practice and her expertise extends to high value cases with substantial assets involving farming/agricultural issues, commercial and family companies, pensions, foreign assets, hidden assets, non disclosure issues and inherited wealth.
Notable and reported cases:
- Re A ( A Minor) [1997] Fam Law 456
- City and County of Swansea and XZ and YZ and the Press, Media and others [2014] EWHC (Fam) 212
- Re T (Permission to apply to revoke Placement Orders: Appeal) [2014] EWCA Civ 1369